Houston Schools Deploying IoT-Enabled Building Safety Platform to Improve Emergency Responses

The city of Houston will be the first to implement an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled platform called ActiveShield that redefines public safety. Two Houston schools will pilot the IoT safe-spaces technology created by Insight Enterprises (NASDAQ: NSIT), which integrates with a building safety platform from BeSafe Technologies to facilitate critical, real-time information sharing during a crisis.

ActiveShield leverages the power of Safe Spaces developed by Insight, part of a suite of customizable, end-to-end smart spaces solutions developed by the Digital Innovation team at Insight, a Fortune 500 global systems integrator helping organizations of all sizes manage and transform their business. Insight’s Safe Spaces solution addresses communication challenges during emergency events where public safety is threatened, running safety mechanisms like sound sensors and color-coded LED lighting through an IoT-enabled response system. The real-time information sharing clearly conveys the nature of an incident to first responders and people in the vicinity of the impacted area.

“Knowledge is power, and our mission is to save lives by providing the right information to the right people at the right time,” said Kevin Harrington, chief executive officer of BeSafe Technologies. “What we see with Insight Safe Spaces is the ability to use IoT to build on our core capabilities to further improve public safety. This creates a communication hub that instantly connects on-site security with police, fire and other emergency responders, as well as building occupants.”

BeSafe, a provider of emergency response communication technology between school administrators and first responders, is working with Microsoft and the city of Houston to install the platform in two schools within the Aldine Independent School District (AISD). BeSafe already has equipped the schools with its core safety and security system, and the IoT-enabled ActiveShield will be implemented next.

“Student and staff safety are a top priority. The partnership with the city of Houston and Microsoft will take our efforts to the next level,” said AISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney. The district announced Friday that its application of the smart technology helped the city of Houston win the Smart Buildings Award as part of the IDC Smart Cities North America Awards.