Security

Unpacking the Role of AI in Physical Security

Machine learning can identify threats and alert campus security for faster response times.

Bryan Krause is the senior national school safety strategist at CDW Education. He is a former teacher, coach and administrator with more than 30 years experience in education.

Safety and security have always been a priority in educational settings, but with the help of artificial intelligence, today’s physical security technologies offer proactive monitoring that can alert security personnel of potential issues before they occur.

When we talk about physical security in education, we have vastly different conversations in K–12 and higher ed. In fact, college campuses have a lot more in common with cities and towns than with K–12 schools. A college campus is not just its classrooms; it’s the dining halls, the student center, the dormitories, the quad, the football stadium, the parking facilities and the overall community that surrounds it. The population is much larger and less controlled than a K–12 school, and often many spaces on campuses are open to the public.

A higher education security system needs a level of sophistication to reflect these complexities. Most institutions have the people side of the equation covered, with dedicated campus public safety teams or even their own police departments. These departments rely on surveillance technology to keep an eye on the entire campus. But because these teams are often stretched thin, staring at real-time surveillance footage is often not the best use of their valuable time.

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How Has AI Been Integrated into Physical Security Tools?

When we talk about AI in physical security, we’re talking about a few different things. Security cameras offer the most AI-enabled features, including face recognition, license plate recognition, weapon detection, and visitor management and identification. These features ensure that everyone entering campus property — whether in a vehicle or otherwise — is accounted for and where they’re supposed to be.

Access control systems equipped with AI can identify whether an unauthorized person is attempting to gain access to a restricted area, and they can activate emergency lockdown procedures should the need arise. Environmental sensors also use AI to listen to their surroundings to identify loud voices, keywords or threats that campus security can respond to quickly.

AI Security Does Not Replace the Human Element

In security, seconds matter. AI-enabled technologies help campus safety teams respond quickly, with more information than they would have from manually monitored surveillance tools. Putting people in charge of monitoring and recognizing security threats leaves room for error. Despite their best intentions, people take breaks, their attention wanders and they can miss things. AI, on the other hand, is continuously monitoring every device 24/7 and can immediately alert security teams of threats.

DISCOVER: Physical security site assessments optimize surveillance.

This is not to say these systems are going to — or should — replace the human element. While AI can alert campus security about potential threats, it’s up to the humans to respond. AI exists to provide as much information as possible to shorten human response time and ensure accuracy in those responses. Security personnel are more informed when they arrive on the scene and can make decisions more quickly.

Implement AI Security Tools in a Phased Approach

If all this has you considering your current physical security strategy and wondering where AI fits in, there are some steps you can take. Because of the size and scope of a college campus, funding a full-scale rollout of brand-new camera equipment is rarely going to happen. Instead, approach these projects by building or by department. Engaging in pilot projects to test the technology on a small scale before rolling out larger initiatives can help IT and security teams determine what works and what doesn’t.

For further guidance in implementing these technologies, CDW’s team of experts offers services ranging from initial site assessments to determine the best camera and sensor positions to implementation and training of not only campus safety staff but also administration officials and local law enforcement.

While no one can predict what the future holds for AI, we can make some guesses. It’s likely the technology’s recognition and detection capabilities will become more accurate and detailed. It could incorporate data analytics for even more precise predictions. Whatever the case, AI and people will continue to work together to make our colleges and universities safer and more secure.

This article is part of EdTech: Focus on Higher Education’s UniversITy blog series.