Electrical substations are an important part of the power grid and need strong protection. In this regard, LiDAR can play a key role. This article looks at how LiDAR can serve as a valuable tool in securing electrical substations.
Electrical substations are an important part of the power grid and need strong protection. In this regard, LiDAR can play a key role. This article looks at how LiDAR can serve as a valuable tool in securing electrical substations.
Electrical substations are primarily tasked with transforming and distributing power to homes and businesses and are faced with different types of security issues. As such, advanced security solutions are needed to secure substations as well as meet compliance requirements.
“Substations are a vital element of the energy network and as such can be the target for disruption and sabotage by protestors, theft (metal theft is a major issue) and vandalism. Given the number of sites and their often remote locations, manned guarding is usually not a viable option,” said Martin Vojtek, Business Director for 3D Surveillance at the Safety, Infrastructure and Geospatial Division of Hexagon.
“Proactive defense and detection are vital, not only to secure the distribution of energy but also for regulatory purposes,” he adds. “For example, organizations in the U.S. that are bound by NERC CIP regulations will be required to recertify an entire site (such as an electricity substation), which can cost upwards of US$100,000. If they cannot be sure of the actions an intruder took while on site, then it must be assumed that the entire site has been compromised.”
LiDAR as an effective security solution
In this regard, LiDAR can play an effective role in securing electrical substations. LiDAR stands for “light detection and ranging.” In a LiDAR solution, a sensor emits laser light pulses into the environment, and the system creates a detailed 3D map of the surroundings by calculating the time it takes for the pulses to hit objects and bounce back.
LiDAR benefits for electrical substations are manifold. LiDAR can do a good job distinguishing between humans, animals, and inanimate objects by size and motion patterns, reducing false alerts and unnecessary hassles for substation administrators. LiDAR can detect workers or equipment entering hazardous zones during maintenance, preventing accidental contact with high-voltage equipment.
More importantly, unlike cameras, LiDAR can be effective in all types of weather or lighting conditions. It ensures privacy, as no human features will be captured or recorded. Further, LiDAR can help protect the entire substation site, rather than just the perimeters.
“Unlike traditional perimeter protection systems, which are used solely on the fence line, LiDAR sensors raise an immediate alert when any unauthorized movement occurs within a designated area. It closely monitors an intruder's movements, including their speed and direction of travel,” Vojtek said.
Integration with other systems
But that is not to say LiDAR can’t work with other security systems. In fact, it can greatly complement security solutions such as video surveillance and access control.
“While LiDAR can be used as a standalone safety and security solution, it excels as part of an integrated physical security ecosystem, working in lockstep with cameras, access control and other systems. For example, when it is integrated with a VMS, an operator can be automatically presented with a live feed from the relevant cameras the moment a LiDAR sensor detects movement,” Vojtek said.
A case study
On how LiDAR can secure substations, Hexagon shares a
case study where Czech-based critical infrastructure operator EG.D wanted to assess how volumetric and LiDAR technology could be used to bolster the physical security of its substations. For this, it chose Hexagon’s HxGN dC3 LidarVision in a solution where five strategically placed LiDAR sensors are used to enable the virtual creation of secure, safe and sterile zones. Authorized personnel and trespassers can be automatically monitored and tracked via a live, real-time feed into EG.D’s security control room. According to EG.D, the result of the collaboration has been overwhelmingly positive.
LiDAR in other industries
Beside electrical substations, LiDAR can benefit other industries. These include critical infrastructure, airports, data centers, correctional facilities, government buildings, railways and other mass transit networks.
Vojtek cites railways as an example. “In the context of safety and security on the railway, a good example is at level crossings where a high volume of vehicle and pedestrian traffic crosses the track when the barrier is raised. It must be clear for rolling stock to pass safely. LiDAR sensors can be programmed to automatically switch on minutes before a train is scheduled to pass through the crossing and turned off after it has cleared the area. During this time, any movement detected with this 'live zone' would create an alert in the control room,” he said. “Level crossings are a good example of environments where it is not viable to have round-the-clock live surveillance, but monitoring is essential at key times.”