As the threats to certain sectors grow, so the challenge of delivering credible security to remote locations increases. Often sites at risk may, by their very nature, lack power and communications. This makes them attractive to criminals, but also presents problems when looking to provide protection. Physical measures can often be overcome given time, and in many applications may not be practical.
Two applications increasingly under threat from crime are construction sites and agriculture. The building sector has always faced the issue of the theft of plant, tools and materials, but as projects increase in rural areas and out-of-town locations, so the risks increase. Many sites have no near-by neighbours, and essential infrastructure will not be installed. As such, criminals know they have an increased window of opportunity when targeting such locations.
Agricultural theft and animal rustling might be considered a somewhat archaic crime, but annual costs in the UK are estimated to be £54 million. As well as high tech equipment, animal rustling is also rife. As well as losing animals, such crimes can impact on revenues for an entire season and can cause significant hardship for farmers and food producers.
Because of the remote and often isolated nature of agricultural sites, repeat attacks are common, often pushing users into crippling debt. Protecting animals and equipment in open spaces presents a significant problem for many sites.
Alongside security, many businesses and organisations harness the power of smart technologies, such as video, for additional purposes. Video is a great enabler for tasks where people are usually deployed, such as caring for animals during birthing periods, monitoring of habitats, etc.. Without power and communications, the benefits of video cannot always be realised.
However, mobile data can be used to tackle issues with a lack of communications. The 4G network can allow the transmission of video and is a cost-effective way of addressing a lack of infrastructure. Additionally, improvements in solar panels now offer a credible alternative to battery packs or hard-wired power delivery.
An alternative approach
Hikvision has launched a 4G Solar Panel Kit for remote and isolated security applications. It will remove challenges when considering the protection of remote assets in hard to reach places, and allows security cameras to use solar power and communicate using mobile data networks.
The DS-2XS6A25G0-I/CH20S40 kit includes a 4G-enabled camera, a solar panel, a battery and a bracket. As such, it delivers a one-stop monitoring solution for remote environments. This means integrators can provide connected security systems to scenarios such as agriculture, animal and forest observation, as well as the temporary monitoring of construction sites.
The kit sends data to a communication station and then on to the security monitoring centre, where it can be managed using HikCentral Professional or the Hik-Connect app. This ensures both monitoring and management activities, such as viewing footage live, can be done remotely over the 4G network.
Designed to be lightweight, the kit easy to install: just one person can install it with a pole mount. The IP67 rating provides protection against most adverse weather conditions, and it also has resistance to strong winds often experienced in remote areas.
The kit is designed for reliability in the field, monitoring power levels and automatically switching to power-saving mode when they are low. This means it can work continuously for up to seven days in cloudy and rainy weather when fully charged.
The kit includes a 40 watt solar panel with a 20Ah, built-in rechargeable battery. The camera is capable of capturing two megapixel images streams at frame rates of up to 25fps. It uses the Hikvision proprietary DarkFighter technology for low-light imaging, and is available with 2.8, 4 and 8mm lens options. Night vision is achieved as the camera features integral infrared illumination with a range of 30 metres. Communications are achieved with a built-in 4G (LTE-TDD/LTE-FDD/TD-SCDMA/EVDO) module.
‘Supporting remote operations like farms and temporary construction sites has always been a challenge,’ stated Gary Harmer, Hikvision UK and Ireland Sales Director. ‘Now, with this innovative combination of solar and 4G technologies, we can provide a camera that can work off-grid, meaning installers can provide a great service to customers wherever they are.’