ASU will use new video-camera software next semester to help promote security and prevent theft, but students said the new technology raises some privacy concerns.
ASU plans to implement a software upgrade to 186 cameras on campus this month, said Laura Ploughe, associate director of business applications at ASU's University Business Services.
The upgrade is not a major one, but the new version of software will be able to identify movements such as moving from left to right, upward, downward or leaving an object behind, she said.
A camera could detect someone jumping over a gate at Adelphi Commons or a mysterious object left behind in a courtyard, she said.
More intelligence in cameras can help ASU police investigate crimes and eventually help prevent crimes, said ASU police Assistant Chief Jay Spradling.
On Halloween, six cars parked on the third floor of parking Structure 5 had their windows smashed by a crowbar.
"Intelligence in a camera could pick up the downward motion of the crowbar striking the window," Spradling said in reference to the Halloween crimes.
The new software will not identify the crime in real time, but instead be available for review after the fact, Ploughe said.
"The person could identify the behaviors within seconds rather than reviewing hours of tape," Ploughe said.
Only a few cameras will be involved in the pilot program next semester, and it is unknown which cameras or how many will be used, Ploughe said.
"We need to understand the technology we have and how we are going to use it," she added.
Mona Towne, a political science freshman, uses the campus parking structures and welcomes the new technology.
"I think it would be great," Towne said. "You know the cops can't be everywhere at once."
Undeclared freshman Taylor Giles lives in Sahuaro Hall, where there was a shooting in the parking lot between two people on Oct. 29.
It would be good to have cameras outside to help watch anyone that doesn't live in Sahuaro, but not inside the hall, Giles said.
"If cameras were watching you [inside] all the time, I would feel awkward," he said.
Diana Medina, Residential Life spokeswoman, said there are cameras in the lobby of Manzanita Hall and the retail area of Palo Verde East.
In a separate project, cameras are being installed in all elevators in residence halls, but there are no plans to add cameras to residence hallways or rooms, Medina added.
Accounting freshman Yaskara Aguirre is in favor of preventing crimes on campus, but not at the expense of student privacy.
"As long as the cameras are not on you 24/7," Aguirre said. "You need some privacy, especially in hallways and rooms."
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.mitchell@asu.edu
