Hawaii Convention Center ensures safety of thousands

Jul 1, 2000 12:00 PM, ACCESS CONTROL & SECURITY SYSTEMS INTEGRATION STAFF

           

The 1.4-million-square-foot, four-story Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu has hosted thousands of visitors since it opened in June 1998. In October 1999, for example, the facility welcomed 34,000 attendees during the American Dental Association's convention, its first large-scale booking. The center's director of security, Joseph Miller, works to make sure the facility remains safe for its visitors.

During the ADA convention, Miller was pleased that his security staff of 25, along with additional contracted help, was able to keep the huge number of attendees safe. He used TISCOR's PROTRAC Security System to regulate guard tours during the busy time.

The PROTRAC software system works with hand-held computers to establish and monitor security tours and facilitate equipment inspections. Small touch tags are placed along various security routes at the center. When security officers make their rounds, they carry a small "dual-reader wand' in a waist-strap holder and quickly scan the designated locations. When the dual reader touches the various tags, it records the date, time, and location of each checkpoint visited.

If specific incidents occur, the security officers scan coordinating pre-labeled incident buttons they carry in a pocket-sized case. Scanned information is downloaded to a PC, where it is retrieved as needed for reporting purposes.

"I have to be honest, I was completely against the system at first," says Miller. "Now, I must admit, I felt an added bit of confidence during our first big convention because I knew the system was in place."

"I like the flexibility the system creates when we need to add a 'temporary' tour," says Miller. "For example, from time to time we encounter problems with people congregating in particular spots just outside of the center. Using the system, we may easily add a 'temporary' route to regularly monitor the specific location until it is brought under control."

Miller also takes advantage of the equipment-inspection feature the system offers. Bar codes were placed on each of the facility's 110 fire extinguishers, which are routinely checked.

Miller also likes the fact that he can go back years later and quickly research security-tour and equipment-inspection activities. "While we don't have to submit information to regulatory agencies, we do file reports with the state of Hawaii and the local fire department," Miller said.

"We are currently evaluating the feasibility of incorporating the automated incident report feature into our security patrols," says Miller. "The system has the capability of recording maintenance and other incidents that affect the center."

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

SUBSCRIBE

Select an Issue April 1, 2008 March 1, 2008 February 1, 2008 January 1, 2008 December 1, 2007 November 1, 2007 October 1, 2007 September 1, 2007 August 1, 2007 July 1, 2007 June 1, 2007 IP Security Supplement May 1, 2007 April 1, 2007 March 1, 2007 February 1, 2007 January 1, 2007 School Security December 1, 2006 November 1, 2006 October 1, 2006 September 1, 2006 August 1, 2006 July 1, 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 1, 2006 March 1, 2006 February 1, 2006 January 1, 2006 December 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 October 1, 2005 September 1, 2005 August 1, 2005 July 1, 2005 June 1, 2005 May 1, 2005 April 1, 2005 March 1, 2005 February 1, 2005 January 1, 2005 December 1, 2004 November 1, 2004 October 1, 2004 September 1, 2004 August 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 June 1, 2004 May 1, 2004 April 1, 2004 March 1, 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 October 1, 1997 September 1, 1997 August 1, 1997 July 1, 1997 June 1, 1997 May 1, 1997 April 1, 1997 March 1, 1997 February 1, 1997 January 1, 1997

This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue