Physical Security
Protecting Âé¶čAV through innovation, technology, and partnership
At Âé¶čAV, the Information Technology Physical Security team plays a vital role in protecting our campus through innovative, technology-driven security solutions. Our department designs, installs, manages, and supports a wide range of advanced systems, including the campus-wide security camera network, electronic access control, and other integrated technologies that work in tandem with the university's technology infrastructure.
In close collaboration with the Âé¶čAV Police Department, we ensure these systems provide real-time support for safety operations and contribute to maintaining a secure campus environment. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, we deliver reliable tools that enhance situational awareness, strengthen emergency response, and safeguard the university community.
Our mission is clear: to combine expertise in information technology and physical security to achieve the highest level of protection for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Through innovation, partnership, and dedication, we help create a campus where safety and security empower education, research, and a safe and healthy work environment to thrive.
Access Control
Âé¶čAV IT Physical Security administers the electronic access control system. Electronic access control is accomplished with the JagCard, along with card readers installed near doors. It helps provide controlled access for faculty, staff, students and support personnel to AU. Its use is expected to expand over campus as buildings are built, remodeled, and redesigned. IT Physical Security regulates the general framework, approves and oversees all installations and maintenance, and assists AU End-Users to manage their department and building access.
The benefits of electronic access control is to allow for doors to be placed on a time schedule to unlock and lock to suit AU academic and business needs. It provides a record of who gains access through the use of the AU JagCard, and allows for people to have access granted or removed easily. Access control requests must be approved by the Department Access Coordinator, the Service Group Manager, the Project Manager (for projects) or the Building Coordinator in instances the previous do not apply. These can be sent to jagaccess@augusta.edu.
Technician Services
AU IT Physical Security technician team helps by keeping AU Security Systems working. They conduct preventative maintenance activities as well as repair services on access control systems, camera systems and alarm/panic buttons.
Physical Security staff are on-call and available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for emergency support. Please call the IT Help Desk at 706-721-4000 and ask for a âPRIORITYâ ticket (if an actual emergency) for Badging and Physical Security.
IT Physical Security Services
Âé¶čAV IT Physical Security (ITPS) provides standardized security technology solutions designed to protect our students, faculty, staff, visitors, facilities, and university assets. Our team works with campus departments from the initial assessment and planning stage through installation, programming, testing, and final system commissioning.
The estimates below are intended to help departments plan and budget for common physical security projects. Final project costs may vary based on location, existing infrastructure, installation requirements, and site conditions. These are the most common campus standard installs. Please feel free to connect us for anything not covered at itphysicalsecurity@augusta.edu.
Electronic Access Control
Secure your space with centrally managed electronic access.
Electronic access control provides departments with a more secure and manageable alternative to traditional keys. ITPS installs card-reader-controlled doors using Âé¶čAVâs LenelS2 NetBox access control platform and approved Mercury controller hardware. A typical installation includes the card reader, electronic locking hardware, door position monitoring, request-to-exit devices, controller connectivity, power, cabling, system programming, and commissioning. Once installed, access can be managed electronically through approved access levels and schedules, providing greater control over who can enter a secured area and when.
Typical Planning Budget: $7,500 per standard door
*Interior doors may cost less, while exterior doors, retrofits, specialty doors, or locations requiring extensive infrastructure modifications may cost more.
Video Intercom & Door Communication
See, speak with, and securely admit visitors before opening the door.
Aiphone video intercom systems provide secure two-way audio and video communication at building entrances and other controlled locations. These systems allow university personnel to communicate with visitors before granting entry and can be integrated with Âé¶čAVâs LenelS2 access control system for controlled remote door release. Standard installations can include an exterior or interior video door station, master station or software client, network connectivity, mounting hardware, cabling, access control integration, programming, and system testing. Wired systems are preferred for permanent installations because of their reliability, while approved wireless or hybrid solutions may be considered where traditional cabling is not practical.
Typical Planning Budget: $6,000 per location
Exterior, gate, retrofit, and other complex installations may require additional infrastructure and should be evaluated individually.
Security Camera Installation
Improve visibility, awareness, and security across university facilities.
ITPS provides professionally designed IP security camera installations integrated with Âé¶čAVâs Milestone XProtect video management platform. Depending on the location and security requirement, installations may utilize approved Bosch or i-PRO camera technology. ITPS evaluates camera placement to provide effective coverage while considering lighting, viewing angle, network availability, infrastructure, and the intended security objective. A standard installation includes the camera, mounting hardware, network connectivity, cabling, Milestone licensing, installation, system configuration, and final commissioning.
Typical Planning Budget: $2,000 per standard camera
Exterior cameras, PTZ cameras, specialty applications, lift requirements, extended cabling, additional storage, and complex mounting locations may increase the overall project cost.
Duress & Panic Buttons
Provide employees with a fast and discreet way to request assistance during an emergency.
Duress buttons provide an added layer of protection for offices, classrooms, reception areas, public-facing workspaces, and other locations where employees may need an immediate method of initiating an emergency alert. ITPS supports both hardwired and approved wireless solutions integrated into the LenelS2 NetBox security platform. Hardwired buttons are preferred for permanent installations because of their reliability and low maintenance requirements. Wireless solutions may be appropriate for locations where cabling is difficult or where greater installation flexibility is required. A typical installation includes the duress device, mounting hardware, system connectivity, cabling or wireless integration, programming, alarm configuration, testing, and commissioning.
Typical Planning Budget: $2,000 per device
Complex retrofits, masonry construction, long distances to existing security infrastructure, and specialty installation requirements may affect final project costs.
Emergency Communication Towers
Provide a highly visible connection to emergency assistance in outdoor campus environments.
Emergency communication towers provide students, employees, and visitors with a direct method of contacting emergency or dispatch personnel from outdoor areas such as parking lots, walkways, remote areas, and other strategic campus locations. Âé¶čAV ITPS utilizes Knightscope emergency communication towers with cellular connectivity and integration to campus dispatch or monitoring services. Solar-powered towers are an effective option where electrical infrastructure is unavailable or where extending electrical service would be cost prohibitive. These installations include the emergency tower, solar power components, battery storage, cellular connectivity, foundation, installation, programming, and commissioning.
Typical Planning Budget: $14,000 per complete solar-powered tower installation
Locations requiring new electrical service, trenching, extensive concrete work, or long power runs may require substantially higher project budgets.
Requesting a Physical Security Project
Departments interested in adding or upgrading physical security technology should contact Âé¶čAV IT Physical Security (ITPS) for an initial assessment. ITPS will review the requested location, operational need, existing infrastructure, system integration requirements, and anticipated project scope. Following the assessment, the department can be provided with planning guidance and, when appropriate, a formal project estimate.
Please note: All amounts shown are budgetary planning estimates. Actual project costs are subject to site conditions, infrastructure requirements, equipment needs, and formal vendor pricing.
Request Links
Request a Project for IT Physical Security Items
Request a project for cameras, access control (badging) or other IT Physical Security items (This ticket is ONLY to request an install project from IT Physical Security)
Request Service on Existing IT Physical Security Item
Request service on an existing IT Physical Security item (Be sure to select "Badging and IT Physical Security Services" under the Assignment Group section of your support ticket)
Request Access to Milestone Camera
Request access to Milestone Camera and/or S2 Access Control Program
Request Access to Badging Log
Request access to Badging Log and/or recorded Milestone video (requires supervisor and AUPD approval)
Request Electronic Door Lock Schedule Modification
Request Electronic Door Lock Schedule Modification (Requires Building Coordinator Review/Approval. This will be handled by IT Physical Security after you submit your ticket.)