Two leading-edge CCTV systems are being used on campus at Cornwall College, but their purposes could not be more different. One network is helping minimise security risks, while the other records images of fish, insects and sea life.
New cameras and recorders have been installed by Truro-based Perspective CCTV to boost security at five sites including a wildlife conservation centre alongside Newquay Zoo and the College's headquarters at John Keay House in St Austell. Discussing the installation with academic staff led to a realisation that CCTV could also be used to great effect in the classroom.
Two leading-edge CCTV systems are being used on campus at Cornwall College, but their purposes could not be more different. One network is helping minimise security risks, while the other records images of fish, insects and sea life.
New cameras and recorders have been installed by Truro-based Perspective CCTV to boost security at five sites including a wildlife conservation centre alongside Newquay Zoo and the College's headquarters at John Keay House in St Austell. Discussing the installation with academic staff led to a realisation that CCTV could also be used to great effect in the classroom.
Cornwall College was established in 1929 and has grown to become the largest further and higher education college in the UK with over 56,000 students. It has campus sites in Falmouth, Newquay, St Austell, Saltash and Camborne and incorporates Duchy College of Agriculture. Cornwall College is also an important part of the devolved structure for the University for Cornwall and has over 2,500 students studying at university level.
The original intention had been to use CCTV at the Newquay site purely as a security measure. his soon changed once Perspective CCTV director Andrew Oakes met Dr. Mike Kent, who is head of the Newquay campus.
Newquay has also been fitted with CCTV as part of a security system which is being rolled out to other college sites across the county. The project to introduce new CCTV systems started about 15 months ago at the time of the renovation of John Keay House, which is both the College's corporate headquarters and a campus. The site had been bought about two years ago. “We had inherited an analogue, black a white CCTV system which was becoming expensive to maintain,” says head of IT services Steve Cant. The renovation brought the opportunity for an upgrade.
CCTV is being used to detect problems such as intrusion and vandalism common to large sites. “We've found that CCTV works well as a deterrent,” says Steve Cant. “By making cameras visible we prevent any potential security issues, whilst making our staff and students feel safer in their environment.”