Thermal imaging cameras leave no threat undiscovered: Videor provides surveillance products to Frankfurt Airport

With an annual passenger volume of 50 million, Frankfurt Airport is the largest airport in Germany. While the Rhine-Main region has profited enormously from this circumstance, the further expansion is already on the way. The safety of passengers, aircraft and of the airport personnel takes top priority in this context. Among other things, the thermal imaging cameras by FLIR Systems, provided by VIDEOR E. Hartig GmbH, ensure that no threat remains undetected. The camera systems installed by German project partner PKE Electronics GmbH provide clear and sharp images in absolute darkness, fog or smoke and feature a highly developed image processing technology, which guarantees an outstanding contrast independent of the dynamic of the scene: Contrary to other night view systems, thermal cameras are not dependent on residual light.

PTZ-50MS and SR-50 cameras can be easily integrated into CCTV systems

The thermal cameras PTZ-50MS and SR-50 by FLIR Systems applied on the airport premises of Fraport AG have a 50mm lens whose focus can be adjusted via RS-232 or RS-422 protocol. They offer a horizontal field of vision of 14°. This allows the detection of a potential intruder even at a large distance. Just like the sister models SR-19, SR-35 and SR-100, these are extremely robust camera systems (protection class IP66), which are easy to operate and can be connected to standard voltage supply and video interfaces. They can be integrated effortlessly into an existing video surveillance infrastructure. The images of the detector with 320 x 240 pixels can be shown on almost any display that is able to process composite video signals. All four cameras of the SR series by FLIR Systems are available with different optical characteristics for specific application fields. An SR-100 equipped with a 100 mm lens and a 7° field of vision allows the detection of a person up to a distance of almost two kilometres!

Thermal cameras offer advantages - not only for protection of the perimeter

At Frankfurt Airport, hundreds of video surveillance cameras observe the activities on the runway or along the protective fence with a length of several kilometres

At Frankfurt Airport, hundreds of video surveillance cameras observe the activities on the runway or along the protective fence with a length of several kilometres. All safety-relevant areas within the giant compound and along the periphery of the airport are constantly surveyed. Protection against unauthorised access is one of the most important issues. If someone approaches the protective fence or cuts through it, fast detection is necessary to initiate the necessary steps. This is where the advantages of thermal cameras come into the picture: Common video cameras provide excellent images on clear, moonlit nights, but quickly hit their limits in fog, dense clouds or fully turned up landing lights. Thermal cameras do not need any residual light and generate clear images in all weather conditions as well as in total darkness, around the clock, at night, in fog, snow and smoke. This allows the early detection of intruders, leave enough time to initiate protective measures and secure persons, cargo and the infrastructure of the largest airport on the European continent.

Frankfurt Airport is regarded as one of the safest airports in the world for a good reason. The preventive application of the FLIR thermal cameras delivered by VIDEOR E. Hartig GmbH additionally underlines this fact.