University of San Diego - School Security

Apr 1, 1997 12:00 PM, By Staff

           

University of San Diego begins comprehensive life safety upgrade As assistant director of public safety for the University of San Diego, Don Johnson looked hard at his school's long-term capital plan. The school was entering a 10-year period of new construction, which Johnson saw as an opportunity to design and install a comprehensive security and fire alarm networking system. Previously, campus security had been limited to the protection of a few buildings by a card access system that had reached its capacity.

The university's 16-person public safety department is responsible for the safety and security of the 180-acre campus, which sits on a mesa commanding a view of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Harbor. The university encompasses more than 42 buildings and has more than 6,200 students attending night and day classes.

In determining the level and sophistication of security that would be needed for the rapidly growing institution, the university had to consider a number of factors. First, the long-term master plan called for an ambitious program of construction and rehabilitation, which, Johnson strongly believed, required a comprehensive security and fire alarm networking system with the capability of linking most, if not all, of the facilities on campus. Also, the university was installing a fiber-optic system that would be the backbone of its communications network and would have to be compatible with any system installed. Finally, the public safety department determined the system must have the modularity to expand to a variety of applications, including card access, badging, CCTV and fire alarm networking.

The public safety department selected the NT 3400 security management information system from Simplex, Gardner, Mass. Johnson had become familiar with Simplex through a security project at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. After touring that facility, I came away appreciating the resources and technical capabilities that a complex security project demands, says Johnson.

One of the more critical selection criteria the school had to consider was how easy it would be for the staff to learn to operate the system. The new system is based on Windows NT, offering multi-tasking and end-user capabilities using a single standard database. Phase one of the installation was limited to access control, but various university departments will eventually implement other system capabilities.

As a team, we sat with representatives of security, MIS, communications, fire/life safety and others to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition to the new system, says Johnson. As we brought more applications on-line, cooperation with the various administrative officials and their staff became critical.

Johnson says the system has made access control easier to monitor because doorways can be automatically locked and unlocked from a central point. Department staff can call up security-related information about who is using access points and when, as needed. Johnson also notes that the university uses radio signal transmitters and receivers, connected to the NT 3400 system, to protect many of its artifacts.

The university began the security overhaul by installing the new system in the service lab as a test site, then expanded it to include the newly constructed administration building. Recently, a contract was signed to replace the school's card access system and to install CCTV throughout its new 1,000-car parking garage.

School administrators anticipate further system expansion after the campus master plan is adopted by the city. We're moving along one step at a time to best fulfill the needs of the students and the administration, says Johnson..

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