Grambling State University Protects Students, Property With IP Video

Axis Communications recently announced that Grambling State University is using its network cameras to ensure the safety of its students and property.

Grambling State University houses its students in 19 residence halls dotting its north Louisiana campus. The school grounds contain five colleges, including an honors college, two professional schools, a graduate school and a division of continuing education. In addition, it offers younger students a laboratory high school.

Axis partner CameraWATCH Technologies has worked with the university as a contractor installing the campus wide surveillance system utilizing its fiber optic backbone. The IP video technology allowed the university to use a centralized recording center in Information Technology Center’s main production/server room. In addition to Axis network cameras, CameraWATCH also installed Genetec’s video management system.

Safety is a concern at any university, and Grambling State University takes its responsibilities very seriously. A few years ago, the university had separate pockets of analog camera systems scattered on campus, none of which were easily upgradeable or integrated. In fact, as the technology became obsolete individuals could no longer operate the old analog systems, thereby causing the systems to be non functional to the university.

Grambling then initiated a review of its needs before settling on the current network surveillance system. To achieve its objectives, Grambling’s IT department first set up a network to provide coverage for selected areas and then implemented 220 Axis network cameras to monitor residence halls, the newly constructed assembly center, the laboratory high school and property and receiving areas.

In the near term, Grambling anticipates adding an additional 100 network cameras to monitor new residence halls and academic buildings. Currently, the school as deployed AXIS 216MFD and AXIS 212 PTZ Network Cameras. The AXIS 216MFD was specifically installed because of its high resolution, obtained through megapixel technology to cover areas within the university, such as entrances to buildings, hallways, bus stop locations, outside equipment storage locations and streets.

“We’ve found the network surveillance system to be a tremendous deterrent to campus-wide crime, and in the rare cases when it has happened, we’ve solved more than 50 percent of criminal acts using images from the network cameras,” said Winfred Jones, associate vice president for information technology at Grambling State University.

In addition, Jones noted that while older analog camera systems could only archive video up to 14 days, the Axis network cameras with Genetec’s video management system can back up 30 days worth of video.

Even with these improvements, Grambling’s IT department isn’t finished yet. Within a year, the university plans to implement a wireless system that detects motion in sensitive areas such as the registrar’s office, residence halls and administrative areas during certain hours. Once motion is detected, the system will send alerts to campus police in their vehicles. As a result, these types of systems will enhance the university’s ability to respond quickly Grambling expects to be able to respond even more quickly to safety-related events. Campus police in vehicles will even be able to receive images sent directly from the network cameras to be able to identify suspects if necessary. As a result, Grambling believes it will be able to offer students the safest school environment possible.

“We’ve found strong interest for our network cameras in educational environments, because of enhanced concern about campus safety,” said Fredrik Nilsson, general manager, Axis Communications Inc. “In fact, over the last four years, Axis network video products have been installed in educational institutions all the way from Wales to Wisconsin. We applaud Grambling’s ambitious efforts to maintain a safe learning environment for students and look forward to working with the university and CameraWATCH Technologies as it enhances its surveillance capabilities.”

Featured

  • Security Today Announces The Govies Government Security Award Winners for 2025

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 winners in The Govies Government Security Awards. The awards honor outstanding government security products in a variety of categories. Read Now

  • Survey: 60 Percent of Organizations Using AI in IT Infrastructure

    Netwrix, a cybersecurity provider focused on data and identity threats, today announced the release of its annual global 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report based on a global survey of 2,150 IT and security professionals from 121 countries. It reveals that 60% of organizations are already using artificial intelligence (AI) in their IT infrastructure and 30% are considering implementing AI. Read Now

  • New Research Reveals Global Video Surveillance Industry Perspectives on AI

    Axis Communications, the global industry leader in video surveillance, has released its latest research report, ‘The State of AI in Video Surveillance,’ which explores global industry perspectives on the use of AI in the security industry and beyond. The report reveals current attitudes on AI technologies thanks to in-depth interviews with AI experts from Axis’ global network and a comprehensive survey of more than 5,800 respondents, including distributors, channel partners, and end customers across 68 countries. The resulting insights cover AI integration and the opportunities and challenges that exist with regard to security, safety, business intelligence, and operational efficiency. Read Now

  • SIA Urges Tariff Relief for Security Industry Products

    Today, the Security Industry Association has sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting relief from tariffs for security industry products and asking that the Trump administration formulate a process that allows companies to apply for product-specific exemptions. The security industry is an important segment of the U.S. economy, contributing over $430 billion in total economic impact and supporting over 2.1 million jobs. Read Now

  • Report Shows Cybercriminals Continue Pivot to Stealthier Tactics

    IBM recently released the 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index highlighting that cybercriminals continued to pivot to stealthier tactics, with lower-profile credential theft spiking, while ransomware attacks on enterprises declined. IBM X-Force observed an 84% increase in emails delivering infostealers in 2024 compared to the prior year, a method threat actors relied heavily on to scale identity attacks. Read Now

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Hanwha QNO-7012R

    Hanwha QNO-7012R

    The Q Series cameras are equipped with an Open Platform chipset for easy and seamless integration with third-party systems and solutions, and analog video output (CVBS) support for easy camera positioning during installation. A suite of on-board intelligent video analytics covers tampering, directional/virtual line detection, defocus detection, enter/exit, and motion detection.