Case Study: DePaul University centralizes surveillance and reduces campus crime with Axis Communications

How urban DePaul University installed Axis network cameras in renovated student housing

DePaul University in Chicago faced overloaded DVR-based analog surveillance as it converted city apartment buildings into student housing and needed a centralized, scalable recording system that would run over its existing fiber backbone. Axis Communications (installed by partner Pace Systems) supplied network video technology—notably AXIS 216FD and AXIS 225FD fixed dome network cameras with PoE—integrated with Milestone XProtect to replace the siloed DVRs and simplify management.

Pace Systems deployed Axis Communications cameras over Cat6 to a centralized array of video servers and a Milestone VMS within a 10-week window, streaming at 5 fps (640x480) with 30-day retention; dispatchers can monitor live feeds and investigators can review any dorm from a single security office or authorized PC. The new Axis system delivered clearer images and faster retrieval, has already reduced thefts and vandalism, and provides a scalable path to incorporate 60+ buildings and migrate remaining analog cameras to IP.

DePaul University

Bob Wachowski

Director of public safety