I recently participated in a presentation at the California State Sheriffs’ Association annual conference. Dewberry presented to a group of about 200 law enforcement professionals. The theme was designing facilities to minimize operational cost, and the presentation addressed three segments of this issue: staffing, physical plant, and systems. “Systems” was my part of the presentation. I discussed four examples of how we can help our clients get the most out of every dollar they spend on systems. That means value; value is keeping cost down and performance up, right?

I explained how centralized equipment spaces with proper power conditioning and cooling can maximize the life span of the equipment they depend on daily to operate their facilities. I explained how using technologies like video visitation and distributed antenna systems can make operations more efficient and safer. I talked about how state statutes regarding data retention can be terribly burdensome if they are not fully understood. That means value. Value is making good decisions about how to spend on systems, right?

“Technology” is a word that is even more overused than “systems.” The point of technology is to extend human capabilities. In integrated security, technology means developing systems that help those responsible for security do their job efficiently and effectively. Knowing how many people it takes to operate securely and how those people work and what technology they need means not having too many staff or too few. That means value, right?

These are good examples of value: Spending wisely and getting the most return on investment in systems. So what is real value? As I spoke to a room full of people, it struck me that each one is faced with making huge decisions about how to spend money. Our value as architects and engineers is our collective experience and how we apply it, collaboratively, to help our clients make good decisions. Helping our clients get it right when they only get one chance, that’s our value.