Atlanta Metro Area School District Migrates to High-definition, IP Surveillance System

American Dynamics, a Tyco Security Products brand that is part of Tyco, a pure-play fire protection and security company, announced that Cherokee County School District (CCSD), located in the Atlanta metro area, has chosen American Dynamics video security solutions to secure its schools and other facilities. One of the largest public school systems in the state of Georgia, CCSD encompasses 57 schools and other buildings, including 24 elementary schools, seven middle schools, seven high schools, three preschool centers, central offices and warehouses, along with its 40,000 students and 4,500 staff.

The school district needed a surveillance solution that would enable public safety staff to actively monitor both live and recorded video from its facilities, both from desktop workstations and remotely using mobile devices. CCSD selected the VideoEdge hybrid recording platform from American Dynamics to allow the school district to upgrade and grow its surveillance security system gradually, without completely replacing its existing analog infrastructure, keeping the overall project costs within the district’s budget.

“As time goes on and our existing analog recorders die out, we will replace them with new hybrids,” said Chief of Police, Mark Kissel, Cherokee County School District. “It gives us the greatest potential for growing with the solution.”

The installation of this IP-based, high-resolution surveillance system will meet the school district’s self-identified need for additional cameras in several of its elementary schools, the installation of new Illustra IP cameras and equipment in its high school and middle schools and for better management of its video systems. Tyco Integrated Security served as the systems integrator for this project.

With VideoEdge Hybrid recorders in place, CCSD’s safety officers will have faster search capabilities, including Smart Search for searching through days or weeks of video within seconds. Another advancement for the school district, according to Kissel, is better image quality and remote capabilities.

Once the installation is complete, CCSD will be able to employ more of the surveillance system’s features and capabilities for a seamless, integrated platform across all of the district’s facilities.

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