Background
A world-class student community
Aston University, in the centre of Birmingham, UK, is home to over 9,500 students in one of Europe’s liveliest and most welcoming cities. Consistently ranked within the UK‘s top 40 universities, Aston is known for its world-class teaching, graduate employment success and strong links to industry, government and commerce. It also ranks in the top 15 of the government’s National Student Survey. Situated ten minutes walk from the main 40-acre campus, Aston Brook Green is one of Aston University’s popular student residential communities. The development was originally created in the 1980s by Aston Student’s Union and a housing association via the conversion of 52 Victorian terraced houses to create accommodation specifically designed to meet student requirements. The community comprises a mix of shared accommodation for small groups and self-contained apartments for singles or couples set in a well-illuminated area with trees and landscaping.
Challenges
Upholding a duty of care
Today’s higher education sector is big business and maximising student safety is central to any university’s duty of care. With more students looking further afield for the best university experience, safety is a key factor in the choice of where to study. Independent sources such as the UK’s annual National Student Survey, which rates universities according to the quality of experience and wellbeing, are also a key influence on reputation. So when the housing team was making plans to improve the IT network with better wired and wireless broadband provision for students living at Aston Brook Green, they identified an opportunity to also upgrade key aspects of its security surveillance. While the team had been satisfied with the scope of coverage provided by its existing network of CCTV cameras, it wanted to make the transition to high-definition surveillance to further enhance the level of protection that it could offer to students.
Solutions
Cost-effective 24/7 monitoring
Security specialists Feedback Data deployed an IDIS DirectIP™ HD surveillance solution. Rather than replacing all the existing hardware, a key advantage was the ability to easily remove the analogue cameras and install 25 new full-HD IDIS cameras, while still utilising existing camera housings. The addition of several extra camera positions extended external coverage by approximately 25%. With plug-and-play simplicity, the system was easy to set up, connect via power over Ethernet and configure for optimal performance, combining high image quality with no visible latency. Intuitive software now enables the housing team to remotely monitor camera views with ease from the desktop or remotely via iPhone or an Android device.
Results and Benefits
Student security in safe hands
Since installation of the IDIS solution, the Aston Brook Green housing team is better able to offer students the peace of mind that that their term-time homes and community are safeguarded 24/7 by state-of-the-art HD surveillance. The cost-effective solution ensures user-friendly access to high-quality images and enables rapid retrieval of video footage, making it easier to clarify the facts in the rare event of an incident or alert.
Commenting, Malcolm Lawrie,
Housing Manager at Aston Brook Green said:
" We attach the highest priority to student wellbeing and, thanks to the IDIS solution, we are better equipped to maintain an environment where our students can enjoy university life confident that their security is in safe hands."
