Bidvest Magnum takes mobile surveillance to the extremes.
Mining is a complex business, especially in Africa where there is not always access to the infrastructure needed to provide the security services mines need. Bidvest Magnum in conjunction with Camsecure was recently called onsite to a diamond mine in Africa where these problems were exacerbated by the location and scope of the operation.
Bidvest Magnum’s technical director, Kevin Monk says the company was called onto an alluvial diamond mining site dispersed over a wide area. The area had no infrastructure at all, and it was difficult to create a security perimeter as the area being mined moved continuously along an old river bed.
The mining company required an innovative solution that would allow it to create a perimeter around the current mining area, the red zone, which moved with the excavation operations. It also wanted to secure its production centre.
When it came to the red zone, Monk says Magnum, in conjunction with Francois Malan of Camsecure, came up with the idea of a completely mobile camera and control room operation that could protect the mining areas wherever they are located. Built from the ground up, Magnum developed a solution using Pelco megapixel IP cameras, Flir thermal cameras and intelligent video analytics that would detect anyone crossing into the red zone and track their movements, transferring the images wirelessly to the control centre – which is in essence a caravan.
The trick was to ensure all these facilities were portable and self-sustainable. The result was a trailer with an extendable tower supporting four static Flir thermal cameras, a PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) thermal and colour IP PTZ camera, all linked wirelessly to the mobile control room. The static thermals have an effective detection range of 500 metres, while the PTZ cameras have a detection range of 1,2 kilometres.
To be self-sufficient, the cameras are supported by four solar power panels that feed the trailer’s bank of deep cycle batteries and can ensure 48 hours of continual operation. The trailer can be set up in minutes in any location the mine desires. The trailer itself does not have to move very often as the wireless connectivity operates over a range of 20 kilometres line of site.
The control room
The mobile control room was also built from scratch. The shell is a prefabricated caravan running on a diesel generator guaranteeing continuous uptime and mobility. The control room is also totally self sufficient in that it contains two operator stations, ablution facilities and a server room where video is stored and the management software is hosted. Access to the server room is controlled by biometric access control.
The control room is also air conditioned to ensure the operators are able to do their work comfortably in the hot African sun, and to ensure the equipment does not overheat. The managed UPS within the equipment room constantly monitors temperature inside and outside of the control room, if the temperature is not within the specified range the UPS will manage a control shut down of all equipment within the control room. It can be deployed in one location, receiving wireless signals from the remote trailer, and it can be moved as necessary when required.
Phase 2
The next phase of the operation will be to deploy IP cameras in the mine’s production and recovery centre where personnel processing the gems will be monitored as well as all entrances and exits to the compound. The equipment to be used in this operation will also include an X-ray body scanner to prevent the theft of valuables. Once again, biometric access control will manage all access to the area.
The first of the mobile security units has been deployed, with further orders in the pipeline. Monk says this innovative solution is perfect for mines or any industries requiring high-quality surveillance over a large, changing landscape, or where it is required for limited periods.
Due to the security considerations on the mine, the image was taken at Bidvest Magnum’s premises in Johannesburg.
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