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Sea and inland port logistics

Nowadays, the range of applications for video surveillance technology is no longer limited to traditional security tasks such as the detection of unwanted intruders or even the prevention of terrorist attacks. Video surveillance has become an indispensable tool to design all processes across a port area as efficiently as possible.

Whether by land or by water, the port area may only be accessed by authorised personnel. High-resolution cameras therefore detect everybody who enters the premises and documents the ship traffic as well as the movements of people and vehicles at the port’s gateways.

The multifocal sensor system (MFS) Panomera is ideal for the surveillance of expansive port areas. Unlike single-sensor cameras, MFS technology uses several sensors, each of which has a different focal length. Consequently, more distant areas can also be displayed with the same image quality as for objects close to the camera. This makes it possible to monitor large areas and distances from a single location, achieving this in real time with uniform image resolution, high dynamics and consistent focal depth.

Often, the CCTV/IP video surveillance system is complemented by intelligent video analysis systems which automatically carry out certain processes such as opening barriers or issuing alarms in cases where unidentified vehicles or ships are noticed. With Intruder, Dallmeier offers a solution for securing certain areas against unauthorised access. Intruder is a development based on SEDOR technology and allows for an effective surveillance both outdoors and indoors.

Tracking of commodities

Unfortunately it is impossible to completely eliminate cases of damaged goods, loading errors or other kinds of loss during the distribution of goods at freight hubs. However, using a video surveillance, the movements of every single container can be documented completely. Misguided goods can quickly be found again and the system also helps in conclusively proving transport damages. Disputable situations, which might for example arise when trying to determine when the damage occurred and who was responsible, can be resolved definitively and without the need for time-consuming investigations. Therefore, payments of damages can be allocated to the responsible individuals.

The goods are scanned at the entrance, continuously tracked while passing through the freight hubs and again electronically registered before going out. Additionally, every scanning process is recorded by a camera. The ideal solution for that application is high-resolution IP cameras. They provide detailed and true-colour images, even under the most difficult lighting conditions such as extreme backlighting at the gateways to the storage halls.

The scan data are recorded together with the pictures in the digital recording system so that the pictures and package data can later be matched up. The barcode for each package can then be used to identify and trace the item through the warehouse. This allows not only individual packages but also whole pallet-loads of assembled packages to be monitored as they progress through the warehouse.

Operational Intelligence

Operational safety includes a wide range of topics and it will remain a core issue for both port operators as well as the logistics sector as a whole. The well-planned use of video monitoring systems has become an indispensable tool in order to ensure the safety and reliability of business processes. At the same time, another large area of application, which is closely linked to safety and operational continuity, is becoming increasingly important: the collection and evaluation of real-time data generated from day-to-day operations as well as their correlation with historical information, widely known as business intelligence. Its aim is to provide comprehensive overviews over all activities as well as deeper insights into operational procedures. In this context, there are numerous potential uses for video monitoring and management systems that could be realised in the near future.

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