By Wayne Arvidson, Global Director, Market Development and Strategy, Dell Technologies

Computer vision is revolutionizing many industries, but it’s still making inroads into education. That’s not surprising, given the historically tight budgets for many educational institutions.

As the technology advances and becomes more mainstream in the commercial world, colleges and universities are likely to be the first adopters in the education realm.

With a camera infrastructure already in place on most education campuses, along with adequate district, campus, and departmental networks, departments already have the infrastructure needed for computer vision.

What’s needed are scalable hyperconverged infrastructures (HCIs) that combine computing, networking, storage, and software, enabling institutions to capture and analyze video, audio, and other data at the edge to get real-time insights.

A significant benefit to this approach of computer vision–powered analytics is that data can be ingested once, analyzed, and then used in many different ways.

To remove the risk in adopting this technology, an all-in-one computer vision system is preconfigured, right-sized and validated to work with an institution’s applications.

(Learn More. Dell Technologies launched several PolicyHacks to understand how teachers can adapt in a rapidly transformative digital world. In partnership with the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, Dell Technologies conducted these sessions across four cities in India in 2019 with over 700 participants. Courtesy of Dell Technologies and YouTube.)

Let’s look at computer vision’s impact on education-related outcomes across five key areas: safety and security, the educational experience, operational efficiencies, sustainability, and enhancing revenue.

Increasing the safety and security of students, staff, facilities, and campuses

Safety and security are key requirements in all educational institutions. One of the most common uses of computer vision today is to monitor premises, which includes the perimeter and interior of buildings.

That data can streamline biometric access control systems or automate incident control to protect occupants and deny entry to unauthorized persons.

AI and machine learning analysis of video streams, still photos, and audio feeds can assist security personnel with real-time situational awareness for things like finding missing persons and identifying those who should not be in a particular location, as well as providing predictive occupancy to help ensure that spaces remain under capacity limits to meet fire codes and social distancing measures.

Equally important is the safety of individuals from contaminants.

Cameras along with air-quality sensors, can feed data into a computer vision system to detect changes in the environment from hazardous materials or airborne chemicals.

Any space can be monitored for air quality and ventilation to protect personal health and well-being.

(Meet the HALO Smart Sensor and all-in-one safety IoT device from IPVideo Corporation that captures comprehensive health, safety, and vaping awareness, Named a Finalist in the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program. HALO is also the #1 vape detector worldwide for vaping and vaping with THC detection. Courtesy of HALO Smart Sensor and YouTube.)

Computer vision can also help individuals move about safely between buildings on campus and enhance real-time situational awareness for emergency personnel. For example, consider a student leaving the library at night. The student uses an app to notify campus security that they are heading to their dorm room.

As cameras detect the student in motion, lights turn on to illuminate the path to the resident hall with security staff monitoring progress. A computer vision system can also integrate into a local city system to enable faster response times by law enforcement and first responders.

Realizing greater operational efficiencies through real-time actionable intelligence improves campus experience

Enhancing educational experience often also delivers operational efficiencies—streamlining a service benefits the business and the people who consume that service.

On a higher education campus, getting people to their destination with minimal effort can be accomplished through services like augmented-reality–based wayfinding, where digital signage and/or apps guide people to parking spots, buildings, offices, and classrooms.

Classrooms and auditoriums can be configured for hoteling, which detects when an instructor walks into the room and automatically adjusts lighting, air temperature, and the height of the podium per the instructor’s preferences.

Queue management is also made more efficient by computer vision. Computer vision insights are used to predict busy times at the bookstore, for example, by combining visual data with historical sales data.

Potential wait times in the checkout line (or places like the registration office) can be alleviated through dynamic staffing, in which employees are pre-scheduled or shifted in real time to meet demand.

In the future, students will be able to purchase books and supplies using touchless or frictionless technology, grabbing what they need and checking out automatically as they leave the store.

Higher education campuses are like mini-cities, many with their own power generation plants and water heating and cooling systems. A campus can operate like a smart city, using computer vision to control power consumption and water usage, as well as per-building heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).

Based on historical usage patterns, outdoor smart lighting can be configured to automatically power off or use downlighting during daylight hours and light up the same areas after dark.

Data analytics derived through computer vision is also being used to help prevent students from dropping out of school. A major K-12 school district in the United States uses real-time federated analytics to combine visual factors with data from social media posts, academic reporting and other sources to classify types of at-risk students.

Educators and counselors then use these insights, along with their personal observations, to offer student counseling and other resources to help students on their academic journeys.

How schools can reduce environmental impacts through sustainability measures via computer vision

Schools at all levels tend to be environmental stewards, looking to build a healthy future for their students, personnel, and surrounding communities.

For many administrators, running an eco-friendly school system and reducing their overall carbon footprint is a priority likely to extend well into the future.

So how does computer vision help?

Occupancy data generated by cameras can be used by building energy management systems to automatically adjust HVAC conditions in real-time to ensure proper conditions for occupied spaces while conserving resources in spaces that are unused.

Data from cameras monitoring parking lots is integrated into digital signage systems and wayfinding to help to direct traffic to available parking spaces more efficiently, reducing emissions.

The same principle applies to shuttles moving people to and from events at university stadiums, which will become even more fine-tuned as the use of autonomous driving vehicles with regulated speed and acceleration become the norm.

(Reach IT sustainability goals faster with Dell Technologies as-a-Service solutions. AaS can help reduce environmental impact and IT management costs. Courtesy of Dell and YouTube.)

Generating revenue through computer vision in higher education

Colleges and universities, and even some private K-12 schools, compete to attract a certain caliber of students.

While an institution with computer vision in place appeals to parents due to increased safety and security, recruiters can use computer vision for enhanced virtual tours and as a general draw that makes the campus a destination for students.

For example, research universities using computer vision’s real-time federated analytics offer students the opportunity to learn about and use the same tools as commercial industries, such as big pharma and healthcare, gaining valuable experience while pursuing a degree.

Departments may be able to acquire funding, such as research & development grants, for computer vision through public entities and private corporations.

(Future-ready, software-driven storage so you can be ready for what’s next. Meet the All-New PowerStore from Dell Technologies. Courtesy of Dell and YouTube.)

In the United States, college sports and entertainment events are a significant source of revenue.

Using computer vision to increase the safety of stadiums and the people who use them, and make the fan experience easier and more enjoyable, can increase ticket and concession sales, boosting the revenue of those venues.

Having the capability to generate data insights at the right speed and velocity to make time-sensitive decisions can only improve overall safety. It also enriches the experience of the educational community, increases operational efficiencies, improves sustainability, and enhances revenue generation.

Consider where you can begin incorporating computer vision into your school to improve outcomes for your students, educators, staff, and institution.

Learn more about how computer vision is positively impacting other industries.

• The Future Is Computer Vision – Real-Time Situational Awareness, Better Quality, and Faster Insights
• Computer Vision Is Transforming the Transportation Industry, Making It Safer, More Efficient, and Improving the Bottom Line
• How Computer Vision is revolutionizing the Manufacturing Supply Chain
• How the Sports and Entertainment Industry Is Reinventing the Fan Experience and Enhancing Revenues with Computer Vision
• How the Retail Industry Can Improve the Customer Experience, Increase Safety, and Maximize Margins Through Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence

Republished with Permission. Originally posted here.

Related Technologies…

IPVideo Corporation Named a Finalist in 2022 Homeland Security Awards Program

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, recognizes industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

AST has officially Announced the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Finalists in our 2022 ‘ASTORS’ FINALISTS EDITION *Fully Interactive* Mobile Magazine Here.

Additionally, the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Government Excellence and Public Safety Award Honorees have also been announced (Click Here), although there are several late-entry nominations still to be announced!

Register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon Today

Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border, and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.

These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.

The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony Luncheon Banquet, an exclusive, affordable, gourmet, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City, held at the International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC East) since it’s inception in 2017.

And who better to address the aforementioned challenges, and initiatives to meet today’s threat landscape than Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the opening keynote speaker at the much-anticipated 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022.

As the DEAC of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mrs. Sabatino leads over 31,000 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of $6.5 billion.

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

(See highlights from the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in NYC. Courtesy of AST and Vimeo.)

The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders – because #MentorshipMatters.

In addition, the First 100 Registered Attendees to the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Ceremony and Banquet will receive a complimentary autographed copy of ‘STOP THE KILLING: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis‘ by the former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit.

Ms. Schweit offers insight into what we can do to end the active shooter crisis plaguing America.

Within the pages of STOP THE KILLING she provides us with an insider’s look at what we’ve learned and failed to learn, about protecting our businesses, houses of worship, and schools.

So Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon on November 16th, 2022, to reserve your copy!

The United States forever changed on September 11th, 2001, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon.

In the days that followed 9/11, the critical need to protect our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.

Our 2021 keynote speaker featured a moving and informative address from TSA Administrator and Vice-Admiral of the United States Coast Guard (Ret), David Pekoske; to our attendees who traveled from across the United States and abroad, on the strategic priorities of the 64,000-member TSA workforce in securing the transportation system, enabling safe, and in many cases, contactless travel.

Enter, American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more visiting our AST Website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.

The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by New PLATINUM SPONSOR:   NEC National Security Systems (NSS),

New Premier Sponsors Rajant Corporation, guardDog AI, plus IPVideo Corporation, and

Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Automatic Systems, Fortior Solutions, RX Global, and SIMS Software!

In 2021 over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields, which included:

• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI)

• Customs & Border Protection (CBP)

• The Federal Protective Service (FPS)

• Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

• DHS Science & Technology (S&T)

• The National Center for Disaster Medicine & Public Health (NCDMPH)

• The American Red Cross

• The InfraGard National Alliance

• The Metropolitan Police (MPD)

• The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)

• Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS)

• The Federal Air Marshals Service

• The San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, and Many More!

Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon

ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with ASIS NYC.

Each year, in order to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government, and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands.

This combination of one-on-one conversations with top innovators, high-quality special events, and cutting-edge education and training, makes ISC East the most comprehensive East Coast event to guide the industry in getting back to business.

Taking place November 15-17 at the Javits Center in NYC (SIA Education@ISC: November 15-17 | Exhibit Hall: November 16-17), ISC East will be co-located with the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (NDEM EXPO), a comprehensive trade event and online resource dedicated to the preparation, response, and recovery of physical and human assets of public and private organizations, and the 33rd ASIS NYC Expo.

Qualified professionals who register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Banquet Luncheon, will receive complimentary access to all three events.

Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins, include:

AlertMedia, Allied Universal, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems of America, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, HID Global, Mark43, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Lumina Analytics, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Senstar Corporation, ShotSpotter, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and Wiresecure, just to name a few!

Why American Security Today?

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications

AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please see the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2021 ‘A Year in Review’.

The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of Annual ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.

It serves as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2021 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

·       For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.

For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

• Provides named sources
• Reported by more than one notable outlet
• Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

Subscribe to the AST Daily News Alert Here.

Learn More…

Are You a 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Finalist or Honoree? Join Us to Celebrate in NYC!