Fluidmesh and Danella Keep Marine Terminal Operations Running Securely

Fluidmesh and Danella Keep Marine Terminal Operations Running Securely

Fluidmesh and Danella Keep Marine Terminal Operations Running SecurelyPenn Terminals, privately-owned, multi-purpose marine terminals on the Eastern Seaboard, was in the market for an IP camera surveillance system to cover its 88-acre perimeter and interior buildings.

Penn's Terminal, Warehousing and Stevedoring Services are renowned for their efficiency in handling container, perishable, project, super sack, steel, pipes, forest products and other break-bulk cargoes. The facility is located in Eddystone, Pennsylvania, which is situated on the Delaware River six miles south of Philadelphia and 11 miles north of Wilmington, Delaware. It offers on-dock rail service by Conrail, CSX & Norfolk Southern.

Overcoming Obstacles with Wireless Solutions

Among the challenges to competing this installation, which began in October 2012 and was completed in January, 2013, was placing the IP cameras in the proper positions to cover very large areas, as well as achieving IR imaging along the river. Darry M. Voss of Danella Integrated Solutions served as the integrator on the project and explains that wireless gave them the flexibility needed without having to build new infrastructure at each location.

Danella's consultant on the project acquainted Voss with Fluidmesh specs and capabilities, and, for the bid, Fluidmesh engineer and Regional Sales Manager Alex Clark explained the functionality and bandwidth capability to support the design. It made perfect sense for Penn Terminals.

Fluidmesh and Danella Keep Marine Terminal Operations Running Securely“Penn Terminals was interested in using high-performance video and thermal imaging to secure the facility and improve operations," Clark stated. "The cameras and sensors they chose demanded a high-performance network capable of high throughput and very low latency and jitter. To get the best camera views in between container stacks, along the river, and above the truck traffic, a multi-topology wireless network connecting poles, buildings, and remote locations was the natural choice. Without Fluidmesh, the customer’s budget would have forced them to use fewer cameras, placed in less than ideal locations, and construction would have taken much longer. We are proud to be part of the solution to keep Penn Terminals operating smoothly and efficiently."

Configuration of the System

Voss installed three Fluidmesh 3100 radios on the Main Building and 13 Fluidmesh 1100s at each camera location that could not be hard wired. There is one FM1100 supporting six (6) IP cameras in the Banacol building. There is a combination of eleven (11) Fixed Arecont mega pixel IP cameras, thirteen (13) Siqura TKH 1080p PTZ IP cameras and two (2) FLIR D-series IR IP cameras. The head end consists of two ExacqVision servers built with storage requirements at 30fps, 85% motion for 30 days. Extreme data switches were installed in the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) and in the two Intermediate Distribution Frames (IDFs) within the facility.Fluidmesh and Danella Keep Marine Terminal Operations Running Securely

The two Flir D-series IR IP cameras placed along the South and North ends of the terminal are located at the furthest points to provide IR and DLTV images of the waterfront. The capability of the Fluidmesh radios with the available frequencies and bandwidth needed for the data stream on both videos were a determining factor for the installation. The system is designed for future access to the Coast Guard for security along the waterfront.

ExacqVision client software was loaded on the computers of key Penn Terminals personnel with user's rights for the administration and viewing of cameras.

The Penn Terminals Security staff has full access to all views with three monitors in the guard shack. Views are set on pre-set tours covering the perimeter and loading and unloading of materials and activity within the facility.

Penn Security is a 24/7 operation that monitors the facility for safety and the loading and unloading of ships of containers, certain project cargoes such as railroad locomotives, earth movers and giant generators, steel cargoes such as coils, rebar and pipe, and forest cargoes such as plywood and lumber and perishables.

At the End of the Day

This project came with its own inherent challenges due to the size and scope of the facility and the number of locations that required cameras; however, the system is meeting the needs of the client beautifully.

"From a security monitoring perspective, the new system has greatly enhanced our security system," noted John Timmons, director of security for Penn Terminals. "The ability to place cameras in strategic locations and have them wirelessly transmit video signals and control in real-time is a 100% improvement."

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. 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.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.