Becoming One of the Safest Universities in the Country
Bridgewater State University improves security with Axis network cameras and video management system. Replacing a legacy system with multisensor cameras allowed the school to expand coverage with fewer cameras.
Protecting a Commuter-Centric Campus
Having a commuter rail stop in the center of campus has been a great convenience for students at Bridgewater State University in downtown Bridgewater, Massachusetts. At the same time, this ease of public access to school grounds adds another layer of concern for campus security.
To meet the need for greater situational awareness across its 278-acre campus, the university decided to replace its legacy video management system and cameras with an Axis end-to-end solution. “We initially tried to integrate the new Axis cameras with our original DVR system, but got a lot of pushback from the vendor,” explains Dave DeLutis, the director of networking for Bridgewater State University (BSU). “The former vendor wanted to tack on excessive licensing fees for the integration.”
Another problem was the poor quality of the existing cameras and the inadequate support service from the university’s original vendor which caused long delays in repairs. This often left BSU without camera coverage or access to their system for days on end. “When we began rolling out AXIS Camera Station 5 as the video management software and new Axis cameras – it was like night and day,” shares DeLutis. “No more choppy video, the cameras connected fine, and Axis has been quick to respond to any technical or support issues we’ve had.”
Bridgewater State University's investment in the comprehensive surveillance system has paid off, with the campus now ranking as the fourth safest in America, according to research conducted by Academic Influence, a college ranking organization. With more than 286 –views from a combination of multisensor and PTZ cameras, and license plate readers, the university's police department has enhanced its ability to respond effectively to incidents and maintain a secure environment.
The system's user-friendly interface allows officers to quickly access and share critical footage, supporting their efforts to keep students, faculty, and staff safe. BSU Police Staff at the police dispatch center also watch the cameras, primarily focusing their attention on dorm entrances, parking lots, and areas with lots of foot traffic.
The intuitive interface of AXIS Camera Station 5 makes it easy for the BSU Police Department to monitor all camera views using a rotating mosaic, as well as quickly store and retrieve video clips with a few simple clicks. Additional features enable the IT Department to streamline maintenance and updates, and easily scale the system as needed.
Calculating camera placement and coverage
When charged with expanding coverage to more areas of the campus, the IT team turns to AXIS Site Designer, a free tool from Axis that lets them map out the target site, place cameras, and view the coverage they’ll provide. “Site Designer is a phenomenal help,” says DeLutis. “I recently used the tool to layout coverage of the back hall of our dining facility where staff move between the locker area and the kitchen.”
Using the tool, DeLutis and his IT administrator were able to test different configurations and see how different camera models and their placements would impact the views they provided. “Site Designer allows us see all our options and even improve them,” states DeLutis.
Building out our network of Axis cameras has been invaluable in maintaining safety. The cameras are helping us stay ahead of potential problems and regularly aid our police officers in a lot of hardcore detective work.
Standardizing on more views with fewer cameras
One of BSU’s most go-to cameras has been the AXIS Q61 PTZ Camera Series with a 360-degree field of view. “We standardized on the AXIS Q61 PTZ camera with an AXIS Q61 quad series camera on the bottom for a lot of our outside installations,” shares Chris McCarthy, a Detective Sergeant for the Bridgewater State University Police Department. “This gives us five views from a single location.”
The standard cameras for indoor locations have been the AXIS P32 Dome Camera Series. “They’re great for entrances because they give us a good quality image,” states McCarthy. “Plus, we can remotely zoom or auto-focus them instead of having someone go out to the location and get up on a ladder.”
To protect its investment in green technology, BSU also installed Axis PTZ cameras to monitor the university’s new solar panel installations.
Monitoring locations for vandals and accidents
BSU continues to build out its network of cameras, adding coverage to their five-story parking garage, parking lots, and the main road into the campus. “The cameras are great for investigating motor vehicle incidents,” claims McCarthy. “If someone sideswipes a car and leaves the scene, we can track where that car went. And if they pass by one our AXIS License Plate Verifier cameras, we can catch their plate, too.”
In addition to the main campus, the BSU Police oversee operations in the BSU Flight Training Center located at the New Bedford Airport. “The university runs an aviation program in a building down at the airport,” shares McCarthy. “We also park our own airplanes there.”
For student safety and asset protection, the Axis cameras monitor the tarmac and the entrance to the classroom building.
Focusing on student fraud and potential unrest
Following reports of fraudulent course refund claims at other universities, BSU’s President asked that security measures be deployed to forestall that happening on their campus. In response, the IT group installed a 2N IP Solo video intercom at the entrance to the Student Accounts Office so that staff could screen people before unlocking the door.
“We linked the room cameras to a large monitor so that students could see themselves when they enter,” explains DeLutis. “If they walk in thinking they’re going to commit fraud, when they see they’re being recorded, it’s a big deterrent.”
While BSU hasn’t experienced the unrest happening on other campuses, they’ve looked to expand coverage in areas where student protests could occur. “We’ve upgraded to quad view cameras in places like the front of the main administration building,” shares Chris McCarthy. “We’ve also extended camera coverage to areas where large events like homecoming take place.”
Helping to find missing children
Because the cameras at BSU provide views that extend beyond the university, the Police Department for the town of Bridgewater sometimes relies on the university for video that can help in their investigations. So, when the town police received a report that two youths had vanished from their home around 10 o’clock one night, the BSU police checked campus video and found that the children had boarded a southbound train.
“We were able to provide town police with a description of what the kids looked like and what they were wearing,” states Detective Sergeant McCarthy. “And their officers were able to track the children down in the next town over.”
In other instances, local police look to the university’s surveillance video for car descriptions or critical details involving motor vehicle accidents. “Just having the camera footage makes a world of difference in a police investigation,” asserts DeLutis.
By prioritizing security through advanced surveillance technology, Bridgewater State University has created a safer learning environment, fostering academic success and peace of mind for the BSU community.
Photos courtesy of Carly McMahon, Graduate Assistant and member of the University News and Video Department, and Charlie Peters, Director of University News and Digital Content.
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