Thermal imaging cameras:
a cost effective solution
for perimeter protection

As CCTV systems become more advanced the security industry will move to raise the standard for all CCTV installations to be designed for 24 hour surveillance, not just day-time operation. To be truly secure, a site must be protected day and night.

A number of tools are available to help detect potential intruders in the dark. Often different technologies are being combined to create a secure perimeter. Fences can be complemented with Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems with or without active infrared illumination or old fashioned light bulbs, Radio Frequency Intruder Detection (RAFID) systems, thermal imaging cameras and/or walking patrols.

FLIR PTZ-35x140 MS	FLIR PT-Series thermal imaging  camera	FLIR SR-series

Whatever solution or technology is chosen for securing an area, they all have their advantages and disadvantages and some technologies are more expensive than others. To get a full picture of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for a certain solution, not only the initial installation cost but also the maintenance cost needs to be taken into account. Some solutions consume a lot of power and need a lot of spare parts. Environmental and energy consumption issues are today high on the global agenda. Given that $1 from every $5 spent globally is used on lighting, and much of this is spend on inefficient and unnecessary lighting particular attention should be given to this area. The focus to save energy by looking at running costs will continue to increase. Local authorities and private industries are all looking at methods to save energy costs and lighting is one area due careful attention.

Quite a number of technologies are available to help detect potential intruders in the dark before they become a real hazard. Let´s compare some of them:

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) combined with traditional lighting

CCTV systems have been an effective tool for security and surveillance applications. However, just like the human eye, CCTV cameras do not see too much in total darkness. So in order to detect intruders at night they are often complemented with traditional lights by mains driven bulbs. Although some bulbs (fluorescent lamps, HID lamps) are more efficient than others the operational cost is very high. Light can only penetrate a certain distance and completely illuminating an area, so that it can be kept under surveillance of CCTV cameras, is not always possible. Powering and maintaining the lights can even be more costly.

CCTVs with traditional lamp lighting require lamp replacement every 2000 to 4000 hours or about every 8 months. There is significant labour and material cost associated with lamp replacement.

Light pollution is a global problem caused by inefficient, intrusive and unnecessary use of artificial light. Symptoms include glare, clutter overillumination and sky glow. Light pollution is an increasingly hot political topic given recent government legislation to control and punish light pollution. In some locations light is also considered to be too intrusive.

Furthermore, lighting essentially lays out a route of attack for intruders, creating shadows in which they can hide and access undetected.

Electrified fences

In order to keep intruders out of certain areas fences can be constructed. To further increase security, fences can be equipped with sensors that generate an automatic alarm when someone touches the fence. Or they can be electrified, to keep intruders away.

In all cases, fences need to be complemented by other technologies such as CCTV cameras or walking patrols in order to see what is happening around the fence.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) combined with LED's

Compared to any bulb, LED's provide significant savings on electrical consumption. LED's also provide long life performance with little ongoing maintenance costs.

Infrared illumination with LED's, sometime also called active infrared, beams infrared radiation into the area in front of a camera. The LED's are often placed around the lens of the camera.

LED illumination is compromised by limited range performance. Also, providing lighting for domes has long been a challenge for CCTV professionals as the lighting cannot be fitted to move with the camera.

Radio Frequency Intruder detection (RAFID)

The simplest description of RAFID is to consider a system using two specially designed cables – one transmitting a radio wave, while the other receives that wave.

Changes in the amount of signal passing between the transmitter cable and receiver cable are analyzed by a signal processor. If the amount of signal changes, this means that someone or something is between the two cables and an alarm will go off. Due to the difference in the signal strength, the system can detect whether these changes are due to the presence of a human, a small animal, …

Note that in a lot of cases CCTV cameras still need to be installed in order to see what is generating a real, or false, alarm.

FLIR PT-Series thermal imaging camera		FLIR F-Series thermal imaging camera

Thermal imaging

A new tool for seeing in total darkness, in the most diverse weather conditions is thermal imaging. Thermal imaging is the use of a thermal imaging camera to "see" thermal energy emitted from an object. Thermal imaging cameras produce images of invisible infrared or "heat" radiation. Based on temperature differences between objects, thermal imaging produces a crisp image on which the smallest of details can be seen. They work both during daytime and nighttime.

Most FLIR Systems thermal imaging cameras contain an uncooled Vanadium Oxide detector. Not only produces it excellent quality thermal images, since it is not containing any moving parts, it needs no maintenance. Thermal imaging technology requires no additional lighting or illumination and has no regular maintenance costs.

Deciding which technology to use

Security managers are more familiar with certain technologies than with others. Before making a final decision about which technology will be implemented to secure a perimeter at night, it is a good idea to have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each technology.

This table tries to summarize the different technologies and their advantages / disadvantages.

Case study

As is shown in the advantages and disadvantages table on the previous page, thermal imaging cameras have many advantages for perimeter protection. To make a final decision, however, the purchase cost of the system needs to be considered.
In this simple case study a comparison will be made between the investment costs needed for perimeter protection systems based on CCTV cameras and on thermal imaging cameras. In this simplified example the cost of personnel during the installation and the cost in maintenance and power bills are not included, as they might vary strongly depending on local power rates and local wages. In all cases these costs will be directly proportional to the amount of equipment and on the usage of lighting.
 

Assumptions:
- A linear stretch of 250 meters needs to be protected with the perimeter protection system.
- The perimeter needs to be secured day and night, in all weather conditions. This means that CCTV cameras need to be complemented with other technologies as light, infrared illuminators, etc…
- All prices shown are estimative end user prices for mid range products.
 

This comparison shows that even though the price of one single thermal imaging camera might be higher than the price of a CCTV camera, the overall investment costs for a thermal imaging camera perimeter protection system is actually lower. The larger the perimeter, the bigger this difference will become. Since thermal imaging cameras require no lighting to function and given the fact that fewer cameras are needed with the thermal imaging perimeter protection solution, this system will also consume less electricity than the CCTV solution, making the thermal solution less expensive in its upkeep than the CCTV solution.
 

 CONSIDERATIONS
**Alarm verification requirement
**Values for 200 linear meters of perimeter
**Prices shown are estimative end user Purchase price for a mid range product
**IR lamp consumption would require to be added on traditional CCTV
**Maintenance not included, proportional to the volume of equipment

Conclusion

Although all technologies have advantages and disadvantages a small calculation makes it clear that thermal imaging is a very good and a very cost effective solution for protecting a perimeter, especially if this perimeter, like in practically all cases, also needs to be protected during the night.
 

It is shown that although a thermal imaging camera is more expensive than a CCTV camera, fewer cameras need to be deployed to cover the same area. The civil works that need to be carried out are minimal. In some cases the cameras can even be mounted on existing structures. Furthermore, since thermal imaging cameras produce a clear image in the darkest of nights, no complementary technologies like lighting or infrared illuminators need to be installed. Not only does this limit the amount of civil works that needs to be carried out, it also reduces the maintenance cost.
 
Thermal imaging cameras also generate fewer false alarms which is a common problem with CCTV cameras combined with Video Motion Detection or Video Content Analysis software.
 

Although thermal imaging cameras are more expensive than CCTV cameras at initial purchase, the case study shows that they are often not only the best, but also the most cost effective solution.