In an exclusive interview with TimesTech, Ashish P. Dhakan, MD & CEO of Prama Hikvision India Pvt. Ltd., discusses the company’s innovative approach to campus security in India’s educational institutions. With cutting-edge technologies like AI, video surveillance, and smart access control systems, Prama Hikvision aims to enhance safety and operational efficiency in schools and universities, driving the future of smart, secure campuses across the country.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: What are the key steps and technologies involved in turning traditional institutions into Smart Campuses? Could you share examples of successful implementations in India?
Ashish: The Smart Technology landscape is evolving fast and one needs to plan and understand the implementation process while keeping logistics in mind. Transforming traditional institutions into Smart Campuses involves several key steps and technologies.
Assessment and Planning
- Evaluate current infrastructure and identify areas for improvement.
- Set clear goals for what the smart campus should achieve (e.g., sustainability, enhanced learning experiences).
Stakeholder Engagement
- This can be done by involving students, faculty, and staff in the planning process to ensure their needs are met.
- This needs to be done collaboration among departments to align objectives.
Technology Integration
- Choose appropriate technologies that align with the institution’s goals.
Implementation: It is pragmatic to roll out technologies in phases to manage costs and minimize disruption.
Training: As a part of implementation process, it is always good to ensure proper training for staff and students on new systems.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuously assess the effectiveness of implemented technologies. It is a good practice to gather feedback to make necessary adjustments and improvements.
Key Technologies
Internet of Things (IoT): Sensors and connected devices for monitoring energy usage, occupancy, and environmental conditions.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI-driven analytics for personalized learning experiences and operational efficiencies.
Smart Buildings: Automated systems for lighting, heating, and security to enhance comfort and reduce energy consumption.
Digital Learning Tools: Platforms that support collaborative learning, such as virtual classrooms and augmented reality applications.
Enhanced Connectivity: High-speed internet and mobile applications to facilitate access to resources and campus services.
Smart Transportation Solutions: Real-time traffic monitoring and connected vehicle systems to improve campus mobility.
By leveraging these steps and technologies, institutions can create a more connected, efficient, and responsive educational environment.
TimesTech: How do Prama Hikvision’s video security systems and access control solutions enhance safety in Smart Campuses? What unique security challenges do Indian institutions face?
Ashish: Prama Hikvision’s video security systems and access control solutions play a crucial role in enhancing safety on Smart Campuses through several key features:
Comprehensive Video Security Solutions: Video-Based Security is an integral part of Smart Campuses, Prama Hikvision provides advanced video security technologies that ensure complete coverage of campus areas, including entrances, hallways, and outdoor spaces. This helps eliminate blind spots and enhances real-time monitoring.
Intelligent Access Control: This solution explores the solutions offered by theFace Recognition and Biometrics technologies. These access control solutions utilize face recognition and biometric authentication, allowing only authorized personnel and students to enter sensitive areas like dormitories and laboratories. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Centralized Management: The Centralized Physical Security Management is enabled through aUnified Platform in the Command and Control Room. Prama Hikvision offers a wide range of varied security systems that can be managed from a single platform, allowing security personnel to monitor multiple feeds and respond quickly to incidents. This integration enhances operational efficiency and situational awareness.
Real-time Alerts and Analytics: These AIoT enabled video security solutions offer real-time alerts and advanced analytics in the form of smart notifications. The systems can send real-time alerts for suspicious activities or emergencies, enabling swift responses. Additionally, AI-driven analytics help in identifying patterns and potential threats, allowing for proactive measures.
Smart Emergency Response: This can be enabled through strategic applications of Integrated Alarm Systems. Prama Hikvision Smart Campus solutions can be linked with alarm systems, ensuring that any security breach triggers immediate notifications to security staff, facilitating a rapid response to incidents.
Ensuring safe and secure transportation: Smart campuses can offer safe and secure transportation solution to all its stakeholders through School Bus Monitoring Solution. These solutions also extend to school transportation, providing monitoring systems that ensure student safety during transit, with real-time tracking and Mobile Video Security solutions in buses and other vehicles. By implementing these technologies, institutions can create a safer and more secure environment for students and staff, fostering a conducive learning atmosphere.
Indian educational institutions and educational campuses face a wide range of unique security challenges that can influence their safety and operational effectiveness. Here are some key issues:
External Threats and Internal Risks: India is grappling with various forms of external threats and internal risks. These threats can disrupt campus safety and create a climate of fear.
Community Discord, Arson & Vandalism: The country has experienced many community violence cases and sectarian strife events, which can spill over into educational institutions, affecting student safety and campus harmony.
Cybersecurity Threats: With increasing digitalization, institutions are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, including data breaches and ransomware. Protecting sensitive information is crucial for maintaining trust and security.
Indiscipline and security breach: In educational institutes student groups often get involved in illegal activities that lead to indiscipline and security breach. These security breaches pose a huge risk to campus safety and students’ security. These cases of indiscipline, vandalism and bullying can lead to violence and chaos. These cases need to be resolved within institutional frameworks, otherwise; it can undermine the security framework and policy measures.
Lack of Resources and Training: Many institutions face challenges related to inadequate security infrastructure and insufficient training for staff in handling emergencies or security threats. This can hinder effective response to incidents.
Public Unrest: Public unrest driven by the social incidents or misinformation can lead to unrest on the educational campuses, necessitating robust security measures to ensure the safety of students and staff. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including enhanced security protocols, community engagement, and investment in technology.
TimesTech: How does Prama Hikvision’s technology improve the learning experience for students and educators? What digital tools are most impactful in promoting personalized learning?
Ashish: In pursuit of improving the learning experience, Prama Hikvision’s Smart ed-tech significantly enhances the learning experience for both students and educators through various innovative solutions. By integrating advanced audio-visual technology, artificial intelligence, and data analytics, Prama Hikvision’s smart solutions for EdTech offer a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges. These solutions can help transform ordinary classrooms into interactive, collaborative spaces that enhance both teaching and learning experiences. These solutions include the following segments:
Interactive Digital Displays: Prama Hikvision’s interactive flat panels replace traditional blackboards, allowing teachers to present multimedia content, engage students in real-time, and facilitate collaborative activities. This interactivity helps maintain student attention and fosters a more dynamic learning environment.
Remote Learning Capabilities: Their technology supports remote learning by enabling live streaming of classes and sharing recorded sessions. This ensures that students who cannot be physically present can still participate and access educational resources.
Smart Classroom Solutions: While enhancing the efficiency, Prama Hikvision’s smart classroom technologies streamline administrative tasks, allowing educators to focus more on teaching. Features like real-time content sharing and integration with video conferencing platforms enhance collaboration and communication.
Enhanced Safety and Well-being: Enhanced safety and well-being are the outcomes of security Monitoring. The integration of security cameras and access control systems ensures a safe learning environment. This focus on safety allows students and educators to concentrate on their educational activities without concerns about security.
Data-Driven Insights: Prama Hikvision Smart Campus solutions offer Data-Driven solutions, which provide Data-Driven insights through analytics. These systems can provide valuable insights into student engagement and performance, helping educators tailor their teaching methods to better meet the needs of their students.
By leveraging these technologies, institutions can create a more engaging, safe, and effective learning environment. Several digital tools have proven to be highly impactful in promoting personalized learning. Here are some of the most effective ones:
Learning Management Systems (LMS): These LMS platforms allow educators to create customized learning paths, track student progress, and provide tailored resources based on individual needs.
Adaptive Learning Technologies: These ALT tools adjust the difficulty of tasks based on student performance, ensuring that learners are challenged appropriately and can progress at their own pace.
Interactive Learning Apps: These interactive learning applications facilitate interactive lessons where students can engage with content in various ways, allowing for differentiated instruction and real-time feedback.
Assessment Tools: These assessment tools enable formative assessments that help teachers gauge understanding and adjust instruction accordingly, fostering a more personalized approach to learning.
Collaboration Platforms: These platforms support collaborative projects and discussions, allowing students to learn from each other and work at their own pace while receiving peer feedback.
Data Analytics Tools
These tools analyze student data to provide insights into learning patterns, helping educators tailor their teaching strategies to meet individual student needs.
By integrating these tools, educators can create a more personalized and engaging learning environment that caters to the diverse needs of their students.
TimesTech: How do Smart Campuses use real-time data to improve operations and resource management? What benefits have you seen in automating administrative tasks?
Ashish: Smart Campuses leverage real-time data to enhance operations and resource management in several impactful ways:
Optimized Resource Allocation: Data-Driven Insights help the optimized resource allocation: By collecting data on facility usage, energy consumption, and occupancy levels, institutions can optimize resource allocation. For example, HVAC systems can adjust heating and cooling based on real-time occupancy data, leading to significant energy savings.
Enhanced Safety and Security: Real-Time Monitoring helps in better situational awareness and enhanced security. IoT devices and Video security systems provide real-time data on campus activities, allowing for quick identification of security threats. This proactive approach helps in implementing timely interventions.
Improved Maintenance Management: Predictive Maintenance helps in improved maintenance management. Sensors can monitor the condition of equipment and facilities, alerting maintenance teams to potential issues before they escalate. This reduces downtime and maintenance costs, ensuring that resources are used efficiently.
Streamlined Operations: Smart campuses can automate administrative tasks such as attendance tracking and room bookings, freeing up staff to focus on more strategic activities. This leads to improved operational efficiencies.
Smart Learning Environments: The Smart Learning Environments for Personalized Learning. Real-time data on student engagement and performance allows educators to tailor their teaching methods to meet individual needs, fostering a more personalized learning experience.
Sustainability Initiatives: These initiatives help in environmental monitoring. Data on energy usage and environmental conditions helps institutions implement sustainability initiatives, such as reducing waste and optimizing energy consumption, contributing to a greener campus.
By harnessing real-time data, Smart Campuses can create a more efficient, safe, and responsive educational environment.
TimesTech: What are the major differences between traditional institutes and Smart Campuses? How do Smart Campuses improve learning and safety?
Ashish: The differences between traditional institutes and Smart Campuses are quite significant, reflecting advancements in technology and educational practices. Here are some major distinctions:
Technology Integration
Traditional Institutes: Often rely on conventional teaching methods with limited technology use.
Smart Campuses: Utilize advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and big data analytics to enhance learning and operational efficiency.
Learning Environment
Traditional Institutes: Focus on face-to-face interactions in physical classrooms.
Smart Campuses: Offer hybrid learning environments that combine in-person and online education, allowing for greater flexibility and accessibility.
Resource Management
Traditional Institutes: Resource allocation can be inefficient, often based on historical data rather than real-time insights.
Smart Campuses: Use real-time data to optimize resource management, such as energy consumption and space utilization, leading to more sustainable practices.
Student Engagement
Traditional Institutes: Engagement is primarily through lectures and standard assessments.
Smart Campuses: Foster interactive and personalized learning experiences through digital tools, gamification, and adaptive learning technologies.
Safety and Security
Traditional Institutes: Security measures may be basic, relying on manual monitoring.
Smart Campuses: Implement advanced security systems, including Video security cameras and access control, to ensure a safer environment for students and staff.
Community and Collaboration
Traditional Institutes: Collaboration often occurs within departmental silos.
Smart Campuses: Promote interdisciplinary collaboration through digital platforms, encouraging innovation and shared learning experiences.
These differences highlight how Smart Campuses are designed to meet the evolving needs of students and educators in a digital age.
TimesTech: How does Prama Hikvision’s technology tackle common security issues like unauthorized access and unsafe practices in educational environments?
Ashish: Prama Hikvision India offers a plethora of smart technologies in Video Security, Access Control, Perimeter and Intrusion Alarm segments. They help to address the key challenges and resolve the issues.
Advanced Access Control Systems (Facial recognition, Biometric and Card-Based Systems): Prama Hikvision offers biometric access control (like fingerprint and facial recognition) and smart card systems that ensure only authorized individuals can enter restricted areas, such as laboratories and administrative offices.
Advanced AIoT Video security Solutions: The advanced AIoT enabled video security cameras provide high-resolution video feeds, enabling real-time monitoring of campus activities. This helps in quickly identifying unauthorized access or suspicious behaviour.
Automated Alerts and Notifications: Automated alerts and real-time notifications are part of Smart Analytics. These systems use AI-driven analytics to detect unusual activities, such as loitering or unauthorized entry attempts. These systems can send instant alerts to security personnel, allowing for prompt responses.
Smart Integrated Security Solutions: Hikvision’s technology integrates various security components (Video security cameras, alarms, access control systems) onto a single management platform. This centralized approach simplifies monitoring and enhances overall security coordination.
Incident Reporting and Response via Mobile Applications: Their mobile apps allow staff to report incidents in real-time, facilitating quicker responses to unsafe practices or security breaches. This feature empowers the campus community to actively participate in safety measures.
Training and Awareness Programs (Educational Resources): Hikvision also provides training materials and resources to help institutions educate staff and students about security best practices, fostering a culture of safety on campus.
By implementing these advanced sets of AIoT technologies and smart security solutions, educational institutions can significantly enhance their security posture, ensuring a safer environment for students and staff. Smart Campus trend is growing with the empowering technologies and solutions, it is about providing a smart future to the emerging generations through a new learning environment, safer, better and smarter than ever.
