People have always sought ways to protect themselves, their belongings and their properties from outside harm. And in this respect, perimeter protection is the first defence against potential intruders. It involves using special equipment on some significant points, such as windows, skylights, vents or doors. Any house or commercial building opening can be equipped with surveillance equipment.
One of the main reasons why perimeter surveillance is often needed is to protect critical infrastructure. And because the outdoor conditions can be challenging, the equipment has to be weatherproof and specially created even for the most demanding conditions.
Various Types of Perimeter Surveillance
There are many applications for perimeter surveillance, depending on various factors, including the exact environment you need them for. In the case of maritime surveillance, its primary purpose is to understand and manage all the actions associated with the marine field that could influence naval security. Here, you could mention border control, control of pollution, managing vessel traffic, response to disasters and accidents, etc.
In aviation, surveillance is essential for traffic controllers, helping them see what goes on up there so there is no collision between aircraft. So, these surveillance options help keep traffic flow in good order. And, of course, there is also ground-level surveillance, which aims to protect areas from intruders.
Cameras can be mounted on various supports, including boats and vehicles, as many surveillance products are available nowadays, and the evolution of technology helps increase this important security domain. For instance, surveillance radars and 2-axis gyro-stabilizers can help you get steady images even when you are on the move or the target is moving.
Is There a Difference between Monitoring and Surveillance?
Although these two words are sometimes considered synonyms, they certainly do not refer to the same concepts, and it would be fascinating to see their exact meanings. First, the observation is passive and systematic when an activity or person is monitored. Also, the reasons for which monitoring is needed are less critical than in the case of surveillance.
Security officials or the police usually do surveillance, and its purpose is to find clear evidence of crimes. Surveillance is generally focused on people, buildings, facilities, or vehicles. In other words, while monitoring is more general, surveillance is more specific and uses more specialized equipment.
What are Some Examples of Perimeter Surveillance Equipment?
The evolution of surveillance has come a long way. We could mention perimeter surveillance radar among the most advanced types of surveillance technology. They usually monitor the activity around essential infrastructure such as military installations, borders, seaports or refineries. This type of radar can detect movement at ground level. For example, they can sense someone moving or crawling towards a critical perimeter. Their range stems from a few hundred meters to more than 10 km.
This type of technology can predict the position of a target very accurately. And because radar is usually less effective when there is fog or other obstacles, there are some different types of equipment that you can use, such as fog and mist penetrating cameras or SWIR, namely short-infrared cameras.
There are also long-range thermal cameras, which function based on seeing heat instead of light. This technology is based on the fact that most objects and living things emit radiation. Thermal technology can detect; thus, this type of technology can help see in the dark. Another excellent example of effective surveillance equipment is that of visible sensors. This type of camera captures visible light and transforms it into electrical signals. After that, the camera can organize the gathered information for rendering images and videos.
Can Radar Detect Pedestrians?
Radar can detect pedestrians, and further technological advancements look very promising. Radar sensors and cameras can track the movements of pedestrians and cyclists. Thus, these two items work in a team. In the case of radar equipment mounted on a vehicle, the radar can detect objects. It can determine their distance from the car while also considering its speed. On the other hand, a high-resolution camera can see the type of object based on its patterns of movement and size.
One of the limitations comes from the fact that the radar and the camera are usually faced forward. Due to that fact, it may be more difficult, if possible, for them to detect moving objects straight behind or beside the vehicle on which they are mounted.
Perhaps one of the main reasons why radar detection for pedestrians would be helpful is to avoid collisions and various types of accidents. Also, it may help protect vital areas and facilities from individuals with evil intentions.
The Ethics of Surveillance
Another essential point to seriously consider is the ethical concerns surrounding surveillance. Since perimeter surveillance is dynamic, there can be some unexpected outcomes. For instance, consider the early days of monitoring car speed by the police. From a naïve perspective, one would have expected that by using this radar technology, the police would have stopped all drivers from exceeding the law-accepted speed limit. But, as everyone knows, drivers have found ways to trick the authorities. Therefore, authorities must always use the latest technologies because potential evil-doers are continuously searching for ways to perfect their schemes and trick the officials.
At the same time, there is a need to educate people about various types of surveillance technology, how they function and how they can be protected to make surveillance more legitimate in the eyes of the great public. The users of this type of technology should be aware of the ethical risks they are taking. Therefore, they should restrict such equipment to only the most severe cases when the safety of people or infrastructure is in danger.
And there should be more clear legislation regarding the use of surveillance technology in more private areas. Many people have to agree that they feel safer around cameras and this type of equipment and that those who abide by the law don’t have anything to conceal. After all, official authorities can be held responsible for inappropriatel
Also read: EufyCam S330 (EufyCam 3) 4-Cam Kit: Elevating Home Security to New Heights
