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Remote threat detection and prevention

South Africa’s underground riches include gold, diamonds and uranium, all highly prized by criminals. This presents enormous security challenges to mine owners, not only with regard to safeguarding the metals and minerals, but also in terms of preventing fuel and equipment theft, illicit mining in abandoned shafts and the safety of their staff.

“Mining security managers have to address a magnitude of security issues, which include the loss of revenue, loss of equipment and the loss of life, hence the need for the highest level of surveillance technology possible,” says Ingo Mutinelli, sales manager for Elvey Security Technologies. “Optex has once again shown its prowess in the field of video surveillance with its REDWALL Product Series, which has been specifically engineered to provide high-end analogue and IP detection applications in the most demanding environments.”

The Redwall

The protection of outdoor assets and the prevention of unauthorised entry is particularly challenging in complex environments such as mines, sorting houses and the industrial sector. Security guards have long been the best of the options available, but it is an expensive option and one that is vulnerable to abuse or error. “The number of guards being paid off, intimidated, or in cahoots with the criminal syndicates, is rising steadily, hence the desperate need for a reliable alternative.”

A proponent of using technology in conjunction with manpower to achieve optimum security, Mutinelli recommends local video response, which is being deployed with great success on more than 20 000 sites in the United Kingdom alone. He explains: “The security of the premises as well as the safety and integrity of guards can be dramatically beefed up by installing a closed circuit television (CCTV) system linked to external detectors and cameras. In the event of an intrusion, the detector will trigger the alarm while the camera will capture the image and send it in real-time to the control centre. Here, operators will either issue a remote warning over the loud speakers or dispatch security personnel to the site while reporting the event to police and the relevant stake holders. This is a far more efficient use of security resources than the traditional guard system.

“Redwall’s detection technology virtually eliminates false alarms traditionally caused by small animals, heavy rain, changing light, swaying plants and pixilation, hence its status as a leader in the field of remote video response detectors.”

The Redwall is available in various models, which offer varying detection areas, such as 30 x 20 m, 40 x 4 m, 50 x 30 m and 100 x 3 m. The latter two come standard with an additional PIR detector situated on the bottom of the unit which is designed to cover the creep zone, explains Mutinelli. This PIR detector has an independent output separate from the main outputs which can trigger the CCTV system and direct presents or starts recording accordingly, while the output from creep zone detection can be used for another preset/trigger to ensure the protection of the unit and simultaneously ensuring no slipping past the system via a blind spot.

Another feature that sets the Redwall system apart from the rest is its intelligent detection capability, which uses data such as temperature and luminance from the ambient environment to automatically adjust sensitivity levels. It incorporates advanced anti sabotage technologies such as a photo-beam sensor for anti-masking and a three-axis accelerometer for anti-rotation.

The Redscan

For the remote monitoring of abandoned mine shafts and other isolated or dangerous environments, Mutinelli recommends the Redscan, an advanced laser detector able to withstand high temperatures and accurately detect unauthorised entry. Not only can the Redscan detect a moving object’s size, speed and distance from the unit, but it will then process this information using a unique algorithm, the result of which is super-reliable detection coupled with minimal false alarms.

Extremely versatile, it can be mounted vertically or horizontally, depending on the required application and site conditions. When a vertical detection area is selected, the RLS-3060 creates a 60 m detection area that functions like an invisible wall, he explains. “With four analogue outputs for remote video applications and four fully programmable detection areas linked to these outputs, it is the ideal detector for controlling PTZ cameras.”

When horizontal detection area is selected, the Redscan creates a detection area with a radius of 30 m and an arc of 190-degrees. The detection area can be set manually or automatically, concludes Mutinelli.

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