RAD Delivers Up to 80% Savings on Security and Improved Performance
THE CHALLENGE
A regional parking service company with five public parking garages, nearly 2000 parking spaces, staffed during daylight and early evening hours found itself encountering unwanted trespassers and occasional incidents of violent crime during the staffed and unstaffed hours. The company had previously installed high-resolution video surveillance cameras in several locations, but these proved themselves to be ineffective as a deterrent or useful during an emergency.
According to a recent study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, a significant percentage of property crimes occur in parking lots and garages. Furthermore, people’s perception of parking areas are generally of insecurity and risk. And the data backs up these perceptions. Across the U.S., parking facilities are the third most active location where violent crime occurs, with over 1,000 attacks, on average, each day.
The company reached out to Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD) through an authorized dealer in search of a workable and affordable solution.
THE SOLUTION
The company had briefly considered adding a supplementary shift to their manned guarding personnel schedule, but across five parking structures such an additional expense would exceed $325,000 per year and was quickly ruled out. Working with the team at RAD, a solution consisting of several, properly positioned, smart video security devices with capabilities and performance far exceeding traditional video cameras was developed. The objectives of this project were clear, provide the company with enhanced security measures, and save the company from unnecessary budget expenses.
RAD’s ROSA unit would be the key component in the company’s new security detail. ROSA is a guard replacement device that includes critical autonomous response to help simulate guard actions at a fraction of the cost. Each of the five parking facilities, all single level lots, would deploy two ROSA units, one at opposite ends of the parking lot. The device’s 180° field of view through dual hi-resolution, full-color, always-on digital cameras would provide each parking lot, much needed 24/7 visibility and monitoring.
In such an environment, ROSA can be used to monitor and record both human and vehicle activity. RAD’s feature of SuspectSpotter uses artificial intelligence for accurate detection of persons – and then can perform a variety of actions based on location, time of day and day of week. These actions are a significant deterrent to potential perpetrators.
ROSA can also be used to recognize and deter loitering. The RAD device’s continually active analytics – all built in – create and alert based on the end users’ particular needs. An internal countdown timer is then created, and if the identified people remain in view of the device beyond the established time, an alarm and alert is activated. Furthermore, an on-duty guard or remote monitoring officer would be notified of the incident and then could visually identify these suspicious individuals. Once identified, the guard could initiate an audio announcement through the ROSA device notifying them that they must leave, or the property would take appropriate further actions.
RAD’s ROSA also includes the capability of initiating an emergency call to an on-duty guard or remote monitoring officer with two-way audio communications. In the case of an imminent threat or actual emergency, the parking guest would simply push the unit’s attached EMERGENCY button, comparable to pulling a fire alarm. Immediately, they will be greeted by a remote monitoring officer who could then activate additional device alarms and dispatch additional security or law enforcement, all while capturing every incident detail including, video and recorded audio securely on the cloud.
The addition of these ten ROSA units across the many parking facilities has dramatically improved the situational awareness for the security services department. The units are actively performing their duties in providing a deterrence, alerting remote guards, and documenting and reporting incidents of trespassing and crime. It is now projected that the deployment of these units, instead of additional man-guarding personnel will save the company an estimated $237,000 this fiscal year.
FALL 2020 UPDATE
The RAD ROSA units deployed at these parking facilities each had their artificial intelligence analytics updated once the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Included in this free update was the ability to recognize those wearing and not wearing a face mask as they were being observed in the parking lots. This feature has proven to be a valuable tool to the company, both in public relations with the community and in face mask policy enforcement for their employees and visitors.