Add as a preferred source on Google

Purdue University Installs License Plate Reading Cameras

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/02/22

The Purdue University Police Department in West Lafayette, Ind., recently announced that it is partnering with public safety technology company Flock Safety to install six automated license plate reading (ALPR) cameras around campus. A news release reports that the department has signed a one-year contract to test the Flock system, joining the Lafayette and West Lafayette police departments as law enforcement agencies deploying the technology.

“Incidents involving students being shot by Splat or BB or airsoft guns this past spring semester were difficult to investigate,” said PUPD Chief John Cox. “We often had video from our campuswide digital video system to give us basic vehicle information, but no license plate information could be obtained. The Flock system will allow us to search for vehicles based on a video and victim description and obtain a license plate number to use to continue the investigation.”

The Flock Safety ALPR cameras are designed to capture license plates and vehicle characteristics instead of people, according to the university news release. Plates associated with reported crimes—such as stolen vehicles or owners wanted on warrants as documented by state and national databases—trigger a real-time alert sent to officers. Vehicles associated with missing persons in AMBER or Silver Alerts also send notifications to law enforcement.

Purdue has also deployed an updated policy around the ALPR system’s usage. Data will not be sold or shared with third parties, and each vehicle search will require justification.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

Digital Edition