Evolv Alternatives: Options for Weapons Detection

Security professionals tasked with protecting casinos, hospitals, corporate locations, and higher education institutions consider Evolv alternatives when evaluating weapons detection systems because of the following realities:

• As “no firearm” zones, it is a challenge to accurately identify visitors, patrons, and employees who may be armed and pose a potential threat.
• While gun violence is a prevalent problem, public safety remains a higher priority than ever. With that said, visitor experience is essential too — when people approach a metal detector or weapon screening setup, especially when unexpected, it can create a sense of unease.
• Security departments need an efficient and accurate public safety solution that is also cost-effective. A typical metal detector can require up to two to five individuals to operate, which can significantly eat into the budget. This is particularly problematic for places like hospitals, which are looking to reduce non-provider costs.
• Metal detectors with active sensors can be problematic for individuals with medical devices and are often not optimized for wheelchairs.
• Metal detectors often result in long queues, which can negatively impact the visitor’s experience and slow down facility operations.
• If there is an active shooter or another crisis, video footage of the event is critical to assist in the investigative follow-up, but many metal detectors lack this feature.
• Security staff need access to reliable reporting metrics to understand better trends and vulnerabilities surrounding the facility they protect.
• Security staff need to be confident that the sensitive data they monitor is secure and compliant with regulatory requirements.
• Integrating an external vendor’s cloud-based IT infrastructure may present a significant challenge, necessitating modifications to internal processes and procedures.

Note: SoundThinking’s SafePointe™ weapons detection system was built to solve all the pain points listed above. You can read about it in detail below or reach out to our sales team to learn more about how it can help improve security operations at your casino, hospital, corporate location, or school.

Schedule a Call

Evolv Technology is a weapons detection security screening company founded in 2013 in Waltham, MA. Evolv pioneered and developed a touchless security screening system that uses digital sensors and artificial intelligence to detect threats.

Evolv Technology has two main solutions: Evolv Express® and Evolv eXpedite™. Evolv Express is a weapons detection system that screens individuals at an ingress point, similar to traditional metal detectors. According to Evolv, Evolv Express allows for a faster, more efficient threat screening experience vs. traditional metal detectors.

Evolv eXpedite works with Evolv Express to detect concealed weapons in bags using X-ray imaging and AI.

What Are the Leading Evolv Technology Alternatives? 

While many companies and organizations have deployed Evolv Technology as part of their security solution, it may not be the best fit for every situation.

In this post, we’ll introduce some Evolv alternatives and specifically dive into SoundThinking’s SafePointe state-of-the-art weapons detection technology. Further, we’ll walk through the critical features that make it a compelling Evolv alternative and standout choice for institutions prioritizing both safety and user experience.

Evolv Alternative #1: SafePointe

For security departments grappling with the challenges of public safety in high-traffic areas, the optimal solution is a concealed weapons detection system that conducts rigorous security screening without the cost of additional staff and without compromising the visitor experience.

Key Feature # 1: Advanced 3D Camera, Sensors, and NVIDIA-Powered Edge Processor Precisely Assess Threat Objects

SafePointe’s advanced 3D camera combines person motion data, including velocity, position, and movements, along with magnetic moment data, to allow for the scanning of multiple entrants simultaneously. The NVIDIA®-powered edge processor captures all of this data in a state-of-the-art AI model that can accurately assess threat levels and identify an individual (or multiple individuals) carrying weapons, as well as provide the location of the weapon on the person for prompt search and resolution.

SafePointe can quickly identify an individual carrying a weapon and its location when walking through bollards alone or with others.

Key Feature # 2: Concealed Weapons Detection System Upholds Public Safety While Blending Seamlessly into the Environment 

Unlike Evolv Express and traditional metal detector systems, which are highly visible and stand front and center as a patron walks in, the SafePointe concealed system is typically deployed as non-descript bollards or within approved planters to seamlessly integrate into the environment.

An example of SafePointe’s nondescript bollards outside of a building.

For example, in a bustling casino, patrons can walk into the venue freely, enjoying their experience without the looming presence of overt security measures. The discreet nature of SafePointe provides a public safety layer without sacrificing ambiance or visitor comfort.

Key Feature # 3: Unmanned Screening Process That Saves Money While Upholding Rigorous Public Safety Standards

If a threat is detected, human analysts review and classify the threat level within 10 seconds

Unlike traditional metal detectors and Evolv Express, which can require up to five individuals per lane to operate, SafePointe’s unmanned screening process stands out for its low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Here’s how it works:

As the 3D camera collects real-time person motion data—such as direction, speed, and movement—AI simultaneously analyzes magnetic data generated from the individuals to assess whether the individual is carrying a weapon. If a weapon is detected, the details are forwarded to human analysts, who review, and classify the threat level within 10 seconds, filtering out non-threats like armed security personnel. Once confirmed as a genuine threat, a digital alert is sent to the facility’s security staff through the SafePointe app or via text, including a brief video and image of the individual and the likely weapon’s location, and threat level.

As a result of this process, SafePointe’s unmanned screening process:

• Enables internal security departments to appropriately respond to accurately detected threats as they arise without needing to employ additional personnel to monitor the system continuously. This directly translates to significant cost savings, and institutions can redirect these resources to other crucial areas. Furthermore, SafePointe’s flexible three-or-five-year subscription payment options make it economically appealing.
• Supports uninterrupted coverage: Traditional manned systems, while effective during peak times, can be vulnerable outside of peak hours. Imagine a scenario in a school: There may be a strong security presence at the start of the school day, but what happens during less busy periods? If a threat enters the premises when no one is monitoring, say at 11:00 AM, the consequences can be dire. SafePointe’s 24/7 monitoring improves your security posture, providing institutions with additional peace of mind.

Key Feature #4: Passive Sensors are Safe for Vulnerable Populations

Many metal detectors and other weapons detection systems have active magnetic field-generating sensors, which can be problematic for individuals with pacemakers and other medical devices. SafePointe’s Magnetic Moment sensors are passive, making it a safe weapons detection system for these vulnerable populations.

Additionally, unlike traditional metal detectors that often have narrow, restrictive pathways, the wide clearance between the SafePointe bollards (8-10 feet) ensures easy access for individuals using wheelchairs and gurneys. SafePointe’s Magnetic Moment sensors can effectively identify weapons on wheelchairs or gurneys, which is essential in light of the growing issue of weapons being transported through ambulance bays across the country. This notably distinguishes SafePointe from other competitors, given that Evolv and other systems aren’t wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs or gurneys, increasing the likelihood that unauthorized weapons pass through these openings.

Key Feature # 5: High Throughput, Efficiently Screening Large Volumes of People

Traditional metal detectors can result in long queues, frustrated visitors, and inefficient security operations. The SafePointe system, by contrast, offers high throughput and efficiently screens large volumes of people. The key to SafePointe’s efficiency is its free-flow screening technology, which ensures a touchless and seamless passage for visitors.

This benefit is twofold.

1. For visitors, the experience of entering a facility becomes more pleasant. There’s no need to stop, empty pockets, or remove belts. They simply walk through, free from the usual anxieties associated with traditional security checks.
2. For security personnel, the process becomes more streamlined. SafePointe’s high throughput capacity means they can manage larger crowds more effectively, ensuring no compromise on safety.

Key Feature #6: Alert Threat Levels with Related Video to Improve Investigative Follow-Up

Unlike conventional metal detector systems that lack video capabilities, SafePointe’s system alerts the customer security team within six to ten seconds, providing the threat level, related video, and the precise location of the weapon on the person.

Threat level is categorized based on the human analysts’ review

SafePointe’s approach to security is not just about weapons detection; it’s about providing actionable intelligence in near real-time. When a potential threat is identified, the system sends more than a generic alert. It categorizes the threat based on the SafePointe human analysts’ review (i.e., “human in the loop”), giving security teams a clearer picture of what they might be dealing with. This categorization can be invaluable in prioritizing responses.

Most importantly, video footage captures the person entering the facility, meaning that security personnel can assess the situation and make informed decisions about how to respond. This footage becomes an essential tool for any subsequent investigation, providing evidence of the event and aiding in legal proceedings and reviews. In a world where every second counts during a security breach, having such detailed information can be the difference between a swift, effective response and a potentially chaotic situation.

Key Feature # 7: Easy-to-Use Software with Comprehensive Reporting and Performance Metrics

The InSight data platform, available as a web interface, allows for the review, analysis, and sharing of SafePointe data across multiple lanes, entrances, and even different facilities and locations.

A web-based view of the InSight data platform

The alert review summary provides details in an easy-to-read incident report to aid investigations and facilitate the sharing of safety and investigative information. The summary is available upon query of the InSight application and can be shared internally or externally.

InSight also provides an incident scorecard daily, weekly, and monthly that provides the number of detections, alerts, and SLA performance, an ideal reporting tool for internal security teams to review and monitor continuously.

Key Feature # 8: SOC 2 Compliance and HIPAA Compliance

With SafePointe, security teams can rest assured that the sensitive data they monitor is secure and complies with regulatory requirements. As of October 2024, the weapons detection system in the healthcare space is HIPAA compliant. For all sectors, SafePointe is expected to achieve SOC 2 compliance by January 2025.

Key Feature #9: Operates Separately From Your Main Network

SafePointe provides ease of use from both a configuration and security perspective. Installation is available to make the deployment process hassle-free.  Furthermore, the system is designed to function separately from your security and IT networks, minimizing disruptions from an IT standpoint. Our AI system and sensors are linked to and transmit alerts via the Cloud, utilizing either a web portal interface or a smartphone application.

Other Evolv Alternatives

Evolv Alternative #2: Xtract One Technologies

Xtract One Technologies is a technology-driven threat detection and security solution leveraging AI to provide secure patron access control experiences. Xtract One is a direct competitor to Evolv, as the two are weapons detection systems highly focused on the sporting arena and entertainment venue space — locations that have high-volume traffic for limited periods of time.

Evolv Alternative #3: Athena Security 

Powered by CEIA OPENGATE, the Athena Security weapons detection system is made up of an HD active walkthrough metal detection and induction lidar, and also includes a visual camera, artificial intelligence technologies, a controller tablet, and a monitor tablet. The system is faster than a typical airport or courthouse scanner, but also less sensitive, meaning it’s less likely to false alarm on something like a belt buckle but also less likely to detect a weapon.

Checklist for Assessing Best Evolv Alternatives

1. Does the system provide concealed weapons detection that upholds public safety while seamlessly integrating into the environment?
2. Does the system provide a public safety layer without sacrificing ambiance or visitor comfort?
3. Does the system offer cost savings while upholding rigorous public safety standards?
4. Is the system safe for individuals with medical devices and optimized for wheelchairs and gurneys?
5. Can the system handle high traffic efficiently without causing bottlenecks?
6. Does the system provide real-time categorized alerts with video footage for immediate and subsequent assessment?
7. Does the system offer comprehensive reporting and performance metrics?
8. Does the system meet all regulatory and compliance requirements?
9. Can the system function separately from security and IT networks?

Conclusion

In a world where security is paramount, organizations need to consider Evolv alternatives and conduct due diligence to determine the best weapons detection system to fit their specific needs and situation. SafePointe provides an optimal balance between advanced threat detection, flexibility, cost-efficiency, and a seamless visitor experience. With its state-of-the-art technology and proven track record in various high-traffic facilities, SafePointe stands out as the go-to choice for modern, efficient, and accurate security screening.

Schedule a Call