In the wake of the catastrophic fire that involved Paris Cathedral, can we envision a decisive role of security systems in risk and disaster management?
In an article published on April 16, The New York Times reported faults in fire alarms as one of the possible reasons for the fast spread of flames that caused the fall of the iconic spire. Now, while the security system used to preserve such a global landmark is undergoing investigations, we want to focus on what the industry can do to protect our heritage from risks and disasters that can range from thefts to war devastation.
The security of cultural heritage depends to a great extant on the physical characteristics of buildings that house those resources, so raising awareness – which is Arteco’s main goal and everyday work – on their critical point is key to develop complex and efficient systems.
Perimeter walls (especially when shared with other buildings), parking lots and gardens can be exposed to unauthorized access, for this reason museums/libraries/archives should prioritize the equipment of passive defence measures such as video surveillance, alarm systems and efficient lighting. While common access controls for staff, visitors and vehicles are effective to monitor and prevent any dangerous person to enter the venue, a well-structured CCTV system is far more difficult to be installed. This is particularly true for those locations that were not designed to become a museum or a tourist attraction: consider a castle, a church or a palace, that were meant to be lived and experienced in everyday life and in a time with less threats to personal and common security.
What a good risk management plan may prescribe is: (1) funnelling visitors through safe paths to reduce risks and damages to people, artworks and architectures (in case of an intense tourist flow as well as in case of emergency); (2) monitoring that same path with cameras installed so as to avoid blind spots however the structure of the venue is used for exhibitions and visits.
Fire detection is now under the spotlight for the fire that devastated Notre Dame in Paris: investigation revealed that the Cathedral was not equipped with sprinklers that might have extinguished the fire immediately.
Finally, it goes without saying, there is the fundamental issue of maintenance: malfunctions are the greatest enemy of awareness, since they limit the ability of security professionals to be conscious of any problematic occurring in the location they are monitoring.
Arteco plays its role exactly in the moment in which security professionals need to have the highest level of awareness: receiving and managing events, alarms and notifications of malfunctioning systems is crucial to respond promptly and avoid extreme damages to our inestimable cultural heritage. For this reason, Arteco develops VMS able to collect information and events coming from devices on fields and present a complete panorama of what is happening live in the controlled area. To do so, Arteco develops partnerships with the main manufacturers and integrates their devices to give client made-to-measure solutions and an experience of total control.
For the complete list of integrations click here
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