Dan Rothrock, President, Zenitel Americas reveals why audio via IP speakers are a vital part of the security ecosystem for public events.
Beyoncรฉ and Bruce Springsteen performances in Europe. Taylor Swift concerts throughout the US. Country legends like Willie Nelson and Shania Twain are also selling out shows.
2023 has seen a typical summer packed with music events and concerts.
It doesnโt stop there. The summer has also been filled with hundreds of thousands of indoor and outdoor gatherings โ theater, sporting events, food festivals, parades and more.
Everywhere, people are gathering in large events and public spaces.
Most of these events occur without incident โ as they should. Behind the scenes are security and safety plans that aim to provide the safest possible environment for everyone who is at or near the event.
Those plans are critical, as threats exist daily and they are magnified when large numbers of people congregate in open spaces.
What could go wrong? Threats are not limited to terrorism; attendees may also be threats.
Fights, thefts, crowd surges and medical emergencies are persistent problems for all major events and public spaces, indoors or out.
That places enormous pressure on security and safety teams.
While the threat of a security or safety incident or attack can never be eliminated outright, much can be done in terms of mitigation, to include conducting risk assessments, identifying potential threats and generating actionable situational intelligence for a faster response and investigation.
The core of that mitigation strategy for law enforcement and security teams is technology in the form of surveillance cameras, access control, video analytics, metal detectors, 911 call centers, officers on patrol and more.
Employing major security technology can deter people from proceeding with their plans if they know theyโre being watched. It also tells attendees that they are safe.
For example, in a survey by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) of sports venue Security Directors, respondents noted that the technology they are most using to prevent and mitigate security incidents include CCTV systems, electronic ticketing, explosives detection K9 units, stationary bollards, signage and metal detectors.
Other common security technologies include antivirus software, mobile communications and social media messaging.
Whatโs missing? Itโs the one and only security technology that provides the ability to communicate โ clearly โ in every situation.
Imagine a football game with hundreds of thousands of people and a sudden storm forces immediate evacuation.
How will the spectators know when to leave and where to go? Only through audio and voice messages that clearly communicate all instructions.
Audio and voice can convey important messages that a video surveillance camera, or video management systems (VMS), access control solution or any other security technology cannot.
While video surveillance allows security teams to see and access control technology allows or permits access, both technologies are limiting.
They are reactive solutions, which confine a security teamโs ability to mitigate an event.
Integrating audio via IP speakers and horns with video surveillance and access controls gives security teams an interactive and proactive solution.
It essentially adds โearsโ to a security teamโs โeyesโ, which are important tools to have in any situation.
In an everyday situation or in an emergency, people will also respond to voice versus physical signage that they may not see.
Audio also has reach. Consider a security team that is remotely (whether thatโs a few hundred or thousand feet) monitoring a large-scale event.
Security teams can use video surveillance to see everyone and audio via IP speakers to clearly communicate with them.
They can use IP speakers to provide direction and reassurance and guests and patrons can hear and talk back to them.
For example:
Moreover, most IP speakers and horns are designed for both indoor and outdoor use, with IP66 ratings that offer protection from particulate and moisture ingress.
The interactivity and integration features of IP speakers provide many benefits over traditional public address systems, which include:
Furthermore, IP speakers have their own built-in amplifier that eliminates the need for central or localized amplifiers and reduces cabling.
In todayโs ever-changing and ever-increasing and complicated risk environment for major events and public spaces, the importance of high-quality, clear audio cannot be understated.
Whether itโs a large-scale outdoor concert, food festival, football game, carnival or large trade show in a convention center, people will gather. That has inherent safety and security risks.
Security professionals have likely dedicated time and resources to access control and video surveillance systems to ensure the safety and security of major events and thatโs important to a security strategy. Video surveillance is an essential element of a physical security solution.
However, surveillance footage is not interactive, as it only records the event.
Access control is an additional essential component as well, as it can either allow or deny access, but it is limiting too.
What is also needed is a way to clearly send messages, hear messages and clearly communicate.
Only voice and audio solutions via IP speakers allow security teams to effectively communicate instructions pre-event, during the event and post-event.
Security teams need voice and audio technology at their fingertips, to enhance situational awareness, communicate clear instructions, institute a safe exit and overall, allow staff to focus important resources where they can be most beneficial.
Itโs time to understand the value of IP speakers and intelligent communications to secure all major events and public spaces.
This article was originally published in the August edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, clickย here.
