18 CCTV


Thermal imaging cameras for marina security


P


roviding secure facilities and ensuring a safe environment at marinas should be a basic responsibility of


marina management. Protection can be achieved through a combination of security policies, controlled access, observation and user awareness. Although it has not reached epidemic proportions yet, crime is a growing threat to recreational boating. Modern boats are equipped with


state-of-the-art electronic systems for navigation and other items. They may also have a state-of-the-art video and sound systems, jet-skis and a lot more expensive equipment on board.


Marina crime prevention,


just like home or business crime prevention, is a matter of detecting potential risks and eliminating them. Most crimes occur when criminals find a safe and easy opportunity to strike. Much of the time, this happens in full darkness, under cover of the night. Continuously, fully lighting up a marina during night-time is not always the best solution. Installing supplementary lighting is often expensive. Operating and maintaining it can be very costly. In some sensitive locations, it is also considered too intrusive. Furthermore, lighting essentially lays out a route of attack for intruders, creating shadows in


metres, others can cover a distance of several km. Depending on the user’s preference and needs, they can be installed to cover a particular area or mounted on a ‘pan and tilt’ system, so the operator can change the camera’s field of view from a distance. Various options exist to connect


FLIR FC-series 320 x 240 resolution thermal IP/analog camera.


which they can hide and gain access undetected. A perfect solution for monitoring a marina during night-time, but also during other parts of the day, is thermal imaging. This is the use of a thermal imaging camera to ‘see’ thermal energy emitted from an object. Thermal or infra-red energy is light that is not visible to the human eye because its wavelength is too long to be detected. It’s the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Thermal imaging cameras produce images of invisible infra-red or ‘heat’ radiation. Based on temperature differences between objects, thermal imaging produces a clear image. In contrast with other


technologies, such as light amplification, thermal imaging needs no light whatsoever to produce an image on which the


smallest of details can be seen. It also provides full visibility irrespective of the prevailing light level and weather conditions. It can see in total darkness, through light fog, in the far distance, through smoke and is able to detect anyone hiding in the shadows. It is an excellent tool for security and surveillance applications in marinas.


Affordable technology Recent advances in detector technology have made thermal imaging much more accessible and affordable. A typical example is the use of thermal imaging in cars to facilitate night-time driving. FLIR Systems, the world leader in thermal imaging technology, has opened up the wide potential of this versatile technology by developing models such as the FC-series security camera that is primarily designed for perimeter surveillance and asset protection. It is a great tool for marina


surveillance during any part of day, in all weather conditions, providing reliable round-the-clock awareness without the need for supplementary equipment. FLIR Systems markets a full


Thermal imaging cameras can be installed on various mountings.


MARINA ASIA-PACIFIC • MAY 2016


range of thermal imaging cameras, which can be used for security and surveillance applications. All of FLIR’s thermal security cameras can see in total darkness. Some can detect potential threats up to 400


FLIR Systems thermal imaging cameras and to integrate them in already existing security systems in marinas. They can be configured for stand-alone use, as part of a network or in a hybrid configuration with local and network-based control. Most of FLIR’s thermal imaging


cameras can be integrated in any existing CCTV Infrastructure, providing early detection and visibility 24/7 all the year round. They can be integrated in a TCP/ IP network and controlled by a PC without the need for extra cables. This allows all activity in a marina to be monitored over the internet, even from thousands of kilometres away.


Threat detection software Putting someone behind a screen to monitor activities during the night is not always the preferred solution. For threat detection in marinas and monitoring if no-one is accessing them, powerful autonomous threat detection software exists. Operators can define a variety


of triggers based on movement in the scene. It is easy to programme certain lights to switch on if suspect motion is detected or warn a security guard to take a look at the scene. This intelligent video decision-making software, coupled with the thermal imaging power of a FLIR Systems thermal imaging camera, presents an extremely reliable automatic threat detection package. FLIR Systems flir@flir.com www.flir.com


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