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Mill 19 in Hazelwood Green Upgraded Security Mill 19 in Hazelwood Green represents all that is Pittsburgh - a splendid fusion of innovation, automation, industry and grit. Jan 4, 2023 Mill 19 in Hazelwood Green represents all that is Pittsburgh - a splendid fusion of innovation, automation, industry and grit. We've been installing a security system to match - scalable, trusted, cybersecure and unified. Now Read These! New PCCD Grant Update: $100,000 Instant Funding for School Safety READ PCCD Grant Deadline: Plan for School Emergency Alerts Ahead of Alyssa’s Law READ Alyssa's Law: Strengthening Emergency Response in Pennsylvania Schools READ

Pittsburgh Allegheny County Thermal partners with DES for security after FEMA grant PACT's relationship with Dagostino Electronic Services began in 2014 after PACT was awarded funding to install a security system as part of a grant from FEMA. Dec 12, 2018 PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Allegheny County Thermal (PACT) is a steam distribution facility located across the Allegheny River from PNC Park in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. PACT pumps steam heat as a clean energy source throughout the city through various tunnels and pipe lines. PACT’s relationship with Dagostino Electronic Services (DES) began in 2014 after PACT was awarded funding to install a security system as part of FEMA’s Port Security Grant Program. In exchange for the grant, FEMA has access to three cameras on PACT’s roof overlooking the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. FEMA controls the cameras and uses them to monitor Pittsburgh’s waterway system. PACT applied for the grant because it was a great opportunity for them to increase their own security. “With our location on Fort Duquesne Boulevard, and the sightlines we had available, an opportunity arose,” Tim O’Brien, project and safety manager for PACT, explained. Today, PACT has 22 security cameras. Exterior cameras monitor access to and from the plant. One keeps a watchful eye on the entrance to PACT’s 1.5-mile tunnel system. One of three cameras on PACT’s roof overlooking the Allegheny and Ohio rivers controlled by FEMA. The tunnels, with more than six miles of pipe, run underground and distribute the steam heat to PACT’s customers including the county jail, the city’s convention center and hotels, banks and restaurants throughout the city’s Golden Triangle area. PACT’s security system is monitored 24 hours a day, seven day a week with Genetec Security Center . “The system itself is very user friendly. It’s very customizable,” said O’Brien. In addition to the security system, PACT partnered with DES during the renovation and relocation of their corporate offices, now located on the 10th floor of their Fort Duquesne Boulevard plant. DES upgraded the facility’s data and wireless networks, and Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise phone system, adding conferencing capabilities. “DES was good about making sure we had the right equipment to serve the right purpose for what we wanted to do,” O’Brien said. Built in the early 1900s, PACT’s building is predominately concrete and steel so getting a strong Wi-Fi signal was challenging. But, after the addition of several access points strategically placed throughout the plant, O’Brien says the signal went “through the roof.” He also credits DES with making the transition seamless. “They were very flexible with scheduling and made sure we stuck to the timeline to make sure that when the office moved happened there were no hiccups,” he said. Another benefit to working with DES? The ongoing training and support system. “[DES] did a good job not only training us but teaching us to train. I think that’s a huge feature you don’t see with a lot of other companies,” O’Brien said. “DES stays around and will continue to answer questions in the future. Even when a project is finished, it’s never really finished. There’s always something that comes up that you need to learn, or you need to learn how to do or need to have solved, and they do a good job of responding very quickly.” The ongoing partnership is something O’Brien plans to continue. He concluded, “I would recommend DES for numerous reasons. The main one is always going to be it’s nice when you get a system in that works. It’s reliable, and the support is reliable.” PACT Data Rack Pittsburgh Allegheny County Thermal PACT Surveillance Dashboard Pittsburgh Allegheny County Thermal Security Camera at PACT Security Camera at PACT Security Camera at PACT Panoramic Security Camera at PACT PACT Phone System PACT Surveillance Footage PACT Phone System Panoramic Security Camera at PACT Now Read These! 5G Scores in the Steel City READ Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) Eliminates Cellular Dead Zones READ Streamlining Procurement: How to Utilize PEPPM to Save on the Bid Process READ

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DES provides Election Day support DES built a temporary communication command center at One Oxford Centre to aid communication about issues at polling centers across Pennsylvania. Nov 5, 2014 PITTSBURGH — Dagostino Electronic Services proudly provides equipment and support services for voting day every election year. This year, we sent a team down to build a temporary communication command center at One Oxford Centre. Political attorneys staffed 10 Alcatel-Lucent IP touch 4038 phones, answering calls related to any issues at polling centers. The phones were plugged into a remote access point, powered by an Alcatel-Lucent OAW-4604, at the headquarters to create a secure VPN tunnel back to the DES offices. Dagostino’s support team monitored the automatic call distribution center during the day, keeping an eye on the status of the attorneys’ phones. The command center provided support for the majority of Pennsylvania, excluding Philadelphia. Now Read These! FRIDAY15: AI-Driven Location Services with Juniper Networks READ Streamlining Procurement: How to Utilize PEPPM to Save on the Bid Process READ End-of-December Checklist for When the Office Gets Really Quiet READ

Saving Time with Juniper Mist AI Discover a power tool that enables you to streamline operations, enhance troubleshooting capabilities, and optimize network performance in a fraction of the time. May 25, 2023 Juniper Mist AI is a power tool for network administrators, enabling them to streamline operations, enhance troubleshooting capabilities, and optimize network performance in a fraction of the time. Simplified network management Juniper Mist AI offers a cloud-based management platform that provides a centralized view of the network infrastructure. Network administrators can access a single dashboard to configure and monitor network devices, including access points, switches, and routers. This centralized management simplifies network administration tasks, reduces complexity, and improves operational efficiency. Enhanced visibility and analytics Juniper Mist AI leverages AI-driven analytics to provide detailed visibility into network performance, user behavior, and application usage. Network administrators can access real-time and historical data on network health, client experience, and traffic patterns. This information enables administrators to make data-driven decisions, identify and troubleshoot issues quickly, and optimize network resources. Intelligent automation and optimization Juniper Mist AI uses machine learning algorithms to automate network operations and optimize performance. It can dynamically adjust network configurations, such as channel selection and power levels, based on real-time conditions. Network administrators can benefit from automated network optimization, reducing manual intervention and saving time. Proactive problem resolution Juniper Mist AI can detect anomalies and potential issues in the network. It uses AI-powered algorithms to identify deviations from normal network behavior and can proactively alert network administrators to potential problems. This proactive approach helps administrators address issues before they impact users and minimizes downtime. User-centric troubleshooting Juniper Mist AI provides detailed insights into user experience and performance metrics. It can help network administrators troubleshoot user connectivity issues, identify areas of poor coverage, and optimize network configurations to ensure optimal user experience. Mist AI's user-centric approach simplifies troubleshooting, reduces the time spent on problem resolution, and improves user satisfaction. Network optimization and planning Juniper Mist AI offers predictive analytics and modeling capabilities that help network administrators optimize network designs and plan for future growth. Administrators can simulate and evaluate different deployment scenarios, assess the impact of network changes, and make informed decisions about capacity planning and infrastructure expansion. Overall, Juniper Mist AI empowers network administrators by providing advanced visibility, automation, and analytics capabilities. It enables them to efficiently manage, troubleshoot, and optimize the network, resulting in improved performance, better user experience, and reduced operational complexities. Now Read These! FRIDAY15: AI-Driven Location Services with Juniper Networks READ End-of-December Checklist for When the Office Gets Really Quiet READ Q4 Cybersecurity Breakfast: Briefing & Guidance READ

DES overhauls David L. Lawrence Convention Center surveillance system Dagostino Electronic Services migrated the David L. Lawrence Convention Center's security camera system from analog to IP-based. Nov 1, 2016 PITTSBURGH — Visitors to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC) in downtown Pittsburgh can feel safer and more secure thanks to a massive overhaul of the venue’s surveillance and security system designed and implemented by Dagostino Electronic Services, Inc. (DES). Convention center management wanted improved camera coverage throughout the 1.5 million square foot space with the ability to easily share images with select departments, law enforcement and first responders, as needed. DES installed an OnSSI Ocularis video management system and deployed more than 100 Axis Communications network video cameras at the venue. The solution also allowed the DLCC to keep 50 original analog cameras in use. The cameras were integrated into the new IP video system with an Axis video encoder rack and will gradually be replaced with new network cameras as they reach end-of-life. The new IP cameras, a mix of fixed dome and pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ), are run by Power over Ethernet (PoE) so they can easily be redirected or moved to suit the specific requirements of exhibitors and event planners, a must for a space that can hosts events ranging from several hundred to 50,000 attendees. “Each time a new event pops into the building, our security team has to cater to the needs of that particular event,” said Andre Henderson, chief of security at the DLCC. “With our Axis network cameras and Ocularis VMS we have the tools and flexibility to adjust our game plan.” The Axis cameras are also linked to panic buttons throughout the venue and door access control. DES worked closely with the DLCC to strategically install the right camera for the right space. “By choosing the right model and placing it in the right location, we’re able to achieve great coverage with fewer cameras,” explained Steve Morrison, director of information systems for the DLCC. “It’s really helped us stretch our budget.” He continued, “We have a 40,000 square foot hall that’s a low utilization space so we couldn’t justify putting in a dozen IP cameras. Pairing the two Axis cameras gave us an uninterrupted view of the entire area and the option to zoom in for a closer look.” Since the cameras have been installed, they’ve helped police locate a suspect and first responders assist a man having a seizure. In the first instance, police were trying to locate a suspect they thought might’ve boarded a city bus in front of the DLCC. A review of the center’s video showed which bus the individual boarded. From there, the detectives determined where he went, tracked him down and brought him in for questioning. In the second instance, a security officer monitoring the cameras saw a man fall to the ground. The guard immediately dispatched someone to the location and called 911 for assistance. The DLCC opened in 1981 but was completely redesigned in the early 2000s. Hundreds of events are hosted at the site each year from international G20 summit to national festivals, local conferences and industry expositions. Now Read These! New PCCD Grant Update: $100,000 Instant Funding for School Safety READ PCCD Grant Deadline: Plan for School Emergency Alerts Ahead of Alyssa’s Law READ Alyssa's Law: Strengthening Emergency Response in Pennsylvania Schools READ

IAQ is your Low-Hanging Fruit on the Quest for Sustainability From a technology standpoint, what’s the lowest of the low-hanging fruit when it comes to energy and sustainability? Jun 7, 2023 From a technology standpoint, what’s the lowest of the low-hanging fruit when it comes to energy and sustainability? Indoor air quality monitoring (IAQ). You've probably heard about it, but you need some insights. Keep reading... 1. IAQ tracks temperature. Trending temperature data is likely to reveal times when you can fine-tune your thermostat schedule. Considering HVAC accounts for upwards of 80% of a building’s energy use, minor adjustments can have a direct major impact on energy and costs, especially across multiple locations in a company or a city. The savings alone can cover the cost of the monitoring. But wait, there's more! 2. IAQ tracks CO2. Is it above 1000ppm? Coworker productivity is probably suffering, especially if it’s sustained at high levels. Below 500ppm? There’s a good chance you’re conditioning outside air more than necessary, which brings us back to unnecessary HVAC energy consumption. 3. IAQ tracks humidity. Dry air means viruses are suspended in the air longer. People are more likely to get sick. Downtime, anyone? Damp air means mold. I have first-hand experience with entire buildings that were closed due to the significant health impacts of mold. That'll put a dent in your ledger. Recommendations vary, but targeting 30%-60% is a good first step. 4. IAQ tracks VOCs and particulate matter. Maybe you haven't heard of these. I certainly hadn't when I started researching. They're pollutants that exist largely because of our industrialized world and both of which have a negative impact on your health. They increase healthcare costs and downtime, but how do you know what's in the air if you're not actively monitoring it? From the c-suite down, establishing IAQ as part of your company's ESG vision and strategy will pay dividends. Be proactive, not reactive. If you don't know where to begin, Dagostino Electronic Services, Inc., RESET®, and Airthings can help you. Now Read These! DES Tech + wtec smartengine = Smart Building Success READ Smart Lighting and DES' Vision for Seamless Building Integration READ FRIDAY15: Smart Buildings with Karpinski Engineering READ

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A Sweeping Security Transformation for Bellwood-Antis School District See how a unified security platform and single-pane dashboard transformed Bellwood Antis School District. Apr 26, 2021 Bellwood-Antis, a rural school district located in Blair County, Pennsylvania, faced a crossroad in its security roadmap. Much like other school districts, they owned a patchwork of disconnected security solutions. They had an access control system that only covered several of their exterior doors; a separate camera system that surveilled a fraction of their buildings; and three different mechanical key systems for the interior doors. Compounding the tangle was their assortment of security hardware: while some legacy systems were aging out, others still had life, and they knew they were not maximizing their investments. Their choice was either to carry on in the same manner and find another ad-hoc solution – or else think strategically about their security requirements. The district chose the latter and now, five years after embarking on a long-term security plan, district administrators are energized by the transformation on their campus. Building Security from the Foundation “We had to look at security holistically,” reflected Mike Lingenfelter, Director of Technology at Bellwood-Antis. “We had to move beyond solving a specific use case and instead tie together our security operations at the foundation.” While the leadership team knew their problem areas, they did not have an overarching vision of a strategic solution. Meeting with the DES security team, they were introduced to a systematic approach to security implementation. At its core, is a unified security platform that is both robust and flexible. “The Genetec system, which we deployed for Bellwood, is open-architecture,” explained DES Security Engineer, Adam Edkins. “Once you have that platform in place, the client can unify and customize each part of their security framework into the system.” Over the past five years, Bellwood-Antis steadily scaled with the new platform. The first step was to take stock of their existing functional hardware and integrate them into the new platform. Next, they added multiple new configurations of IP cameras, tied the surveillance system to door access, and are planning to further connect their cameras to the fob system. “When considering the financial costs, we did not want to tear out what’s working,” remarked District Superintendent, Dr. Thomas McInroy. “With this platform, we can work in phases because it is scalable, flexible and fully integrates with existing systems. It expands as our needs change.” The Wireless Route to Digital Transformation In their most recent security upgrade during summer of 2019, Bellwood-Antis switched out all their wired locks for wireless solutions. Every door on campus has a wireless lock that is networked to a wireless hub attached to a nearby ceiling or wall. Their reasons for choosing wireless locks are manyfold. Firstly, when retrofitting their older school building with internet connectivity, wireless was more cost-effective than running wire through concrete walls. On the maintenance front, doors in their school buildings are used heavily and forcefully, which was causing damage to the network wires running through the hinges. Additionally, the district tends to do minor construction from year to year, altering classroom spaces and doorways, and a wireless network is resilient to these entryway changes. More importantly though, a robust wireless network serves a “dual purpose” as Superintendent McInroy emphasized. “It serves our students for security and academically.” McInroy readily describes how the new framework for school security harmonizes with the district’s overall roadmap for digital transformation. In the past five years, Bellwood-Antis has shifted from a school reliant on textbooks, to classrooms offering a fully integrated digital curriculum with a 1:1 iPad program – only made possible through a unified approach to the wireless network. Individualized Access and Accessible Control At Bellwood Antis, each staff member is given an entry fob that is individualized for their access requirements. If a faculty member misplaces their fob, the security controller deactivates the lost or stolen fob from the Genetec system and now that fob is denied entry access. This feature is especially useful for managing staff. When staff is hired or leaves the job, security can instantly allow or deny access without the inordinate task of changing mechanical locks. The easy visibility into access control has additional benefits beyond security. Facilities Director, Tom Kovac, described how the gym equipment kept ‘wandering off.’ Through the software, he was able to see who had entered the gym and could then inform them of the correct protocols for equipment storage. He can also see how long the janitorial staff stay in each classroom, ensuring that cleaning is done thoroughly. “The neatest feature is the remote access,” he adds. “Once, after hours, the school nurse forgot her fob and needed to get into the building. With a click of a button, I could let her in from the comfort of my home, and then see through the IP cameras when she had left.” One-Touch Emergency Lockdown While active threats to student safety are few and far between, the district must be prepared for crisis. An emergency button, located at the greeter entrance, is programmed to trigger a series of emergency operating procedures. Through a single touch, all fobs are deactivated except for designated administrators and law enforcement, effectively implementing a total school lockdown; an emergency notification is sent out to critical personnel; surveillance cameras start streaming at a higher resolution for crisis control. Because of the system unification, possibilities for custom triggers are both broad and defined. A Welcoming Campus and a Unified Security Team Notwithstanding the sophistication of the surveillance system, the Bellwood-Antis campus feels welcoming. The tools in the unified system “allow for the freedom of an open campus while holding people accountable,” acknowledged Lingenfelter. More so, the system has unified the different branches of school operations. The facilities department works collaboratively with the technology and security departments to ensure optimal performance. “It speaks volumes that we’ve rolled out a system this robust and it’s gone this smoothly.” Now Read These! New PCCD Grant Update: $100,000 Instant Funding for School Safety READ PCCD Grant Deadline: Plan for School Emergency Alerts Ahead of Alyssa’s Law READ Alyssa's Law: Strengthening Emergency Response in Pennsylvania Schools READ

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