How Technology is Revolutionizing Commercial Building Security
Having first rate security is vital for commercial building looking for sustained success. According to a tenant survey done by CBRE, Building Security ranked as one of the most important factors in overall tenant satisfaction. Not only is it a vital aspect of the tenant experience, but sound building security leads to better employee satisfaction and retention for building owners.
With building security being at the highest level of priority for everyone, building owners and managers are always looking for cutting edge products and platforms that will give them the best overall protection. Two main categories under building security are camera systems and access control. Both have existed in different forms for a long time, but are starting to see a transformation.
For security camera systems, they have long existed in a closed-circuit style, where someone would have to watch a screen for the system to work. While effective, it allows human error (loss of focus, fatigue, etc.) to effect security, and really is only truly effective as a tool to use after a security breach or safety issue has occurred. This sector of building security was ripe for innovation, and that’s where companies like Heptasense come into play. Heptasense realized humans can’t do a proper analysis of what’s happening in real-time security situations, so they developed a cloud-based platform that unlocks the full potential of security cameras to improve security and overall building management. Building managers can use Heptasense to recognize hand gestures, track people, create interaction maps, and even make heat maps of motion in a space. The system is also able to discern between different human behaviors (suspicious behavior, running, smoking, eating, falling, stealing) and physical metrics (age, gender, size). Think of Heptasense as a brain behind the camera. It can quickly categorize and track movements and tell you when concerns arise.
The term access control refers to the practice of restricting entrance to a building, or a room to authorized persons. This is commonly done through standard key and lock. The problem with the standard key and lock is that it does not allow restriction of the key holder to specific times or dates, or provide records of the key being used. Also, keys can be easily copied or transferred to an unauthorized person, and when a mechanical key is lost or the key holder is no longer authorized to use the protected area the locks must be re-keyed. All of this eats up money and time, so naturally better solutions have been developed. Take Lukoton, a company that has developed a mobile access control solution that works with your standard lock and key system. They set their system up over the mechanical lock and key, meaning that installation is quick and cost effective. Its system allows users to unlock doors through an app or mobile browser. Safety is obviously important to them, so all data on the platform in encrypted and no critical system information is stored on mobile devices. This set up allows building managers to manage who has access where and when with quick changes on the dashboard, meaning no more printing or redistributing keys. Since the system is electronic, security alerts can be distributed to necessary personal when required. It can be combined with other security systems to give you all-encompassing protection.
Quality, high-tech, building security systems offer value for building insurers as well. Being able to have data that points to a physical location being safer can lead to more accurate pricing and costs. Also, with great security, comes lower risk. Lowering risk for properties is valuable in terms of building insurance.
Everything above is why Upward Labs has created a Smart Building specific incubation program. We want to help nurture the next wave of innovation in this industry by providing first-rate resources to startups that are working hard to make a difference for senior citizens. By offering knowledgeable mentors, pilot programs and so much more, we believe that the future of this industry will be happening right in our space in downtown Hartford, Connecticut.
For more info, check out: https://www.moveupward.city/smart-buildings-lab
