Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/34202
10 NEWS www.securitysystemsnews.com JULY 2011 SECURITY SYSTEMS NEWS CSAA readies ASAP-to-the-PSAP By Daniel Gelinas VIENNA, Va.—The Central Station Alarm Association is preparing to advance a next generation 911 com- munications program that benefits the security industry, emergency response centers (public safety answering points or PSAPs), and the public with a new protocol ini- tiative. CSAA is calling the initiative ASAP-to-the-PSAP. ASAP stands for Automated Secure Alarm Protocol and once fully functional will allow central stations to use the Monitor- ing Station to PSAP Data Exchange Program to deliver a data-slim link to bandwidth-rich multi-media content like video and audio to PSAPs and first responders. A PSAP is a call center responsible for answering calls to an emergency tele- phone number for police, firefighting, and ambu- lance services. Trained Teresa Gonzalez telephone operators at the PSAP are usually respon- sible for answering calls from central stations and end users. PSAPs dispatch the appropriate emergency services. Keith Jentoft, president of Video fied event-based video solution provider RSI Video Technologies, says the protocol is big step forward. “There is a real sense of partner- ship between the industry and law enforcement,” Jentoft said. “`Here’s our private industry and our cam- eras for your use.’” Jentoft and Teresa Gonzalez, ideas for life president of San Antonio-based United Central Control, recently visited some of the larger Texas PSAPs to talk about the initiative. “The San Antonio Police Depart- ment communications center man- ager was more than willing to take this concept of receiving email of video clips or a link to access the video clip and run the idea up to his management team,” Gonza- lez said. “Keith shared with me that his meetings with Houston, Austin and Dal- las were all very positive with Keith Jentoft The new face of surveillance technology. Introducing i-PRO SmartHD. Panasonic i-PRO SmartHD™ cameras can instantly enhance and detect individuals’ faces the moment see more with your smartphone they step into your facility. Employing the latest innovations in HD face detection technology, i-PRO SmartHD cameras* seamlessly integrate with our NV200 NVR to match stored faces with real-time video, and alert you when unauthorized individuals come into view. They’re also ideal for visitor management applications and to identify frequent customers. Any way you view it, Panasonic i-PRO SmartHD cameras are changing the face of surveillance technology. *WV-SP306 supports face matching similar excited reactions by those he spoke with.” Houston came online with the Monitoring Station to PSAP Data Exchange Program about a month ago and CSAA is currently await- ing comment on the success of the rollout. CSAA president Ed Bonifas said the idea of the ASAP-to-the-PSAP initiative was simple, and could evolve the central station/PSAP relationship. “The basic protocol is a page of dispatch information that comes out of our computers and goes directly into the [PSAP] dispatch computers … The central station can park basically anything on a web server and pitch to the PSAP a link to get to that content,” Bon- ifas told Security Systems News. “When shooters start shooting at a school, everyone wants public safety to have access to every- thing—video from inside the school, access to locked doors, floor plans and building lay- outs—but the other 364 days of the year, the public wants their privacy. This tool can be a way for the Ed Bonifas Panasonic System Networks Company of America Surveillance, Monitoring & Video Imaging panasonic.com/security central station to be the trusted key holder that provides access during a set period of emergency.” So what’s the next step to insti- tuting industry-wide adoption of the ASAP-to-the-PSAP program? “The whole URL concept is going to take a little bit of time to work out … There is planned to be CSAA board resolutions to fund and build the server neces- sary to connect the alarm indus- try,” Bonifas said. “At that time I will be able to lay out how we plan to fund the project as well as how and when alarm companies are able to get involved.” SSN