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Building Security Technologies That Deter Intrusion The built environment continues to shape our living spaces. It can easily be said that without the industry, human life would not be as comfortable as it is. A lot of effort goes into the construction of buildings, roads, and other infrastructural works. Architects utilize complex concepts to design projects, structural engineers ensure that the structural integrity of such projects is guaranteed under any conditions, electrical professionals apply their experience to coordinate sophisticated electrical systems harmoniously, while Quantity Surveyors employ their mathematical prowess to ensure that the building cost is optimum. This industry then, is responsible for marvelous utilities that have been developed through great collaboration and indeed harnessing of synergies between practitioners. As a general rule, the standards of civil engineering works are clearly prescribed in terms of the structures’ safety and fitness for purpose. However, end products of the built environment require additional features which work in tandem to guarantee superlative usage. We live in an era where security has moved from the traditional state centric approach which was predominantly focused on territorial integrity and statecraft. The advent of terrorism and insurgencies has brought a new challenge to practitioners in the built environment. Though not a requirement yet, many developers and practitioners 7
have started building
discourse on security.
It has been witnessed around the world that a secure building can be the difference between life and death during an attack. The rationale for heightened building security can be drawn from either its intended purpose or the need to protect the infrastructure from any eventualities. Technology in Building Security Technology plays a major role in building security. Traditionally, many developers prefer deterrence as a means of securing their premises. They deploy armed and unarmed guards who keep watch on the premises and by this action deter intrusion. The effectiveness of this approach has for a long time been in question, considering that a single guard is limited in the scope or area that they can man. Moreover, guards being humans are prone to body fatigue, attitude problems, among other related issues.
By Wahu Njoroge While this is important, video analytics provide inconclusive or sometimes incorrect alarm signals. In contrast, advanced security technology solutions provide the needed additional capacity to alert personnel to possible security breaches and hence better ensure that property and people are protected. The new security systems utilize complicated algorithms to determine intrusion and make appropriate actions to ensure that the intruder is curtailed, documented and eventually arrested. Facial recognition software, biometric identification systems, smart parking systems among other technologies have revolutionized building security.
Due to these human related limitations, developers are forced to use a lot of resources on deployment of more guards around their premises. This traditional approach is however increasingly being replaced by highly sophisticated security solutions which are based on artificial intelligence. A quick survey around Nairobi will find that majority of the modern buildings are under 24 hours closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. Issue 004 | December 2021
