Colorado School District Expanding IP Video Surveillance

  • Jul 16, 2010

School District 51, Mesa County Valley, in Grand Junction, Colo., first began using OnSSI's open-architecture, intelligent IP-based video surveillance software five years ago in a test system incorporating 25 cameras at a single middle school.

Since then, the K-12 school district has expanded the system to include a total of 256 cameras at 25 sites, all providing images to five video servers using OnSSI software at the district office. The flexibility and scalability of the OnSSI system has facilitated system growth to accommodate the expanding recording needs and available budget of the western Colorado school district that serves 22,000 students and has more than 2,900 staff members.

“The OnSSI system has expanded with our recording needs as we have added more schools and cameras,” said Steve Tobin, senior systems administrator at School District 51. “It's very easy for end-users to view live and archived recording. The client software is easy to install, and since its Active Directory (AD) was integrated, we spend almost no time managing the software.”

Tobin noted that the Mesa County Valley school district finds it useful that OnSSI software can easily export individual or multiple cameras to a single recording. Also, because licensing fees are based on cameras rather than servers, the server base can be expanded without incurring extra cost.

Each Mesa County Valley school can view live or archived security footage from their school only. If a recording is needed, the district provides a CD of the requested footage, and SATA storage devices attached to servers at the district office preserve two weeks of video.

“A networked video system should help administrators and educators keep and access video, and it should filter and process that video to make it more useful," said Gadi Piran, president and CTO of OnSSI. “For Mesa County Valley schools, and for many other districts of all sizes, IP-based video allows administrators to combine real-time response with powerful capabilities to investigate incidents after the fact."

Mesa County Valley schools are located on 42 geographically independent sites. Future expansion of the system to other locations will depend on school budgets and needs. The district is well prepared for system growth based on their experience so far: An integrator, ISC of Casper, Wyo., was used for the initial purchase five years ago, but since then the district has used contractors to add new cameras and has installed the software themselves.

 

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • 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.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.