At Florida International University (FIU), our dedication to our community extends beyond the academic pursuits of each student. We want to promote a safe environment for all, but we understand that certain inevitable risks exist. Suicide is such a risk, one that sometimes involves tall structures, including parking garages.
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Our goal is to proactively identify and address potential suicide risks while enhancing campus safety.
Garages are common features at universities, given the demands for parking on campus. Unfortunately, garages and other tall structures present areas of heightened vulnerability, making them potential “hotspots” for those with suicidal intentions.
At FIU, awareness of these hotspots propels us to reinforce our commitment to cultivating a culture of empathy and vigilance. To this end, we recently deployed a versatile suicide-risk-detection system that seamlessly integrates with the rooftop security infrastructure in all six of our garages. At press time, completion of the system is scheduled to be finalized in July, including the system’s hardware and software installation and training. Our goal is to proactively identify and address potential suicide risks while enhancing campus safety.
A Growing Concern
Suicide is a major concern that has increased over the last two decades, becoming one of the leading causes of death in the United States, particularly among individuals aged 15 to 34. In this country, twice as many suicides occur as homicides, highlighting the need for immediate support and intervention.
Our university already provides mental health services. However, FIU’s Operations and Safety team seeks to improve upon the university’s resources for helping individuals in distress and affording them an opportunity to reconsider their situations and their actions.
Ultimately, we hope the suicide intervention measures we are installing will help distraught individuals avoid a tragic outcome and prevent the devastating consequences that their family and friends otherwise would have to suffer.
Collaborative Solution
The collaborative technological solution implemented on the rooftops of the parking garages of FIU's Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC) integrates Genetec's Security Desk surveillance and security software, the Miller Electric Company’s programming expertise, and cameras provided by Axis Communications AB. This integration has resulted in an advanced security system that proactively detects potential suicide risks in real-time, facilitating immediate intervention.
Photo/ by Franceska Gedeon/Florida International University
Our innovative system combines analytic cameras, including fixed-low-light and 360-degree pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) models, that are powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and equipped with advanced features such as object recognition, line-crossing detection, and loitering detection. Continuous monitoring is ensured through dynamic tracking capabilities, while real-time crisis intervention is facilitated by an intuitive alarm-and-notification feature paired with networked public address speakers.
Strategically positioned 360-degree PTZ cameras provide comprehensive, wide-area coverage with their pan, tilt, and zoom features. They can dynamically track people and alert university staff when certain thresholds are crossed, ensuring constant vigilance regarding potential threats. If an alert is triggered, campus dispatch is notified, enabling them to issue audible warnings and send security, if necessary.
AXIS cameras equipped with the Perimeter Defender application for perimeter surveillance and protection can identify and respond to individuals loitering near edges or crossing thresholds. Notifications alert dispatch, triggering audible warnings, and enabling real-time monitoring for security personnel to assess situations and take prompt actions if needed.
With our internal management of installations, we have full control over our infrastructure, enabling customization, integration, and easy data management with internally hosted servers.
Strengths of the System
Our system offers the following six main benefits:
- Live visual confirmation – This feature enables authorized personnel to receive alerts in real-time. Combining automated alerts with human checks ensures a thorough, dependable response.
- Responsive threat management – In case of an alert, we can quickly respond to a designated location, facilitating swift responses and decision-making.
- Dynamic tracking – Our cameras offer a complete view of the monitored area. This feature enables us to follow people and moving objects easily, so nothing goes unnoticed.
- Improved resource use and greater awareness – We can quickly direct staff where needed, helping to increase our awareness and improve response times.
- Easy upgrades and compatibility – Our system easily fits in with other security setups, making it more effective and easier to use. It is simple to deploy and can be continuously enhanced.
- Reviewing incidents – Watching recorded videos helps us learn from what happened and improve our safety plans for next time.
Prioritizing Safety
Nothing compares to the value of human life, which is why FIU has been so determined in the development of this system. This deployment prioritizes the safety of parking garages and highlights the effectiveness of using AI-powered technology for interventional purposes alongside conventional methods such as signage.
Parking operators can increase overall safety by introducing proactive danger-detection methods and complete security systems that integrate several components such as surveillance cameras and alert notifications. The project emphasizes the importance of excellent project management methods, such as strategic technology selection, continuous communication with collaborators, and meticulous installation processes.
FIU's suicide intervention system adopts creative solutions, prioritizes safety, and implements effective security protocols to create safer workplaces. Ultimately, our goal for this system is to enable us to intervene if someone seeks to take their life in a manner that involves one of our garages. In such situations, every moment counts. The sooner we can intervene, the greater the chance that we can save a life.
Nicole Gazol is the office assistant to Thomas Hartley, the associate vice president of parking, sustainability, and transportation at Florida International University. She can be reached at ngazol@fiu.edu.
