Martha Entwistle, Senior Manager Corporate Communications for Eagle Eye Networks explains how new video monitoring technology can support and build communities.

The role of video monitoring

Security cameras are no longer simply used to deter and investigate crime after an incident.

For more than a decade, security cameras have helped retailers manage staffing and allowed airports to make sure that bags are not left unattended.

In recent years, AI-powered security cameras that can ensure safety protocol compliance at construction sites, notice if an unauthorized vehicle drives into a school parking lot and even let restaurant owners know if too much cheese is being used in pizza production have entered the market.

Now, camera sharing technology built for standard security cameras is bringing local businesses and community members together, fostering a sense of community and strengthening public safety at the same time.

Camera sharing enables a school or business to share access to one or many of its security cameras with 911 emergency communications centers (ECC) during, and only during, an emergency.

The business selects which cameras it wants to share ahead of time and when an emergency occurs, the telecommunicators (the ECC professionals who respond to 911 calls and dispatch first responders) can view live video and share valuable information with first responders.

In essence, camera sharing brings the power of live video monitoring or “eyes on the scene” to telecommunicators – an element that’s largely been missing from ECC alarm monitoring during emergency situations.

When every second counts, camera sharing streamlines telecommunicator’s ability to provide situational awareness.

First responder impact

First responders have difficult and dangerous jobs.

Whether they are responding to a school shooting, a fire, a natural disaster, swatting or other criminal incident, first responders need as much information as possible to determine how to safely approach the scene.

Armed with the ability to view exterior and interior cameras, telecommunicators can share critical details with first responders such as the location of suspected criminals, blocked doorways, the location of exits or whether there is smoke in a hallway.

This information provides first-hand visual situational awareness to first responders, speeding up response time, mitigating damage and potentially saving lives.

Most importantly, it greatly improves safety for the first responders and those in harm’s way during these emergencies.

How camera sharing expands public-private partnerships

When a 911 call comes into the ECC, all the pre-selected shareable cameras within close proximity to the emergency become available to the telecommunicators.

Only the cameras that are designated as shareable cameras can be viewed as part of the video monitoring process.

This differs from other technologies that are designed to be used during emergencies.

For example, many schools share their cameras directly with law enforcement, which can be extremely useful.

However, this camera sharing feature is different because the security camera access is given to telecommunicators rather than to the first responders themselves.

The telecommunicators can inform and guide the first responder using this video monitoring system.

Another difference is the fact that ECC telecommunicators are given instant access to security cameras from all businesses in the vicinity that have signed up to share their security cameras during a 911 emergency.

For example, if there is a school shooting, the best vantage point to observe what’s going on around the school, or what happened just prior to an emergency, may come from the camera at the church across the street, the corner convenience store or a retail parking lot behind the school campus.

That’s where the community building is coming into play.

How community is built through security technology

Since the introduction of this technology last spring, we’re seeing instances of entire communities working together to prepare for the kinds of emergencies we hear about all too often – from extreme weather to mass shootings.

Parents, businesses, schools, politicians, public safety officials and law enforcement are enthusiastically embracing a community approach through video monitoring to improving public safety and outcomes.

This technology is simple to implement and economical because it uses existing cameras and works on any video management system (VMS).

The folks leading the charge on adopting camera sharing include security integrators who see the benefits and simplicity of the technology, and already have deep ties to their local communities.

How to approach investment

What are the specific benefits that integrators and business owners should look for in a camera sharing product?

• Camera agnostic: should work with existing cameras and infrastructure
• System agnostic: should work with any VMS
• Cybersecurity: video and video monitoring should be encrypted and securely transmitted. System should not require sharing passwords
• Built-in cybersecurity and privacy safeguards. All camera access should be logged and take place exclusively over securely encrypted channels. No additional users need to be created or given access to the VMS

The security camera is a relatively simple device that’s proven to be remarkably versatile and useful.

Layering camera sharing capabilities on top of existing camera and VMS investments creates even more opportunity for organizations of all kinds to improve public safety and emergency response in their communities.

The added benefit of fostering this level of public-private partnership is helping ensure ongoing monitoring and response collaboration in 2024 and beyond.

About the author

This column was created in collaboration with the Security Industry Association (SIA) Women in Security Forum IlluminateHER Subcommittee to help elevate Power 100 honoree voices in the security industry.

Martha Entwistle, a 2024 SIA Power 100 Honoree, is Senior Manager Corporate Communications for Eagle Eye Networks.

This article was originally published in the August edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.