3 real-life lessons in securing mass events

With the Seattle Seahawks' taking the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XLVII just two weeks ago, and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia currently in-play;  the world will soon turn its sporting attention to the 2014 FIFA World Cup this June in Brazil.   

For all these events, security professionals have spent years preparing to keep safe the colossal volume of people congregating in the arenas and multiple venues.  Between managing crowd control, watching for hooligan-behaviour, terrorist threats, and multiple points of exits and entries in case of evacuation-security staff have one of the most challenging environments to work in.

How does security technology play a role in securing these massive events?

For large sporting stadiums, having uninterrupted access to live and recorded video and easy search features are critical. Sharing their security system with police and other agencies are also top of their list. For the NEC (National Exhibition Centre), it was moving to an IP-based, open-architecture platform that would integrate with other systems such as video surveillance, license plate recognition, access control and video analytics. Not to mention adding the latest megapixel and infrared IP video cameras inside and out. 

Why? Because...

1. Saving time means saving lives: IP video surveillance that supports many high-resolution, megapixel and 360-degree cameras provides better visibility. Video analytics help spot traffic patterns and threats, even before the human eye can catch it. Maps and one-click search and instant replay help operators get to the bottom of a breach or event fast.

2. It's a major collaborative effort: Events rarely happen without some level of law enforcement involvement. There are too many lives at stake. Cities and venues rely on features that assist remote police operations and sharing with local transit agencies and first responders. In an emergency, everyone knows what's going on.

3. Vehicles shouldn't be overlooked: Since most events and stadiums will stop vehicles from even getting near the site months before, license plate recognition systems let venues grant or deny access at funnelled entry points. Even using LPR for parking control at major venues helps steer traffic to available lots. VIPs can also be ushered in faster.    

We've only highlighted a few key topics here. What other interesting security measures you have seen or been involved in at mass-inviting venues? We want to hear your thoughts.