Outside In
Like many installations, the first level of protection lies in the perimeter system. Many sites implement barriers, such as metal fences, to keep out intruders. Still, this may not be enough to protect certain farms from the above-mentioned threats.
A good perimeter system can do more to secure assets. “The system has to be long-lasting and robust, so as to keep long-term maintenance to a minimum,” Katz said. “It should have very low false-alarm rates since a massive area, sometimes up to 10 square kilometres or more, is being covered and there are often no observers on-site to verify false alarms.”
Intrusion Detection
Intrusion detection placed under ground is an effective and discreet option, since it cannot be stepped over like a microwave sensor. “However, with all intrusion detection technologies such as this one, they are potentially exposed to false alarms caused by earthquakes,” Capula said.
Another way to check for intrusion is with radar, which often integrates with surveillance. “Radar can detect and track any person or vehicle moving within its detection zones. It can then control the most appropriate camera to follow the intruders and produce a visual image in real time as the incident unfolds,” said Philip Avery, cofounder and MD of Navtech Radar. “Over the last few years, we have seen several instances where existing perimeter systems have been insufficient; intruders are able to gain access long before security services can respond due to the remoteness of the site. Thus, there is now a requirement to supplement existing security and surveillance systems with technology which facilitates monitoring areas outside the perimeter of the farm.”
Radar is suitable for outdoor installations because it sees through all types of weather, Johnston said. “Once the radar is triggered, a camera can pick up on the target from up to a mile and a half away, which negates the need for an abundance of cameras to be set up around the perimeter.”
For offshore wind farms, radar allows for the monitoring of vessels approaching a zone's perimeter. “By zoning the area, it ensures an effective prealarm zone is created to give authorities time to react to an event, while allowing legitimate shipping traffic to pass by outside of the zones without triggering false alarms,” Downie said.
Analytics can integrate with the radar and camera to log in, keep track, analyze and determine if an object is a threat before it even breaches the perimeter, said Chuck Scifers, Head of Business Development, Jet Protect.
Capturing Images Verification tools, such as cameras, are placed on top of high posts to effectively capture large areas. “Zones can be used to coordinate the system so the ability to keep a clear image of the intruder jumps from one camera to another as he crosses into different areas. Even if first responders are dispatched at the first sign of someone approaching the perimeter, performing a semifull track is important because by the time the responders arrive, the intruder could be anywhere on the farm, and having tracked them can help shorten the search time,” Katz said.