University PanicALERT FAQ
Q. How does University PanicAlert work?
A. University PanicALERT is an active RFID system incorporating triple technology including long range RF, short range LF, and IR when necessary.
Q. Is University PanicALERT a GPS system?
A. No. University PanicALERT goes way beyond GPS which only works outdoors and does not provide the level of accuracy necessary to prevent crimes against persons.
Q. How accurate is University PanicALERT?
A. University PanicALERT is the only RFID based system to accurately provide location information indoors and outdoors. Accuracy inside buildings on campus accuracy is guaranteed to 2-3 meters and accuracy outdoors is to line of sight.
Q. How does a student or staff member signal for help?
A. With a touch of a button on a badge. The badge can be worn around the neck with a lanyard, attached to clothing or key rings, kept in a pocket or pocketbook, and of course carried by hand should the student sense danger.
Q. Our campus has security patrols in cars, on foot, and on bicycles 24/7. How will your system help us?
A. Each security officer on patrol will have a pager which we provide. The security officer is alerted within seconds of a button push. The name of the student in distress and the precise location is provided for the security officer. The security office receives the same information.
Q. We have “Blue Phones” located around campus. Doesn’t this accomplish the same thing as your system?
A. There are three primary deficiencies with “Blue Phone Systems”. First, a student needs to get to a phone which is often not available to them when the student is in danger. Second, the “Blue Phone” system is ineffective if a student is kidnapped and dragged inside an unoccupied building. Third, the “Blue Phones are generally not located indoors so as to be of little use if a student is followed into a building and accosted there. As with your other security systems already in place, we do not recommend that “Blue Phones” be removed as they will continue to serve the purpose for which they were intended. The University PanicALERT System works with all of your existing systems and procedures to make your campus and students safer.
Q. What if a student is grabbed and dragged into an unoccupied building?
A. As soon as the student presses the panic button their location is identified. Location information is updated as soon as the student moves 50 feet.
Q. How expensive is University PanicALERT?
A. The cost of the University PanicALERT System will vary by campus. An analysis of the campus site plan and interiors of the buildings on campus are required to ascertain costs.
Q. This sounds very expensive. What if we don’t have the funds available to pay for the entire University PanicALERT System
A. For universities that are unable to purchase the University PanicALERT System outright, MGM offers numerous options. One option includes MGM installing the entire system with little or no up front cost to the university. Additionally MGM will maintain and operate the system to the complete satisfaction of the University for an Annual Fee. This fee can, at the universities option be passed onto the students. It could be included in tuition or collected as a supplemental charge.
Q. What changes are necessary for our existing security departments to make to accommodate the University PanicALERT System?
A. Almost none. The University PanicALERT System is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing systems, personnel and procedures. We only need space to locate our monitor in your security room so that location of incidents can be seen in easy to use CAD format. MGM even provides the pagers used by patrolling officers. Depending upon your preference MGM will administer and maintain the system including issuance of tags.
Q. Where is your system currently being used?
A. Our first PanicALERT System was first installed in 2003 in a relatively small 350,000 sq. ft campus covering 6 floors in 5 buildings in Miami FL. This installation has operated with over a 99% up time the past 7 years and is currently being expanded.
Beginning in 2008 we began installing our PanicALERT System on a multi-campus facility in Pittsburgh PA. To date the system is installed on 2 campuses located 8 miles apart and encompassing 17 buildings and over 4 million square feet. This includes both indoor and outdoor areas with additional buildings and parking garages scheduled to be installed over the next few years. Both of these installations are US Government Campuses with many of the same issues as a large university.
Q. Who else can provide similar systems?
A. At this time no other system can locate students or faculty in distress, indoors and outdoors, with the accuracy required to prevent Crimes against Persons. We don’t foresee this changing anytime soon as our systems have already been patented and have additional patents pending.
