Power Accord

How one tailored system is fitting the bill for day/night surveillance in remote locations

  • By Martina Panighel
  • Dec 01, 2010

With temperatures regularly topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the Southwestern state of Arizona, residents need a reliable source of electricity to run air conditioners. Power utility APS is the Grand Canyon State’s largest electric utility and Arizona’s leading producer of electric power, providing reliable power with quality service at a reasonable cost for more than 100 years. APS, which is owned by Pinnacle West Capital Corp., serves more than 1.1 million customers in 11 of the 15 counties in the state.

The Challenge
APS has found that it needs to monitor its critical infrastructure and substations, which are located all over the state. Much of the infrastructure is located in areas that are often difficult to reach, such as its Palo Verde nuclear power-generating station, located about 55 miles west of Phoenix, which has been the largest power producer of any kind in the United States since 1992.

APS already had a video surveillance system in place equipped with a series of thermal imaging PTZ. The problem, however, was that this legacy system had a high failure rate and was quite costly to maintain. Seeking an effective surveillance system for both sunny and nighttime conditions, APS moved to Videotec’s solution, a ULISSE positioning system specifically created for applications of day/night video surveillance in external environments.

The Solution
Videotec’s ULISSE surveillance system has an integrated housing, P&T head and telemetry receiver. In order to monitor its power infrastructure around the clock, APS needed some sort of night surveillance capabilities. So the power company’s package included two Videotec infrared LED illuminators without external rotating cables.

ULISSE’s rotation on the horizontal axis is continuous, with a variable speed of up to 40 degrees per second. The amplitude on the vertical axis varies from +90 degrees to -40 degrees with a max speed of 30 degrees per second. ULISSE controls the functions of autopan and patrol with a tracking accuracy of 0.02 degrees on preset positions recall. The positioning system is controlled through an RS485/RS422.

Active infrared night vision like ULISSE PTZ incorporates illuminators that produce high levels of infrared light, and the resulting images are typically higher resolution than other night-vision technologies.

The system fit APS’s needs well.

“Working close with APS,” said Gianni Viero, vice president at Videotec, “we offered a valuable solution with one of our state-ofthe- art solution for effective day/night surveillance.”

The ULISSE PTZ with twin 20-degree IRBD Illuminators have been fitted with a 1/2-inch CCD camera and a mechanical zoom lens, which gives about 900 feet, or 275 meters, FOV in black and 1350 feet, or 400 meters, FOV in daylight. Its integration with different cameras and motorized zoom lens combination is straightforward thanks to its side-opening housing and connection boards with preinstalled BNC. The ULISSE can be integrated in several different installations, thanks to the several integrated protocols, or in IP-based systems, thanks to its seamless integration with most VMS. The telemetry signal can be transmitted in an active way for chain configuration of several ULISSE units together, and multiple communication protocols are embedded.

APS deployed 40 of these units in 2010 to monitor APS substations, with a typical install consisting of two to nine units, and APS security officials are quite happy with the fact that the ULISSE system could be tailored to fit the power company’s needs. “With Videotec’s unit, it has allowed us to make a unit to suit our surveillance requirements,” said Gary Couch, APS’s physical security engineer.

Now, APS can focus on providing Arizonans with electricity to keep cool, without having to worry about failing cameras in remote locations, because the perfect-fit reliability of Videotec’s ULISSE surveillance system is keeping watch, day and night.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Martina Panighel is the marketing manager for Videotec SpA.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • 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.