INSIGHTS
Thanks to continued R&D efforts, the integration of old and new systems, as well as people and machines, is a much smoother experience than before.
The need to integrate various security systems for a seaport transcends from safety reasons to operational efficiency concerns. Installation and integration works can be challenging for solution providers as seaports operate almost 24/7, said William Moore, Business Development Manager for Oil and Gas, Schneider Electric.
“Solution providers need to be able to work around the port schedule, and the best practice is to keep an open line of communication with the security committee and all parties at the port. For example, down time needs to be addressed when security measures are implemented.”
Integrating Equipment and People for Seaports
Date: 2011/08/01
Source: a&s International
DATA TRANSMISSION
For large areas, using 100-percent wiring equates high TCO for the seaport authority. Conversely, using completely wireless connections may lead to instability of signals and bandwidth restrictions. Most seaports today use a combination of both for maximum ROI and performance.
“Starting in 2001, we began putting in both wired and wireless connections at the Port of Virginia,” Merkle said. “We used wireless to support areas with insufficient fiber capability, and it was less expensive, easier and faster to put in. However, wireless transmission is not as reliable, as there are still many disruptions during data streaming. In fact, for almost all areas we have converted to wired transmission.”
At many ports, wired transmission is used for places like the entrance, where many cameras need to be supported. The benefit of opting for wireless is the port's ability to leverage the network connection for other nonsecurity systems, said Donal Colfer, Integrated Solutions Group Manager in the U.K., ADT Fire & Security.
Increased usage of secured wireless technologies has been noted; however, bandwidth restrictions need to be taken into consideration, Chong said. “With LTE 700MHz frequency becoming available, there are wireless solutions that folks are beginning to try out. Yet, we will continue to see a hybrid of wireless communications and more traditional landlines for seaport environments in the near term.”
Wired or wireless transmission also affects the performance of so many new technologies now used by seaports. “For VCA to perform well, it needs sufficient video image quality and frame rate. If the connection from the camera to the command center is wired, the VCA processing can be performed anywhere along the connection,” Bowe said. “But if the connection from the camera to the command center hops across a wireless link at some point, it is best that the VCA be performed on the camera side, prior to the wireless hop.” This will afford it the best chance of successful image processing and notifications.