EuroWire January 2021

Technology News

Site security monitoring by autonomous drone Maintaining the security of industrial sites can be complex. Such sites often cover large areas and contain sectors that are dangerous for untrained or unauthorised people. sensitive and industrial sites, from major ports to nuclear power facilities.

One example of the drones being deployed is at Dunkerque Port in France. Eamus Cork Security has been protecting a port facility at the Grand Port Maritime with the Skeyetech autonomous drone from Azur Drones, coupled with Genetec’s Security Center Omnicast video management system. Complementing existing human and technical measures, the system makes it possible to strengthen site surveillance, particularly in the restricted access zone. “Due to its dense activity and regulatory requirements, the port facility must be secured seven days a week and 24 hours a day,” said Thomas Ditacroute, COO at Eamus Cork. “It became clear that our human presence and the operator’s CCTV system should be complemented by drone technology. The Skeyetech system, integrated with Genetec, improves the responsiveness and efficiency of the security teams that monitor the installations.” The Skeyetech autonomous UAV can take off at any time, with a single click, to carry out surveillance. Equipped with optical and thermal cameras, it is operational day and night to perform specific checks, conduct perimeter patrols or monitor interventions at a distance. It is the first unmanned UAV system to be approved in Europe for out-of-sight flights. Azur Drones www.azurdrones.com

CCTV systems and regular patrols are standard approaches to securing sites, but ensuring there are enough personnel to cover the site and provide a visible deterrent is expensive, leading to a tendency to teams being under-resourced. Fully autonomous surveillance UAV systems are available that can supplement human security teams, providing 24/7 site coverage, fast incident response and the ability to investigate potential threats without sending operatives into dangerous areas of the site, especially in the hours of darkness. Azur Drones, a European developer of security systems, has actively deployed drones helping to ensure the security of

▲ ▲ Azur’s Skeyetech autonomous drone

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January 2021