Truly
Effective Security Is Hidden
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| Image provided courtesy of Marshalls Landscaping Products |
I’m truly amazed when I travel around the country and see
closed circuit cameras everywhere; airports, shopping malls, street
intersections – everywhere! I read recently, that my image is captured
several hundreds of times a day. That’s
scary. So I guess, Big Brother is
watching! At least, that’s what I’m
thinking and that's how I'm feeling. The space makes me feel
uncomfortable. But should I be?
If I'm using the space shouldn't I feel comfortable while using it? If the answer is, "Yes", and I believe it is, then the question is, “What makes good space?” The factors range from access and linkage to
other services, uses and activities within the space, comfort and image, and
sociability. All of these factors come in to play. I'd like to focus on the comfort and image part of the equation.
Security as an
Enabler and Not a Tax
A British friend of mine, says, “Security has to be an
enabler and not a tax”. By that he
means, the environment must allow people to transit “freely and
confidently”. I hate to say it (after
all he’s an Arsenal fan) but he’s right.
People will use the space because they can move within it freely and
because of this freedom they feel confident that they are safe.
Where there is good
quality of life, people want to live and raise their families. The true measure of a Smart or Safe City is a
place where the grandkids want to live and raise their families!
To make this happen
Smart City planners will need a holistic approach. They won’t be able to address a certain
sector of society, say utilities for instance and voila’ everything is good.
It will require good infrastructure systems, good inhabited space
design, good governance and good community involvement. The right mix of technology from all sectors
and behavioral sciences will be needed. Due to this holistic approach to community planning, companies wishing to compete in this space will need to bring in a
variety of specialties in order to adequately meet the consumer’s needs. As an example, inhabited space design cannot
be a function of only architects and engineers.
It must also include security professionals, transportation experts,
government officials, behaviorists, and even community members, both retailers
and residents.
The reliance on
physical security engineering will become paramount as we use inhabited space
to mitigate unwanted behaviors and reduce its effects. We cannot lose sight of the human aspect of
using new technologies as we move forward.
Electronic vs. Non-electronic
Technologies
Unfortunately, electronic
technologies are invasive. They assault
our daily lives as they collect more and more data about our habits,
preferences and routine. On the other
hand non-electronic technologies are not invasive. They “socially engineer” the space so that
people using the space act how we want them to act. Not because they feel threaten that “Big
Brother” is watching but because good behavior begets good behavior. The use of invasive
technologies will need to give way to non-intrusive technologies. This will take time. But there’s no better time to start than now.
Immediately after
the vehicle attack in Barcelona, jersey barriers started popping up in pedestrian zones and near
sidewalk cafes. This use of concrete barriers
systems is extremely unsightly and only limitedly effective. Instead of using barriers that worsen the
quality of the space, we should think about the quality of space we are
protecting and integrate aesthetically pleasing barriers into the environment
that actually blend in and keep it picturesque – complimenting instead of
spoiling. Remember, no one wants
security to be a tax, even if it’s only a visual burden. Having ugly concrete jersey barriers right
next to you while sipping your Brunello
di Montalcino at an outdoor café table doesn’t project the atmosphere we
are trying to achieve; however, flower planters, benches, light poles, bicycle
racks, trash bins and the like that have been crash tested and proven effective
against vehicle-ramming threats can enhance the atmosphere instead of hindering
it.
Recently, Stefano
Boeri, Architect[1]
was cited by Dezeen Magazine as saying, “Cities should be redesigned to include
trees with bulky planters rather than concrete barriers to prevent vehicle
attack”. He went on to say, “A big pot
of soil has the same resistance as a Jersey (modular concrete barrier), but it
can host a tree – a living being that offers shade; absorbs dust, CO2 and other
subtle pollutants; and provides oxygen and a home for birds”. We agree.
Hiding Security in Plain Sight
I believe we can
“socially engineer” inhabited space. We
can incorporate specific urban design strategies that cause positive behaviors
so that there is less reliance on the invasive use of electronic means to keep
us safe.
As an example; the
use of “crash rated” street furniture.
It provides a measure of security from a ramming vehicle threat without
making the space look like a threat is anticipated. Another example, and perhaps even more
hidden, is the use of furniture that incorporates ballistic materials, so
people have something to hide behind during an active shooter threat. Both solutions are currently available and in
use in many unsuspecting areas.
Ultimately citizens
don’t want cameras that watch their every move; instead they want space that is
functional and free of crime and unwanted behaviors. By increasing the effectiveness in
controlling the social behaviors of the people using or transiting the space, and
adding “passive” defensive mechanisms the environments will become safer and
need fewer electronic gadgets.
As the great migration from the country-side to urban
centers becomes an increasing phenomenon, community leaders must meet the challenges
that lie ahead. As systems of
urbanization become ever more complex so will the solutions to resolve the
problems they cause. It’s imperative
that not only will smart cities be highly functioning and efficient but they
must also be, first and foremost – safe.
[1] Boeri is known throughout the architectural and design world for his “plant and tree” covered buildings.
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