SCALABILITY
For seaports that have enjoyed a longer history and where analog infrastructure is already in place, the analog/IP split appears to be 60/40. As IP-based products and solutions are increasingly adopted for large-area protection, the reality today is that video systems must be able to accommodate both IP and analog cameras, Bowe said.
The flexibility and expandability of a seaport security system should always be considered top priorities. “The biggest obstacle is to convince the agency that the security system needs to be expandable,” Moore said. “Always make sure the installed security system can keep up with the growth of the agency responsible for the system. Most agencies never see an ROI due to the fact that they are integrating cameras and recorders in a past-work scenario.”
Using hybrid products is another way to leverage existing systems while adding new products for better security and operational performance. “Ports utilize hybrid offerings so that both analog and IP products can be used to save upgrade or installation costs,” Colfer said. “Using a hybrid solution could slowly weed out the old, legacy equipment to make room for new, open devices. There is a market for hybrid for about three to five years at least, and then we'll most likely see gradual conversion to complete IP infrastructure.”
WHAT'S DELIVERED
Threat detection on the waterfront is a definite need, which seems to be getting more attention, Bowe observed. “To accurately determine if a boat presents a threat is a difficult problem, but one that deserves attention. An integration of radar detection, VCA, GPS and automated information system (AIS) is a viable method of sorting out the friends from the foes.”
“The waterside of port security is typically a combination of radar, AIS, audible alert systems, optical and IR cameras in addition to thermal imaging cameras with long-distance optics and underwater detection devices, all linked to a command-andcontrol system to enable appropriate responses and actions,” Moore said. “Electronic fences using fiber optics and floating gates or fences are established to provide alarms should a contact move outside the designated shipping lanes or into restricted areas. We have also used sonar devices to detect underwater movement in many of the US seaports.”
On land, efforts have been on adopting megapixel/HD cameras that capture minute details and quality pictures of forensic grade. “Basically, the two main priorities are asset protection and general safety, which concern staff and the public in the port vicinity,” said Nafis Jasmani, Sales Manager for ASEAN, Axis Communications.
“On our site, we employ 2- to 3-megapixel cameras,” said Ed Merkle, Director of Port Security and Emergency Operations, Port of Virginia. “We wanted to use standard cameras, so we can minimize inventory and practice good asset management controls. The higher megapixel cameras provide good coverage and excellent video quality.”
“We also use PTZ cameras with motion detection, as well as surveillance features such as digital zooming and panoramic views,” Merkle continued. “Panorama video surveillance has good potential in the seaport vertical and is growing in usage.” Megapixel/HD cameras that incorporate VCA features, such as facial capture and recognition, traffic monitoring, transit and cargo container recognition, ALPR and object tracking, are growing in adoption and are not as avoided as previously. Using VCA at the edge or not depends on individual needs and preferences. The advantage of using VCA at the edge is that the camera can filter out unnecessary footages before sending mass information back to the control center, Jasmani said. “This significantly reduces the cost and complexity of the network-centric processing model.”
For some others, the sifting of information and maintenance of the software are both easier when done in the command center, said Aluisio Figueiredo, COO of Intelligent Security Systems. Aside from security values, these features facilitate daily management and operations at seaports.
Facial recognition and ALPR are especially used for important entry points. For movements on the premises, GPS tracking is also a common tool for seaport personnel to know where people and vehicles are at all times, as seaports are congested areas with hangers, cranes, ships and other equipment, and clear tracking and management of people and vehicular movements can only be done with the help of modern technology.
VCA usage for waterside surveillance is also becoming more accepted by some end users. “The introduction of Sony's latest camera that provides ‘wave cancellation' and greater visibility in less than optimal conditions has helped with more accurate readings undeterred by waves, shimmering and uneven surfaces,” said James Chong, CTO of VidSys.
Another product group gaining usage is thermal cameras. “We are seeing more concentration on the ability to monitor at night, and much more attention is given to IR-illuminated or thermal deployments,” Bowe said.
Other systems like access control and waterway detection are embedded with intelligent chips and device management architecture that enable authorities to monitor high volumes of containers with smart technology from a central monitoring station and provide quick and accurate response, Moore said. “This technology is evolving so rapidly that the operators at the port will have the opportunity to track all containers before they hit port territory.” X-ray and radiation monitors are another important system in place at seaports, with which the port and customs agencies use to scan the incoming containers without opening sealed doors, Moore added. “Some X-ray technology can produce an image through a foot of solid steel, giving the agencies the ability to review the contents at a safe, controlled distance.”
KEEPING UP
Complex activities and busy schedules at seaports are better monitored and managed today with modern security technologies. Intelligent management software not only processes and organizes incoming data from all corners of a seaport (or even the world), it allows different users to prioritize, viewing the data most relevant to their areas of work. The next two articles examine integration issues and how the needs of multiple stakeholders at a seaport can be balanced.