3D surveillance
Nils Protzner, Hexagon Geosystems
INSUFFICIENT security measures for infrastructure can have significant repercussions, but traditional solutions have their limitations. Inadequate security measures on your essential infrastructure can have severe consequences. Consider the rail industry: If a vandal cuts the cables on a vital mechanism that controls train signals, train safety is jeopardised.
To avoid train collisions or derailments and thus significant damage to property and potentially loss of life, the operating company must shut down the service until the infrastructure is repaired and the network is up and running again.
The disruption affects the rail ecosystem itself, but also the people using the trains, the transportation of cargo, and more. The financial cost of repairing the damage, restoring signal functionality, and compensating for delays can be substantial. Another example are electrical substations – a fire or targeted attack can damage the system and lead to devastating power outages.
Traditional surveillance limitations
Traditional video surveillance has its limits when it comes to protecting transformer stations. The facilities are often located in rural areas, where straying animals or flying leaves trigger false alarms. These challenges can be overcome by volumetrically securing the area using 3D surveillance. The system can immediately detect intruders (only raising the alarm in the event of a human intruder) and can even identify drone attacks.
Protecting critical infrastructure
Critical infrastructure must be monitored. It remains at risk, if operators do not have systems for monitoring entire areas rather than just the periphery; if security personnel has limited information in case of an intrusion; and if security response protocols are not automated.
While 3D surveillance technology is beginning to gain traction in most locations, adoption rates differ significantly from one region to another. Scandinavia and Eastern Europe have embraced it to a greater extent than Western Europe.Integrating lidar technology, 3D surveillance solutions provide a comprehensive view of the area being monitored with real-time monitoring and response, protecting critical infrastructure from damage through its security system. Security personnel can identify and verify threats more easily and track the movements of individuals or vehicles, as well as respond to incidents as they happen. It can be equipped with advanced analytics and AI capabilities to detect patterns and anomalies that may indicate a potential threat. This can help to prevent potential attacks or accidents before they occur, as well as enable more accurate responses to incidents.
It can also help tackle the talent challenge in the industry as recruiting security professionals involves extensive background checks, with jobs in the industry notorious for their low salaries, which results in high staff turnover. Turning to autonomy by implementing sensor- and software-based solutions requires fewer, if any, in-person patrols and ensures reliable infrastructure protection.
Country legislation
In many countries, more stringent legislation now mandates the implementation of additional security measures to safeguard critical infrastructure, particularly at a country’s points of entry, such as airports and harbours. Protecting the perimeter is no longer enough.
For instance, airport management must ensure that critical areas, including the space around aircraft and near unauthorised access points, are secure. While multi-layered screening of individuals at the perimeter is a valuable security measure, it must be complemented by efficient surveillance of the entire area, which can only be achieved through advanced technology. While 3D surveillance technology is beginning to gain traction in most locations, adoption rates differ significantly from one region to another. Scandinavia and Eastern Europe have embraced it to a greater extent than Western Europe. Regions with lower adoption rates will likely catch up as they seek to reinforce the security of their critical infrastructure, especially given the conflict in Eastern Europe.
Other benefits
There is the potential for reliable protection against vandalism and damage which is generally a major concern for companies that rely on critical infrastructure. Its real-time insights can help to quickly detect and respond to potential threats.
Asset management and maintenance planning can also be improved upon with potential problems or maintenance needs identified before they become more serious issues keeping critical infrastructure running smoothly.
Nils Protzner, Hexagon Geosystems