Maryland School District Uses GE DVR Management Software As Backbone Of New Surveillance System

GE Security Inc. recently announced that Frederick County Public Schools in Frederick, Md., is using GE Nav DVR management software as the backbone of a new, integrated video surveillance system to help provide added safety in all 63 schools in the district.

Frederick County Public Schools chose GE Nav because of the software’s capability to integrate legacy infrastructure and provide centralized security for the more than 40,000 students and 5,000 staff members the system serves each day.

Frederick County has a total land area of 667 square miles stretching from Pennsylvania to West Virginia. To date, 51 buildings can be viewed from the central security office and by local law enforcement.

“We have schools spread over a wide geography, but we can monitor all of them from the central office,” said Cliff Cornwell, safety coordinator of Frederick County Public Schools. “Due to the ability of GE Nav to quickly access video obtained from any camera throughout the system, we have increased our ability to respond quickly to actual security events while reducing false alarms to law enforcement by 50 percent. Simultaneously, we have been able to enhance our access control capabilities by recording every visitor who enters one of our buildings.”

With GE Nav controlling more than 600 mostly GE Security fixed and dome cameras and 60 GE DVRs, security officials can monitor students moving between portable classrooms and the main school building, in addition to providing improved security at night.

A motion-activated camera is located above the front door of each school to record every person coming into the building. These cameras are also used by school officials to make important weather-related decisions, using GE Nav to view conditions at schools all across Frederick County. The school system has also saved money on renovations by using existing exterior cameras to monitor new facilities, reducing equipment costs without sacrificing security.

With an easy-to-use graphic interface, GE Nav provides for a more accurate and timely response to security incidents that may occur. As an ongoing project, it is the school system’s goal to have cameras in each building.

“Our work with Frederick County Public Schools is a great example of how GE Nav can help schools do more with less, increasing their return on investment (ROI) for security infrastructure while meeting today’s challenges,” said Jon Hughes, video surveillance product marketing manager at GE Security. “This partnership is another example of GE Security’s commitment to innovation that delivers smart solutions to real world problems.”

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

New Products

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.