ZKAccess security solutions protects livestock in Ohio

ZKAccess video surveillance and access control technology is being used all over the world to protect people and property. Now, thanks to the innovation of Ohio-based integrator, it has been successfully deployed to safeguard livestock as well. He was called upon to provide access control and monitoring for a client's chicken coops. Casey assessed that without proper security automation and monitoring, his client's chickens would remain in peril. If trapped inside the coops at the wrong time, the chickens could potentially be exposed to dehydration and heat exhaustion. If trapped outside the coops at the wrong time, the chickens could be exposed to extreme temperatures, dangerous predators and/or poachers.

CHALLENGES
As an interim solution, motorized chicken coop doors were installed and and controlled with a mechanical timer so they would open and close at preset times but it added more unwanted problems. For instance, power outages triggered the chicken coop doors to open and close at dangerous times. As such, the doors needed to be monitored visually all the time. To overcome power outages, an Eaton UPS was added to ensure constant power. But the use of a timer didn't address the concerns over severe temperature changes and predators or poachers.

SOLUTION
To overcome the limitations of a door timer, a ZKAccess access control panel was installed, linked to a box camera. Now the doors are on a time schedule that can be adjusted for daylight savings time or changed easily to account for seasonal sunrise and sunset variances, as well as keep accurate time regardless of prolonged power outages. Door status can be visually inspected on a monitor and controlled remotely as needed. Additionally, a PTZ surveillance camera was added so the chickens can be observed when they're outside their coops. The entire system is all managed using the ZKAccess management software.