Geospatial technology has the potential to completely revolutionise the way educators and authorities approach school security efforts. Using high-level combinations of satellite-based, drone-captured and indoor positioning geospatial data, stakeholders are able to build accurate and adaptive depictions of properties and physical resources, the analysis of which helps staff plan informed incident responses.
Additional data, including crime records and internal incident reports, can be leveraged against this information to help stakeholders identify hotspots, vulnerabilities and areas in need of attention, as well as inform the planning of low-risk evacuation routes and instructions for emergency responders.
Geospatial data can be updated in real-time, enabling leaders to adjust plans in response to unfolding events, with admins able to access live insights via secure smart devices and computer systems. This live, informational approach to school security shows promise in enhancing emergency preparedness and incident response capabilities, enabling leaders to promote safe schools through geospatial data.
What is geospatial data?
Geospatial data is information that describes the characteristics and physical properties of objects and infrastructure in a specific location on the Earth. Geospatial data is collected in a number of ways, including through live satellite imaging, weather data, census data, digital records and information collected by Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled environmental sensors like occupancy/sound detectors.
Geospatial data associated with multiple sources can be combined and collectively analysed within a unified Geospatial Information System (GIS). By feeding data into a dedicated GIS, admins are able to physically map real-world locations and adjust visual representations of select spaces in response to real-time information, offering a holistic view of combined physical resources and unfolding events.
How geospatial data improves school security
Geospatial analysis is commonly used to help solve challenges in education, with mapping tools and geographic information deployed in educational settings to improve learning outcomes, but GIS may also be effectively deployed as a school safety and security-focused data collection and analysis tool.
Combining live indoor positioning data collected by IoT sensors with high-quality satellite imagery and crime reports within a bespoke GIS provides school security teams an interactive and accurate picture of key physical resources. This information can be used in a number of ways, both to improve the way preventative measures are developed and to enhance live incident responses using accurate insights.
Examples of GIS-enhanced school security measures include:
- Evacuation planning: GIS analysis can be used to plan and adjust evacuation routes for minimal risk of detection by viewing infrastructure from all angles to understand threat factors.
- Emergency communications: GIS data can be communicated to emergency responders to help them adjust plans in response to live events, for example, if a gunshot detector is tripped near to a primary evacuation point teams can be updated instantly and informed of new plans.
- Crime data analysis: Local crime reports can be fed into GIS platforms to gain insights into beneficial security improvements, helping leaders to ensure resources are used appropriately.
- Student safety: GIS data collected by IoT sensors can be used to identify issues like vaping, smoking, absenteeism and fighting, enabling staff to address risks promptly and effectively.Â
- Building management: Converting written records of floor plans and layouts into GIS data helps property managers to optimise building management plans and systems, enabling staff to investigate vulnerabilities in a digital environment to limit the impact of exploitable faults.
Summary
Geospatial technologies provide stakeholders the ability to better understand how physical spaces are used, both under normal circumstances and during emergencies, enabling staff to adjust operations in response to high-quality insights. When deployed alongside school security systems, GIS tools assist staff in identifying latent vulnerabilities quickly and effectively to promote safer school environments.Â
James is the head of marketing at Tamoco
