Once upon a time, not long ago, security used to be all about guards patrolling properties, painstakingly doing their rounds, searching for trouble. It is an expensive, not particularly efficient process with inherent issues, particularly for large buildings.
A lot has changed.
While security guards still patrol some buildings, technology has revolutionized the industry as cameras provide eyes, and software enhances security, access control and otherwise helps manage many aspects of buildings.
Bay Shore-based ViewScan, a prime example of security software systems using AI to make cameras “smart,” is at the forefront of the high-tech security revolution.
“We use artificial intelligence to detect actions that need to be responded to,” Charlie Fleischman, General Manager, said. “Those are sent to remote operators who view, understand what they’re supposed to do and take action.”
Their clients include K-12 schools, higher education, healthcare, municipalities, homeowners associations, gated communities, car dealerships, commercial buildings, and many others. At a time when security is a huge issue, their use of AI is at the cutting edge of how companies and organizations are staying safer.
ViewScan, for instance, uses their ViewScan AI-powered platform linked with cameras, sensors, and door devices as well as encrypted data to enhance facility safety, optimize operations and reduce costs.
They identify and deal with loitering, monitor who enters and exits, while preventing break-ins, vandalism and theft and providing peace of mind.
“We’re a software-as-a-service manufacturer that integrates security technologies to include sensors, drone and robotic capabilities,” said Steve McCory, ViewScan’s director of business development.
The software can absorb a vast amount of data from many sources, through one system.
“We have something better than what you would have with motion detectors,” Fleischman said. “We use about 25 analytics from humans to vehicles to weapons, loitering, license plate recognition, slip and fall, objects left behind, theft detection, PPE compliance.”
ViewScan, which still retains the human element, integrates programs, making the process interactive, while leveraging technology to give you the best of both worlds.
“What’s different about our system is it all works through a single browser,” Fleischman said. “Not only can they get alerts and reach down to cameras. They can call the police, or supervisors. They can talk down and say, ‘You’re trespassing. Please get off this property.’”
While security is at its core, ViewScan’s software can do much more. The company, however, changed its name from Virtual Guarding to ViewScan recently to reflect more services.
“We do more than virtual guarding. We wanted to incorporate the rest of our capability beyond the guarding function,” Fleischman said. “Those are operation functions. Everything is running simultaneously over the same video. We also have facial recognition, so we can provide access control.”
Proactive approach
ViewScan works in nearly every sector such as healthcare, education, corporate offices, mixed use properties, multifamily housing, construction, with Class-A building managers and other industries. It can both save money and improve security.
“One of the thing’s driving growth is the increase in crime, plus the lack of physical security guards available combined with the cost of the physical guards,” Fleischman said. “We help with businesses that need some security. They don’t have people to watch cameras.”
Cameras are linked to a device called a gateway, a small computer plugged into the cameras’ network and set up to monitor remotely.
“Once that’s set up, the camera view flows through our gateway and is encrypted,” Fleischman said. “Every frame that comes through is analyzed by artificial intelligence. “
There is almost no limit as to what they can use cameras and software for, when it’s hooked up to various sensors and alerts.
They can connect their system to water sensors, door ajar sensors, occupancy sensors, carbon monoxide sensors and more. This is smart security and much more.
The human element
While ViewScan’s core is high tech, it still retains the human element as “virtual guards” monitoring software-activated screens. “We use our capability with our operators to sort through the noise and bring real time critical events to a human operator,” Fleischman said.
Encrypted data through ViewScan Protect goes to human beings who decide and often interact with people causing incidents.
“The action may be nothing is happening and moving on to the next event. It may be calling an onsite guard, a site manager or first responders. Once they take action, they take note, close that event and go to the next event,” Fleischman said. “This allows operators to monitor multiple locations at the same time.”
McCory said the ability to react and interact is key in using software to guard against problems and prevent.
“We can have a two-way conversation and talk from that advice,” McCory said. “We can also activate lights and strobes as needed. And we can send video to site managers or police in real time.”
They interact with people on premises and dispatch local law enforcement authorities, if needed, as well as activate emergency applications via smartphones for employees and residents.
Meet the monitors
While tech is key, ViewScan still works with monitors or operators that help serve as virtual guards.
The operators are ex-military, disabled American veterans and their spouses, providing people with a culture and background that lets them remain vigilant.
“Our operators come from a group of individuals who understand mission, teamwork, work ethic and have through their training above average ability to deal with situations,” Fleischman said.
They man stations around the clock, limiting operators, who work from home to four-hour shifts. If they want two shifts, they take a break between them.
ViewScan works with companies that supply guards and even companies that require guards on premises and can increase efficiency.
“We can augment their guard force. My AI can watch all 100 cameras and tell them where something is going on,” Fleischman said. “I can scale in real time, not only with technology, but with operators.”
Security that works
ViewScan has no shortage of success stories, where their system prevented incidents. They at once give insight as to problems, and the process.
In one case, trailers with solar-powered cameras were deployed at a building in Wilmington, N.C., after vandals scribbled graffiti, broke in and stole a fire extinguisher.
Within four days, they stopped three incidents by detecting and using a speaker to address vandals who left.
In Florida, kids were doing dangerous tricks with cars in a warehouse parking lot that housed some large trucks.
“We initially were using the horn. We had the police come out several times,” Fleischman said. “After a few sequences, they stopped coming. Now if someone comes, when we talk with them, they know we’ll call the police.”
At a medical facility near a train track in Greensboro, N.C., homeless people were sleeping in a building’s alcoves and sneaking into the building.
“We were able to stop that as well. First we talked to them. We called the police when necessary,” Fleischman said. “The difference is us being proactive. We see something happen, we can say something and stop it from happening.”
Fleischman said police often take 15 to 20 minutes to arrive, but ViewScan tries to get people to leave before then.
“Our average response time from detection to resolution is 20 seconds,” Fleischman said. “We detect it, look to see what’s happening If nothing is happening, we move on.”
While the system typically operates remotely, they have a product called ViewScan On Prem designed for banks, casinos, and governments that doesn’t need to go over the network.
“This is for anybody who doesn’t want something going to the cloud,” Fleischman said, noting some industries’ security needs prevent use of the cloud for security.
High-tech healthcare
In addition to security, ViewScan software equipment is being used for access control, safety, and security at assisted living facilities, 55 and older communities and patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
“We’re growing the healthcare market,” Fleischman said. “We’re not in any hospitals yet, but we would like to provide protection there as well.”
Through facial recognition, they identify and monitor Alzheimer’s or dementia patients not supposed to leave facilities.
“When they approach a door, we send an alert. Outside the door, there is a second alert,” Fleischman said. “If we see that person go through the door, we call the facility.”
They have about 100 cameras in a 55 and older community where they provide slip and fall protection. Each apartment has a call button, but AI detects falls, going from vertical to horizontal, and sends alerts.
“We have a high accuracy,” Fleischman said.
At one facility, they saw nurses running from one side of the building to another to open doors.
“We gave them remote access,” Fleischman said.
Cameras equipped with their software also detected abuse and theft at an assisted living that led to a firing. A dementia patient took someone’s wallet, which an aid then took, only to keep the money.
Access management
While security is key, VewScan’s Entrance Manager is an access system designed to open doors for residents at facilities.
At a college dormitory, for instance, it can replace or supplement door intercoms.
“A student walks in, the door opens,” Fleischman said. “If someone isn’t registered, it doesn’t open the door.”
The system runs on facial recognition with people who are part of the program.
“It identifies someone enrolled who has opted into the system,” he added.
Through Gatehouse Manager, designed for homeowner associations, they check a list before remotely opening gates.
School software
ViewScan product also is used in schools with metal detectors that detect small amounts of metal, such as cell phones and objects hidden in jackets.
“Our metal detector system is part of a robust, comprehensive solution to clients within all markets,” McCory said.
Metal detectors can be moved or left at a primary spot as part of the school’s basic security. “We can add facial recognition to identify who it is and get alerts to know something is going on,” Fleischman said.
He said when the detector goes off, the monitor can interact to solve and resolve the problem. “If a detector goes off, we can have someone talk to the person and ask them to take what they have out of their pocket,” Fleischman said.
Software that delivers
A constant stream of deliveries is making it more important to, if possible, let delivery people drop off objects. The ViewScan Delivery Manager helps with that.
Multi-family housing uses this service for Amazon or FedEx deliveries, where the driver comes to the door and is admitted after two-way, live audio-visual communication as a gate, or a door is opened remotely.
“The driver pushes a button on the intercom that calls the operator,” Fleischman said. “We have two-way audio and video, and we open the door. The residents have the code to the package room. They can get the package when they arrive home.”
All in all, ViewScan is showing that artificial intelligence won’t necessarily replace existing systems. But it can enhance what’s there, improving security, access, increasing efficiency and lowering costs.
Cameras, then, go from observers to part of a process that can prevent problems.
“Most people don’t realize that most video systems are forensic. You go back to see what happens,” Fleischman added. “We become proactive, to stop something before it happens.”
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