Texas A&M Implements Integrated Emergency Notification System

  • Apr 07, 2009

Texas A&M University selected AtHoc Inc., a network-centric emergency notification system manufacturer, to provide an integrated mass notification solution for its campus. AtHoc's IWSAlerts software will enable Texas A&M University to send out emergency alerts to its campus population through multiple devices, including campus computers, via pop up alerts, Emergency Alert System radio broadcasts, cable TV, telephones, mass e-mails and SMS text messages, from a single Web-based console.

By unifying multiple forms of alerting through a single integrated system, the university achieves simplicity while reaching a high percentage of the school's population through redundant systems.

IWSAlerts will provide the university with a significant cost savings by using the its existing on-site communications infrastructure. The software will leverage Texas A&M's IP network to communicate with desktops and mobile devices, the phone infrastructure, cable TV and campus radio. All of these devices can now be triggered simultaneously.

"Texas A&M University has exhibited uncompromising commitment to protect its students and staff," said Ly Tran, vice president of AtHoc. "The university has demonstrated tremendous vision and technical leadership in building a campus-wide, integrated emergency notification system, and we're excited to be part of the team helping to promote campus safety."

The university's emergency managers will be able to trigger alerts from any Microsoft Internet Explorer browser and send out information through a wide variety of communications channels. They can select from predefined alerts or create a custom alert and quickly notify students and staff about the emergency. Alerts that reach personal devices (computer desktops, SMS text messages and phone calls) are tracked in real-time for response and accountability reporting. At the same time, alerts also can reach the campus cable TV and radio station.

The AtHoc solution addresses one of the biggest challenges of deploying an emergency notification system—the seamless integration of disparate communications channels. To meet this challenge, IWSAlerts leverages the AtHoc IP Integration Module, which is based on the OASIS CAP 1.1 industry standard, to maximize interoperability with the campus' existing communications systems.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3