Page 81 - Security Today, November/December 2019

“AI-powered security management allows for such a balanced solution that keeps privacy in mind while keeping safety a top priority.”
AI-Powered Weapon Detection
High security is the objective, but there is a dual-mandate to make sure it doesn’t feel like high security. New AI-powered software and sensor systems are making this dual-mandate possible in a discreet way.
Previous generations of school security have relied on metal detectors, forcing students to queue up like they are entering a court- room. New AI-powered weapon detection is changing this with dis- crete and passive detection methods, such as:
• AI-powered microwave systems that can detect concealed weap- ons such as guns or knives
• AI-powered video analytics that can detect handguns, rifles, objects left behind or a fight breaking out
• AI-powered chemical detection that can detect gunpowder, explo- sives and narcotics
• AI-powered gunshot detection that can determine the location of a gunshot and the type of firearm used
AI-Powered Security Management
While improved detection systems are important, AI-powered security management is what transforms these analytics into action. When any or all of these detection systems are used in conjunction with AI-pow- ered security platforms, mustering is improved by helping to:
• Notify police instantly and stream surveillance to first responders for improved mitigation
• Communicate with students and parents to share the safety status of the student and risk status of the threat
• Prescribe appropriate procedures and remediation actions to resource officers and security operators, based on the location, the criticality and the stage of the situation underway
• Automatically adjust access permissions and initiate emergency lockdown procedures for certain zones based on the specific loca- tion of the incident
AI-Powered Privacy
There are new technologies that carry certain elements of controver- sy, particularly regarding privacy. Facial recognition has been in the news, which we will discuss, but I will also introduce a concept far- ther on the cutting-edge - monitoring student behavior.
At the core of both technologies is the privacy of a student’s iden- tity - and this isn’t trivial. The good news is that new AI-powered security platforms allow school districts to have their cake and eat it too - meaning privacy is the norm - but when safety is at risk, safety is the highest priority.
Video analytics and facial recognition are popular ways to learn more about any environment, but student privacy is also key. AI- powered security management can configure video analytics to only identify “unknown” faces, while allowing known faces to go detected, but without reporting that a student’s specific identity was detected.
When these platforms detect such a situation from video analytics or weapon detection systems, “safety first” mode can be activated, allow- ing the facial recognition to start identifying the student faces to better know their location and status, without relying on mobile apps or mus- ter procedures - both of which are easily forgotten in an emergency.
This improves situational awareness and drastically reduces the chances and potential harm by an active shooter event, while still
By Clayton Brown
keeping student privacy central to everyday school operations. This is called “conditional facial recognition” or “safety-first privacy.”
AI-Powered Perimeter Defense
With the advent of AI-based approaches, perimeter defense solu- tions are the initial line of defense of a layered security system and help to detect a threat from a distance. Specialized sensors can be used in conjunction with other elements such as cameras and moni- tored with AI-based security software to identify threats just outside the campus walls.
For example, license plate recognition can be integrated to detect, “vehicles of interest” or “persons of interest,” and AI-assisted drones can be used to help detect threats from above before they become an issue, or follow the threat in case an incident occurs.
AI-Powered Entrance Control
While turnstiles may not have changed dramatically in form, their use within a layered security solution can provide invaluable data about traffic patterns to an AI-based solution , as well as become the first barrier in an active shooter scenario.
Randomized spot checks, controlled throughput and directed traf- fic flows can be initiated and managed via intelligent, risk-based solu- tions as threats are detected.
AI-Powered Prevention
The ultimate goal is to stop an individual before they bring a weapon to school in the first place or to stop a student on their path to harm, before any force is needed to keep a community safe.
To continue pushing the envelope, there are systems that use com- munity observations to better monitor dangerous behaviors. The FBI has concluded that there are 17 symptoms of a student’s path to becoming a potential active shooter.
Many times, these behaviors are noticed by various members of a community, but are not communicated to an appropriate central authority. This is most likely because there has not been a technology capable of tracking this until now. However, it is also likely to stay this way, as parents want to ensure their student is not falsely accused or permanently labeled by any human or technology. Predicting behav- ior before it happens may seem a little like the “Precognitives” in The Minority Report, and simply too far for what our society is ready to handle today.
This is where an important conversation is required by all com- munity stakeholders. Privacy and security are two-sides of the same informational coin, so to speak. As with many concerns and ques- tions, our society is looking for a mutually exclusive answer, rather than a balanced hybrid solution. AI-powered security management allows for such a balanced solution that keeps privacy in mind while keeping safety a top priority.
There is no right answer, or one-size-fits-all policy for such a multi-faceted issue. But the good news is that AI-powered security technology is here to help you build a proactive security posture that protects your students’ identity as well as life safety.
Clayton Brown is the executive vice president and co-founder of ReconaSense.
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