printer friendly version

Video monitoring from afar

Off-site video monitoring is set to play a much greater role in industrial security.

Areas abandoned by business and currently off limits because of the high incidence of crime are going to be won back and put into productive use thanks to off-site video monitoring technology.

Paul Champion, sales director of Johannesburg-based Stallion CAP Electronics, says the technology is ideally suited to areas such as the Marlborough and Wynberg industrial areas in Johannesburg and others like it where once-productive warehouses and factories have been taken over by squatters and vagrants.

Paul Champion, Stallion CAP Electronics

"Because it cuts the costs of surveillance to a fraction of what a dedicated armed reaction service and full-time guards would cost, it offers the very real prospect of making previously no-go areas safe and secure again on a cost effective basis."

Stallion Security, one of South Africa's largest privately empowered security companies, added off-site monitoring to its array of security-related services recently when it became clear that there was an overwhelming demand for it.

"We had so many enquiries from existing clients in our guarding and armed response divisions that we were encouraged to offer an off-site video monitoring service."

Champion says over and above its obvious security applications, off-site video monitoring had other much wider applications.

"We are able to place cameras into high-value production plants where they take the place of full-time supervisors alerting management when something goes awry."

Using state-of-the-art digital cameras, the remote closed circuit television systems in different parts of South Africa are linked to Stallion Security's control room in Johannesburg via ISDN telephone lines.

"A site is secured with electronics, ie, beams or outdoor motion detectors. Once a beam is broken or motion is detected the Adpro transmission unit commences recording and dials into the control room.

Adpro control room

"Highly trained operators then view the site and have the ability to speak to intruders on the premises via a remote public address system. They are made aware of the fact that they are on camera and if they fail to respond to instructions to leave the premises, armed response units or the police can be called in to deal with the problem before they have managed to break into the premises," Champion explains.

Stallion CAP Security is currently in the process of installing one of the largest off-site monitoring systems in South Africa. Comprising several hundred cameras, it will ultimately be spread over a number of sites in different parts of the country.

Champion says having remote CCTV capabilities opens up a whole new world for business owners and managers.

"No longer are they forced to go to a site in the event of an incident. A trained operator evaluates the situation and alerts either a nearby armed guarding vehicle or the police to deal with the situation," he says.

Stallion Security currently only deals with multicamera systems in industrial and commercial premises other applications include business parks, retail outlets and high value storage units to name but a few.

Although the technology is relatively new to South Africa, Champion believes it could dramatically slash costs on larger sites.

"The Adpro off-site monitoring system we use is being used with great success in the UK, Europe and the US," he points out.

As manned guarding costs continue to rise, off-site monitoring has shown massive cost savings while providing increased security coverage of vulnerable sites, Champion says.

"Manpower can be greatly reduced and to some degree be replaced with technology that does the job just as well or better."

CCTV cameras and off-site monitoring hardware can be integrated with most intruder alarm systems and it is possible to combine the Adpro system with existing CCTV installations to minimise costs, while providing advanced off-site capabilities.

Champion says a separate division within the company, Stallion CAP Electronics who would do the installation, monitoring and maintenance of the equipment, would handle the off-site video monitoring service.

"Our guarding and property company secures the site during normal business hours. Once the site is 'locked down' the electronics take over."

He says once an incident had taken place, and a perpetrator had been arrested, the Stallion Investigations department was able to assist in the gathering and interpretation of evidence.

"The new service fits in beautifully with our existing bouquet of services. In addition, we have been able to train our operators at our Learning Centre to maximise the benefits of the system," Champion concludes.

Share this article:

Further reading: