Processing Security

Processing Security

Canadian metals firm deploys thermal imagers and HD cameras

Dominion Nickel Alloys Ltd. operates on a global scale. As one of North America’s leading scrap metal recycling facilities with experienced staff and the latest in machinery, Dominion specializes in the purchasing, sorting, processing, and marketing of a broad range of high temperature and specialty nickel-based alloys.

Dominion’s operations, on the outskirts of Toronto, are based at an 20-acre facility where different merchants bring all manner of high-value scrap metal for processing. The biggest risk for Dominion is someone making it into the yard undetected and making off with tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars of metal.

The surveillance technology initially installed at the site was triggered by outdoor motion sensors that activated any one of several PTZ cameras for verification—unfortunately this set-up generated far too many false alarms to be effective.

Deploying new 3xLOGIC thermal technology was an upgrade intended to eliminate the challenges from outdoor motion sensor technology.

Ed Bodbyl and his team at Sonitrol designed a video surveillance system for Dominion comprised of 14 thermal imagers, each paired with a high definition three megapixel bullet camera for verification. Cameras were set to record to an NVR located on site.

There are some benefits for the company; for example, the entire yard is covered with this 14 thermal imager/14 HD camera deployment, offering crisp HD images during the day, and 36-degree thermal images at night, backed by HD video. The original motion-based PTZ deployment resulted in high false alarm levels and limited detection range. The combination of thermal technology and HD cameras, paired with live Sonitrol monitoring, brought the number of false alarms way down. All this significantly reduced false alarms, effectively cutting down on operator fatigue and potentially costly mistakes.

All video images are monitored by the Sonitrol central station and the operator will take action on alarm to either summon a private guard service or request that law enforcement be dispatched to the scene. Camera views are dictated by what areas need to be monitored for intrusion detection, and the end user has access to these images for operational use and incident review.

The VERA thermal imager allows the end user to see where they never could see before. When using high-contrast thermal imaging the results are a dramatic reduction in false alarms. Unlike standard thermal imagers VERA provides the advantage of verification and detection in an all-in-one device.

“With this image technology and the Sonitrol monitoring, our security is seamless to me,” said Howie Fleisher, vice president of Dominion Nickel. “The new thermals give us the images we need— with the old system, we had too many false alarms and after a while operators become immune to responding to so many false alarms.”

The three megapixel IP camera provides dual-streaming highdefinition video at a full 2048 by 1536 pixels for video surveillance applications requiring superior clarity and detail.

The servers are fully-integrated intelligent video appliances. Pre-configured with VIGIL VMS software, these high-performance servers represent a cost-effective, flexible solution that allows users to address their current needs with the ability to scale to meet tomorrow’s demands.

This article originally appeared in the September 2018 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Suzi Abell is the marketing manager at 3xLOGIC.

Featured

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.