INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL

Improving Security

Real estate contractor secures sites after hours to mitigate liability risks

Well Craft Construction Co. is a highly reputable general contractor that builds commercial real estate, multifamily buildings and hotels in and around the Philadelphia, PA area. They are the go-to contractor for Pearl Properties, Philadelphia's premier full-service real estate investment and development firm. Located in Bucks County, PA, Well Craft serves as the general contractor for many large-scale construction projects. Securing their job sites after hours and mitigating liability risks comes with the territory.

Meeting the Challenges

Vandalism, graffiti and theft are always major concerns for project managers at a job site, and security guards sometimes are not enough to deter that. Stolen materials, such as copper wiring, turn into stolen time and productivity for a project in progress. The deadlines get harder to hit, and the need for overtime often figures into the equation, meaning higher costs. In addition, because projects in the construction phase often have equipment and cranes on site after hours, they can be an attractive target for pranksters.

Well Craft has experienced incidents where teenagers have come on to their properties and climbed up the cranes. While the kids may see it as harmless horseplay, the liability issues are huge. Well Craft saw a clear need to put more stringent security measures in place to reduce property damage, theft and overall liability.

Kastle Systems' mobile sentry and remote video guarding solutions were the option of choice for Well Craft Construction. They are smart video surveillance and monitoring solutions that can replace a security guard at a site after hours. Kastle can monitor video alarms generated by the smart camera and respond to any intrusion incidents instantly from its monitoring center.

The camera creates an alert using video analytics that can detect the presence of a person or vehicle. It records a video clip and sends it to the operator at Kastle's central station who can verify the alarm to be real or false. An audio channel is activated allowing the operator to communicate with the intruder to deter them off the site. The operator then follows protocol to call site management and then the police.

Implementation and Results

Kastle positioned six cameras at the construction site, creating a virtual perimeter around it. By having a cloud-based system, video is stored in the cloud allowing the end user to review it at any time up to two years, if needed. The video is downloadable and can be used as evidence in criminal cases.

The guarding solution deploys video analytics-based "smart" HD cameras that deliver high quality video. This integrated video network increases efficiencies, eliminating the need to hire guards. A single monthly service and maintenance fee means there are no material costs.

The solution includes unlimited, scalable cloud-hosted video storage, email notification of video alarm events and access from a smartphone or any web-enabled device.

"Kastle Systems services were the perfect solution for loss prevention and deterring trespassers," said Dan Van Vuskirk, project manager. "Their offerings were also instrumental in monitoring the progress of the job and ensuring on-site safety."

This article originally appeared in the April 2020 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Steven Smith is the business development manager at Kastle Systems.

Featured

  • Integration Imagination: The Future of Connected Operations

    Security teams that collaborate cross-functionally and apply imagination and creativity to envision and design their ideal integrated ecosystem will have the biggest upside to corporate security and operational benefits. Read Now

  • Smarter Access Starts with Flexibility

    Today’s workplaces are undergoing a rapid evolution, driven by hybrid work models, emerging smart technologies, and flexible work schedules. To keep pace with growing workplace demands, buildings are becoming more dynamic – capable of adapting to how people move, work, and interact in real-time. Read Now

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Utah Valley University Shooting

    Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after being shot during an on-campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah Read Now

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.