New High-Tech Security at Education Building

WTVD ABC-11 TV News Story June 3, 2005

Imagine entering a building, having your ID scanned, then issued an ID badge complete with a bar code. Sounds like something that would occur at the Pentagon or some other high security building, but in fact, this high-tech security system is in place at the Public Instruction Building in downtown Raleigh.

The Lobbyguard System is a security device that helps track people in the building. By why such a high tech system in this building?

"There's stuff here even though it's public record we want to know who is seeing it so this gives us access." Ben Matthews, the Director of School Support says they've been using the Lobbyguard System for the past two months. "We can take a picture of someone which can actually be a real deterrent."

The Lobbyguard System is not only used at the Education Building but it is also used in several Wake County schools. "In our school settings if someone's trying to sign into the system and they're on a sex offender list then it will stop the process and notify the appropriate person to prevent someone from signing in."

Travis Lam works with the company which developed the system. Lam explains how it also helps keep tabs on people during an emergency, like a bomb scare, or a fire. That way first responders don't have to risk their lives to go into a potentially dangerous building.

During a recent fire drill, administrators used the system to make sure everyone on the list was accounted for and safe.

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