California school welcomes its most alert students on board - IQeye megapixel CCTV cameras

Over 100 IQeye HD/megapixel cameras have been installed at the two California high schools

The Redlands Unified School District serves the communities of Redlands, Loma Linda, Mentone, San Bernardino, Yucaipa, and East Highland. Redlands Unified has a total of 23 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as the Redlands Independent Study Education School.

The challenge

Planning for the future, Redlands Unified began upgrading the District's network backbone in 2004. As the project progressed, the School Superintendent indicated that he wanted to upgrade and expand the use of video surveillance to improve security for students, staff, and visitors.

Another high school in the District, Redlands East Valley, had an antiquated analogue CCTV system with VHS tapes that had been upgraded to an NVR. However, the system's cameras were unreliable and staff monitoring video could see general activity but no forensic-level detail to show what was really happening.

Redlands High School, the oldest high school in California, was the first location targeted for a new video surveillance system. David Massaro, Coordinator of Technology Services for Redlands Unified, and his team requested bids for a high-quality IP video system. "We looked at a lot of different products, but the ones that caught my eye were the OnSSI software and the multi-megapixel camera technology. We looked at several major IP camera manufacturers and we liked the 1.3 megapixel models from IQinVision, there was really nothing else out there like it at the time."

The solution

Through late 2009, two Redlands Unified School District high schools have deployed more than 100 IQeye HD megapixel cameras in a successful effort to improve school safety and deter possible incidents. Conduit Networks of Temecula, CA is the project integrator. Initially, the District installed 18 IQeye501s at Redlands High School, managed by the open platform OnSSI video management system. Massaro and staff were impressed with the IQeyes' wide area of coverage and the digital zoom capabilities.

The original 18-camera system was deemed a complete success, and it laid the groundwork for a much larger installation at Citrus Valley High School. At the newly-built Citrus Valley location, the District has installed 53 IQeye Sentinel cameras for exterior surveillance and 36 IQeye Alliance dome cameras to monitor the administrative offices, library, hallways, the security offices, and other key interior locations. The District is monitoring and recording video at the high schools at speeds ranging from 5 to 15 frames per second. Video is stored for 16 days, long enough for any incident to be reported and checked out, if it wasn't observed real-time.

The highlights

• The initial installation of 18 IQeye cameras at Redlands High School was deemed a complete success and gave Redlands Unified staff the confidence and a model to substantially expand their IP surveillance programme.
• At Citrus Valley High School, Sergeant Dan Kivett and his staff are in charge of safety and security for the 2500 students, as well as faculty and staff. "With the on-going state budget cuts, this system gives us another six pairs of eyes."
• The IP surveillance system with IQeye forensic detail images acts as a force multiplier by enabling staff to quickly identify a potential incident, zoom in to get accurate information, and then direct officers to where they are needed. As Kivett explained: "The video helps make much more of the campus visible and it allows us to handle any disputes quickly."
• In just a few months of operation, the IQeye's HD megapixel quality images, wide area of coverage, and digital zoom capabilities have aided security staff in solving infractions ranging from the theft of a few bags of cafeteria chips to scuffles and more serious fights. Kivett reported that there has been no significant graffiti on the school grounds of any kind.
• Kivett again: "We can recognise faces on the video, the students are quickly getting to know this, and it is becoming a powerful deterrent to mischief. Word of mouth is probably our best tool, it travels fast."
• Redlands Unified has a total of 23 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as the Redlands Independent Study Education School. Future plans call for gradually rolling out a standardised video surveillance system with IQeye HD megapixel quality cameras to all the District's schools.
• The District's long-term goal is to centralise all video and data back at the District building, while staff monitor their own camera views at each school location.