The first security step for organizers of outdoor events is the establishment of a clear perimeters. Common physical barriers for this purpose include bollards, blockers and fences...
The first security step for organizers of outdoor events is the establishment of a clear perimeters. Common physical barriers for this purpose include bollards, blockers and fences. However, they don’t provide intrusion monitoring and detection capabilities. To meet this requirement, a sophisticated
perimeter intrusion detection (PID) system is needed.
A robust PID system should meet the three Ds of protection: defend, detect and deter. Richard Huison, Regional Manager for
Gallagher Security (Europe), notes not all systems meet these standards. “A physical fence offers defence and deterrent, but no detection. Video with complex analytics are great at detecting, but do not provide any deterrent,” he said.
Gallagher recently partnered with CLD Fencing Systems to launch a monitored pulse fencing (MPF) solution called FenceSafe-E. MPF delivers controlled electronic pulses that last a millisecond - ideally enough to deter intruders from making a second attempt at breaching a perimeter.
FenceSafe actively monitors attempted break-ins and deters potential intrusion with warning signs every 10 meters. Tension detectors trigger an alarm that sends a notification to the smartphones of security personnel. The system also briefed security personnel on “precisely what threat they will encounter,” Huison said.
Richard Huison,
Regional Manager,
Gallagher Security (Europe)
During the 2018 NFL draft at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive detectors were hidden in the entryways to the stadium. They sent smartphone notifications to those in the command center and security personnel on the ground if hazardous materials were detected. This same technology is also being used at border crossings and ports.
Light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) sensors can similarly aid security. LiDAR is a remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses originally designed to create 3D models or maps to track the movement of people and objects. “Retailers can track customer’s behaviour with LiDAR, following their route through the shop, and monitoring hand height and direction, so they learn exactly what customers pick up and put down,” Huison said.
He added event organisers could use this technology for “counting people, studying and controlling traffic flows, queueing and pinch points and making real-time decisions to stick within Health & Safety Executive licence-limited numbers in specific zones or areas.”
A perimeter control system works best when the full spectrum of inputs - including cameras, sensors, LiDAR, biometrics data, etc. - are centralized within a single command. Ideally, “all sensors, systems and metrics are controlled and managed centrally” and images and instructions are relayed to patrol personnel to enable “smart, proactive and efficient” protection, Huison said.
According to reports, the Super Bowl used this approach in 2018, with computer vision taking center stage. Data was collected from multiple sources and aggregated for processing, providing real-time information on what was happening in and around the stadium.
Deploying various types of sensors for perimeter security allows security personnel to promptly respond to anomalies through mobile alerts. By displaying aggregated security data on a command center, professionals can also proactively evaluate what is going on at the event in real-time and coordinate a suitable response.