New gunshot recognition technology secures SCAD campus
Photo by Katherine Rountree
In the next couple weeks, SCAD will become the first college in the United States to use SecureCampus, a state-of-the-art gunshot recognition technology.
The system of sensors will cover the two square miles of the SCAD Savannah campus. SCAD Public Safety first announced SecureCampus in an email sent to students on Sept. 18, but manufacturers have been here since spring planning out and mounting sensors across the city and inside buildings.
SCAD Director of Security John Buckovich said the acquisition of this technology was spurred by vigilance and not increased danger.
“The motivation behind [using SecureCampus] was not because we’re fearful that something like this would happen on our campus, but unfortunately it’s a fact of life that things like that do happen,” he said. “So the best way to keep our students and staff and faculty safe is to prepare for the event that it were ever to happen. “
In that way, he said, it’s like a fire alarm – buildings aren’t expected to burst into flames at any moment, but if it does happen, responders must be prepared.
“It’s the same concept that, if it were ever to happen, it allows us to respond a lot quicker,” said Buckovich. “Which obviously reduces any kind of injuries at the scene.”
Buckovich was first introduced to this technology 15 years ago during his career with the Richmond, Virginia, Police Department. SecureCampus technology is also used by law enforcement under the name “ShotSpotter” in about 90 U.S. cities today. Richmond considered implementing it then, but didn’t because the system was new and unrefined at the time. But now, according to Buckovich, the kinks have been worked out and he’s excited about putting SecureCampus in action.
The system uses acoustic sensors to identify the specific audio frequency of gunfire. If anyone fires a weapon within the sensor range, notifications will go to Buckovich and Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department patrol officers within 30 seconds of the gunshot. The notification identifies — through audio playback as well as text — where the gunshot occurred, how many shots were fired and what kind of weapon (or weapons) it was.
False positives are unlikely – the technology is precise enough to never mistake firecrackers, engine backfires, war movie audio and other similar sounds for gunfire.
“From a situation of awareness, it gives us so much information,” said Buckovich. “It gives us information we’ve never had before.”
Based on the data SecureCampus gives the security team, they can see immediately how close the gunshot was to a building and from there decide what actions to take – hold students in classrooms, reroute buses or even do nothing, if the event is judged nonthreatening.
There are two separate systems in SecureCampus: exterior and interior. The exterior system covers any outdoor part of the campus. If someone fires a weapon anywhere within that two square miles, even if it’s not near a SCAD building, the sensors will triangulate the location of the shot and immediately send data to the authorities.
The interior system was only developed in the past year or so. Here, the sensors can identify exactly where gunshots occur, down to floor levels and room numbers. Floor plan drawings of all the buildings are in the system so the police know how to get to where they need to.
The police department’s involvement indicates not only greater collaboration between SCAD Public Safety and Savannah Metro, but also how much SecureCampus benefits Savannah as well. SCAD’s purchase of the technology inspired Savannah to do the same. The city will be expanding ShotSpotter farther into the city, covering more residences and businesses as well as the homes of off-campus SCAD students.
“And once again, it’s not because Savannah’s this hotbed of crime,” Buckovich emphasized. “It’s about being proactive. In case anything were to happen on our campus, we want to be able to respond quickly and know exactly what we’re responding to.”