Thermal control for Irene estate

September 2009 Surveillance

Southdown’s Irene Country Farm monitors a perimeter of over 6 km with thermal cameras and intelligent video analytics.

Southdown’s Irene Country Farm is a residential development capturing the essence of the area’s natural beauty and incorporating 50 hectares of farmland within the estate. The development spans approximately 200 hectares and covers 46 hectares of conservation corridors and agricultural areas and consists of about 700 sites, the majority being single residential stands with an average size of 1200 m².

Developed by Centurus Property Developers, it includes a Sport and Arts Exchange (SAX), the Southdown’s College and the Southdown’s Shopping Centre. The Irene Dairy Farm is also directly linked to the estate. The estate’s vision is “to be the premier residential estate in Gauteng offering a unique lifestyle in an environmentally sustainable manner”.

Like many other residential estates, Southdown’s had implemented conventional security measures, such as electric fencing with zone indication of intrusion detection, roving guards, reaction vehicles and a central control room. While these are still standard methods of security, many estates are finding that these methods are not sufficient when it comes to preventing and detecting intrusions.

The perimeter of Southdown’s is approximately 6,5 km long and the estate’s management needed a system that would give instant visual verification, day or night, as to the cause and position of any breaches in the perimeter. Moreover, the northern boundary has river frontage and dense vegetation. This type of landscape makes it difficult to erect and maintain electric fencing.

Home owners felt strongly about not erecting additional lighting around the perimeter of the estate as it is centred on the old Irene Dairy Farm and the aesthetic nature of the estate had to be preserved. Southdown’s is eco-friendly in nature and for this reason, a green security solution was selected by means of thermal cameras.

Thermal and intelligent analytics

Thermal cameras cut down on power consumption as there is no need for additional lighting in areas they cover. Not only are they eco-friendly, but they are efficient at detecting intruders and far more cost-effective over large distances than normal CCTV cameras.

Security integrator C3 Shared Services chose an intelligent video analytics system combined with thermal cameras to meet the requirements of the estate. The solution implemented allowed Southdown’s to keep its eco-friendly appeal while ensuring the safety of the residents of the estate.

A combination of two military grade technologies was selected, Opgal thermal imaging cameras and ioimage intelligent video analytics. The advantages being that the perimeter security system could now detect intruders on the darkest night at distances of up to 450 metres and enable the control room operators to make the correct and speedy decision to dispatch an armed response team to the correct area.

The system was integrated into the existing fibre-to-the-home solution already in place.

Educating home owners

The combination of thermal cameras and intelligent video analytics is a costly one. Therefore, before the system was approved, the home owners needed to be educated as to the benefits of this system and the advantages over traditional methods of security. They also needed to know that when deploying this kind of technology as part of a security solution, a reputable company with the appropriate experience must be retained. The combination of thermal cameras and analytics is a highly specialised field and requires a high level of expertise in order to be deployed correctly and obtain the best results.

Southdown’s achieved what it set out to achieve: a virtual perimeter that allows for instant visual verification of any breaches. Control room operators can view the perimeter and can make the necessary decisions on what response needs to be taken should the perimeter be breached.

Now, 20 thermal cameras with 20 channels of intelligent video analytics continuously monitor the Southdown’s perimeter. Furthermore, 30 analog cameras are used to monitor the gate houses where number plate and facial recognition systems are in use. A further two day/night cameras with IR illuminators and intelligent video analytics are used to alert guards to all movement at the two farm gates.

“C3’s emphasis is not on selling a system, but rather a working solution that delivers immediate benefits to the client,” says Nick Grange, technical director of C3 Shared Services.

The implementation team

* C3 Shared Services designed and installed the intelligent thermal perimeter security system.

* Norman Royds, an independent consultant assisted with the fibre-optic backbone infrastructure and project management.

* Smart Village installed the fibre-optic network backbone of the estate, into which the thermal cameras are integrated.

For more information contact C3 Shared Services, 086 123 7700, www.c3ss.com



Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Pentagon appointed as Milestone distributor
Elvey Security Technologies News & Events Surveillance
Milestone Systems appointed Pentagon Distribution (an Elvey Group company within the Hudaco Group of Companies) as a distributor. XProtect’s open architecture means no lock-in and the ability to customise the connected video solution that will accomplish the job.

Read more...
Empowering cities with intelligent security solutions
Secutel Technologies Surveillance IoT & Automation
By leveraging advanced AI analytics, real-time data collection, and seamless integration capabilities, cities can address pressing security challenges and create a safer environment for residents.

Read more...
Re-imagining business operations with the power of AI
AI & Data Analytics Surveillance
inq., a Convergence Partners company, has introduced a range of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to assist organisations across industry verticals in optimising business operations and improving internal efficiencies.

Read more...
Eight MP dome for harsh environments
Axis Communications SA Surveillance Products & Solutions
Axis Communications announced a marine-grade stainless steel camera that offers performance in harsh environments. Enclosed in an electropolished stainless steel casing, it can withstand the corrosive effects of seawater and cleaning chemicals.

Read more...
Enhance control rooms with surveillance and intelligence
Leaderware Editor's Choice Surveillance Mining (Industry)
Dr Craig Donald advocates the use of intelligence and smart surveillance to assist control rooms in dealing with the challenges of the size and dispersed nature common in all mining environments.

Read more...
AI-driven identity verification for access control
C3 Shared Services Editor's Choice
Facial authentication solutions combine advanced AI and 3D sensing technologies with ease of use to create a frictionless, touchless experience. The deployment of this technology in an access control system keeps users and administration moving.

Read more...
Advanced security solution for high-risk areas
Secutel Technologies Surveillance Integrated Solutions
The need for a sophisticated intrusion detection system is paramount when faced with persistent security challenges, particularly in isolated battery rooms or high-risk areas prone to vandalism, cable theft, and battery theft.

Read more...
Hikvision’s top seven trends for the security industry in 2024
Hikvision South Africa News & Events Surveillance AI & Data Analytics
As we embrace technological innovation, and adapt to evolving societal needs, we are witnessing the convergence of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data.

Read more...
inq. SA unveils AI, IoT solutions for the digital age
AI & Data Analytics Surveillance
inq. has announced the launch of an extensive Edge Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and the Edgedock data insights value proposition to transform business operations across various sectors.

Read more...
ONVIF releases first add-on for secure communications
Surveillance Training & Education
ONVIF has released the final version of the TLS Configuration add-on to increase the security of communications between devices and software clients within a physical security system.

Read more...