Airports have a critical need for effective perimeter security to enable quick response to incidents. A March 2 story on ABC World News, where an intruder at the Philadelphia airport broke through perimeter fencing and drove on the runways until he was apprehended, highlighted the fact that 1,300 perimeter intrusions have occurred at US airports since September 11, 2001. The news story pointed out that airports are deploying intelligent perimeter solutions like those manufactured by SightLogix to combat the potential for security breaches.
A recent evaluation at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport by the TSA’s Airport Perimeter Security test program confirmed the 100% video analytic accuracy of the SightLogix SightSensor thermal camera system in a challenging environment typical of many airports. According to the TSA’s final report, the “evaluation team performed over 900 scenarios of which every alarm instance was accurately reported” on the SightLogix perimeter security system. The report states further that “each alarm prompted the system to display the alarm video, location information, nearest camera reference numbers, date and time, and an audible alarm signal.” More information on the ABC News video and TSA report can be found at http://www.sightlogix.com/blog/airport-perimeter-security-abc/.
Buffalo airport officials also report cost savings with the SightLogix video analytics solution compared to competing technologies based upon SightLogix’ longer range coverage, reducing the number of poles, trenching and communications. The use of Thermal SightSensors enables detection of intrusions even in complete darkness, removing the additional costs otherwise needed for illumination.
The SightLogix system included Thermal SightSensor video analytics cameras for detecting and tracking intrusions over large areas and SightTracker PTZ controllers to automatically steer Pelcocameras to zoom and follow detected targets. Fixed Thermal SightSensors were installed to protect critical regions of the perimeter and to provide automated monitoring to detect people or vehicles moving from the public side toward the runway. Cameras were positioned to provide additional surveillance across multiple access gates and portions of the perimeter that are adjacent to public roadways. Video and alarm data was networked to a central monitoring station via fiber-optic cable.
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| The SightLogix thermal cameras provide an optimal detection source for the airport |
The use of intelligent thermal analytic cameras to protect airport perimeters becomes more economically feasible with recent technology developments that provide a whole new level of performance with unparalleled accuracy and clearer thermal images at mainstream prices. Thermal video analytic cameras now operate among environmental factors such as rain, humidity, fog and bright sun, which in the past yielded poor images, nuisance alerts and mis-detects. On-board image processing offers extended detection capabilities, reducing the number of poles, trenching and communications needed for a deployment, while exceeding the automated detection area originally specified in the design. The result in Buffalo was a more accurate perimeter security system that met the airport's available budget. The combination of lower costs and higher performance is rapidly expanding the market for protecting critical assets with smart thermal cameras.
The economic picture becomes even clearer with an examination of per-foot costs of securing a perimeter using various methods. Smart thermal cameras are now available at an MSRP as low as $13/foot, bringing the most accurate perimeter security technologies to a price point on par with traditional (but less capable) approaches. This is why thermal cameras are experiencing rapid growth in many critical infrastructure markets, including the petroleum, transportation and utility industries.
