Even a low rate of alarm can lead to complacency

Critical infrastructure sites need reliable, cost-effective physical security solutions. For these solutions to be a success they must reliably detect and deter would-be intruders, enhance intrusion assessment and response capabilities, secure remote and unmanned sites, and, finally, address one of the most prevalent issues with physical security, reduce nuisance alarms.

Nuisance Alarms Lead to Complacency Nuisance alarms are alarms that are generated when the site's security system is functioning correctly but is being triggered by non-threat stimuli, which may include wind or other severe weather, nearby human or animal activity, or wind-induced vegetation movement.

For operators, even a relatively low nuisance alarm rate (NAR) can lead to problems such as complacency–ignoring real alarms because it is assumed they are false–and increased costs for ongoing repair and maintenance. Security Starts at the Perimeter: Fence Sensors and Video Analytics Adding a perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS), such as a fence-mounted sensor, augments the effectiveness of an existing fence by providing valuable capabilities to detect and locate attempts to cut, climb or lift the fence.

Connected to the site's alarm systems, PIDS can notify off-site security personnel of the intrusion and engage automated deterrent mechanisms such as the strobing of lights at the fence line, increased illumination of the overall site or using public address systems to provide audible warnings.

Video Analytic Solutions Intrusion attempts can also be detected via video analytics by using either virtual tripwires defined along the fence or area masks. Entry-level analytics use simple motion detection while more advanced analytics use sophisticated algorithms that detect and classify the presence of people, vehicles, and objects while rejecting environmental changes, including wind-induced movement, shadows and small animals.

This article originally appeared in the March 2022 issue of Security Today.

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• Going Beyond Security • Reducing Nuisance Alarms • Overcoming the Problems • Curbing Security Threats • Protecting a Budding Industry

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