Beach security

Diebold received the award for enhancing the security operation for an award-winning beach resort in Florida Diebold Incorporated has enhanced the security operation for an award-winning beach resort, earning an award for itself in the process. Streamlining security across the expansive St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort & Residences in Miami Beach, Fla., Diebold infused innovation throughout planning, installation, testing and training to earn the 18th annual SAMMY Award for Integrated Installation of the Year. Sponsored by Security Sales & Integration (SSI), the SAMMY Awards honour security integrators that exemplify professionalism in sales, marketing and installation endeavours. SSI honoured Diebold with the award April 9 during ISC West 2013 in Las Vegas, citing complexity of the project and Diebold's innovative solution. Located minutes from Miami's famed South Beach, the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort is a 9-acre, premier oceanfront resort featuring three 27-story towers, housing 550 luxury guest and resident accommodations. Addressing the diverse security needs of guests, residents and staff, Diebold's innovative security solution gives security personnel near-instant visibility of alarm events by integrating a variety of new and legacy security systems. To strengthen security responses across the expansive resort, Diebold installed a resort-wide alarm monitoring system connecting the video system to a central command centre. The award-winning system integrates alarm monitoring signals from numerous intrusion and duress devices and cameras located throughout the resort. "Diebold's implementation at St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort shows our ability to excel on multi-faceted security integrations," said Tony Byerly, executive vice president, electronic security, Diebold. "We're honored to be recognised by Security Sales & Integration with the SAMMY Award for Integrated Installation of the Year. The award signifies the innovation and excellence Diebold delivers to its customers when installing and integrating complex security systems to protect people, assets and facilities." Adhering to its own strict standards for pre-installation design and testing, Diebold exceeded the industry norm – and customer expectations – when planning the resort's security systems implementation. Diebold documented all electronic security devices and logistics; developed precise installation plans; tested system components; programmed and commissioned systems; and trained resort staff. To help streamline responses, Diebold created a security command centre where operators monitor cameras, access control systems, door alarms, intercom stations, duress buttons and other systems for the entire resort. Multiple video monitors show operators the location, video and response information for alarm conditions in one large view. As St. Regis continues to thrive, Diebold's systems can flex and scale to meet the resort's evolving security needs. Similar to the original challenge, Diebold's expertise incorporates existing security infrastructure into modern security systems to sustain an efficient solution and optimise security spend.

Midway Car Rental, the privately-owned car rental company in Southern California, caters to both an exclusive and expansive clientele, including VIPs, high-end hotels, and replacement vendors like dealerships and body shops. The company currently owns and operates 15 locations and has aggressive plans for expansion, with 6 or 7 more sites planned for this calendar year. Challenges faced With a portfolio that includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Jaguars, Midway can have up to a million dollars of assets parked on any of its lots. Some of the company’s newest locations lack secure perimeter fencing. Sean Perez, Midway’s General Manager, says, “We needed to protect our vehicles, but even more importantly, we had to ensure the safety of our employees and clients.” The problem became acute when Midway opened a new location to provide loaner and replacement vehicles for an adjacent dealership partner. Prior to Midway’s arrival, the lot had been populated by vagrants and the homeless who would sleep in and around the cars parked there. “When we took over the property, we needed to provide a safe and secure environment where we could conduct business,” Perez explains. “There were issues with vandalism and graffiti. Some of the displaced homeless would get aggressive. We needed a proactive solution – a way to stop these incidents from happening rather than trying to prosecute the individuals after the damage was done.” Expansion opportunities Traditionally, Midway’s properties have been less exposed, with electronically secure gates or fences that restrict access. However, as Midway’s expansion plans include growing alignment with business partners like dealerships, many future sites will likely face similar security challenges. To address this situation, the company sought: A scalable system that could grow incrementally with Midway’s expansion Flexible technology that could be moved to new sites with minimal effort A technology partner capable of servicing and supporting a long-term solution The ability to outsource monitoring services in the near future “I tend to be conservative,” says Perez. “I wanted to start off slow and then, when comfortable that we’d found both the right partner and technology, have the ability to really scale up.” Solution recommended Midway Car Rental deployed ROSA units, ­Responsive Observation Security Agents, manufactured by Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD). “I have to tell you, I was a bit skeptical at first about these ROSA units,” says Perez. “You can stick an armed guard out there, but the idea that a technology device could provide both consistent monitoring and serve as a deterrent system seemed like a stretch. However, our two ROSAs are really helping us protect our assets. In very short order, our problem decreased and our situation has improved dramatically.” AI-based ROSA solution ROSA is a compact, self-contained, security and communication solution that can be deployed in about 15 minutes ROSA is a compact, self-contained, security and communication solution that can be deployed in about 15 minutes. Its AI-driven security systems include human and vehicle detection, license plate recognition, responsive digital signage and audio messaging, and complete integration with RAD’s software suite notification and response library. Two-way communication is optimised for cellular, including live video from ROSA’s dual high-resolution, full-colour, always-on cameras. “The folks from RAD sent out an engineer to help us determine where to mount the ROSA units by identifying areas on our site that are most exposed to potential vandalism or other threats,” says Perez. The devices are highly visible, featuring scrolling LED text, colorful neon ribbons, and two video cameras. Automated detection and response ROSA may be programmed to display welcome messages or marketing messages during business hours, along with a reminder to visitors that the property is under surveillance. When it detects the motion of humans or vehicles on the lot, it sends an alert to Perez and his team along with an associated video clip, keeping them well informed of activity happening in real-time. During off-hours, ROSA's automated response kicks in. Its friendly daytime messaging is replaced with a more stern warning to trespassers. Upon detecting a human or moving vehicle, ROSA responds with flashing red lights and a visual warning to vacate the property immediately. If ROSA continues to detect a presence, more lights, sirens, and a pre-recorded audio message add a sense of urgency. Monitoring personnel, who have been alerted of the event and have access to live video, can also issue pointed commands over ROSA's loudspeaker. Ultimately, if the police must be summoned, the encounter has been thoroughly documented and recorded. Effective security Perez describes ROSA's effectiveness as a deterrent. "I've watched when people encounter the system. Initially, their reaction is one of shock and awe. When the unit goes off with its lights flashing and they hear those verbal commands, they’re terrified. They look like they've seen a ghost. Literally, in less than ten days after we put those things out, the word had spread to stay away. The vagrants were gone. It was like night and day." Independent monitoring Currently, Midway's management has chosen to monitor the system themselves. Perez explains, "Initially, I was getting alerts somewhat often, but they quickly tapered off. At this point, they're infrequent. With just these two units in place, plus two more scheduled to go up in Newport Beach in the coming weeks, we can handle the monitoring independently.” “Within the next year or two, as we open new locations and add more units, we'll take advantage of RAD's monitoring services. We had that in mind when we went this route – that with our continued growth, we would eventually leverage that option." Customer-friendly solution The system is very intuitive and customer-friendly "The system is very intuitive and customer-friendly," adds Perez. "I've used other systems that are really cumbersome. The RAD SOC dashboard is nothing like that. The ease-of-use is amazing." So is the deployment process. As ROSA requires nothing more than the power to operate, it is truly plugged and play. "We had them installed and received training all within a few hours on one day," says Perez. "We haven't run into any issues, but if we do, the relationship we've built with the RAD team is so good that I can call on them at any time for assistance. They are very, very customer-centric." Evaluating ROI Midway Car Rental quantifies the value ROSA delivers in several ways, including monetarily, a reduction in crime, and improved peace of mind. Perez elaborates, "Thanks to the ROSA units, we've addressed all sorts of issues. Damage to vehicles, graffiti on the exterior of the building, the homeless tampering with our electrical outlets to charge their phones, trash left around the property – that’s all gone since we put the ROSAs in. There are also important intangibles that you really can't put a price tag on, like an improvement in employee well-being and productivity because our staff now feels safe at work."    Easy installation RAD's cloud-based software simplifies the management of multi-site systems The system's scalability and flexibility ensure that Midway's investment will continue to pay dividends. Perez says, "We're growing so fast, we're trying to put flagpoles in the markets where we identify a need, but that doesn't mean we're locking ourselves into long-term leases." "Down the road, if we decide to move locations, our ROSAs move with us. We heavily factored their ability to easily install, uninstall, and re-install when deciding to go with this technology." Consistent with Midway's plans, RAD's cloud-based software simplifies the management of multi-site systems. As new Midway locations open and ROSA units are installed, management and monitoring of all devices can occur through one login to the centralized RAD SOC dashboard. Alert notifications include the location of the activated unit. RAD’s additional services In addition to ROSA, RAD offers a suite of other products that share the same platform for delivering automated remote services, including some that are more appropriate for indoor use. Should Midway encounter new security challenges in the future, they can expand their system with other RAD devices. "For now, ROSA is what fits our needs best, but I've seen some of those other units, and they look pretty cool," says Perez. ROSA subscription Midway uses the ROSA units through RAD's subscription model. The company pays a low monthly fee that covers unlimited use of the devices, software and software updates, maintenance, and technical support. Their out-of-pocket equals a small fraction of what hiring a security guard would cost. When asked whether Perez recommends the system to others, his answer is concise. "It's a no-brainer!" he laughs. "Knock-on-wood, we've been near without incident for the four months since the ROSAs went up. I attribute that to the units' effectiveness."

Midway Car Rental, the privately-owned car rental company in Southern California, caters to both an exclusive and expansive clientele, including VIPs, high-end hotels, and replacement vendors like dealerships and body shops. The company currently owns and operates 15 locations and has aggressive plans for expansion, with 6 or 7 more sites planned for this calendar year. The challenge With a portfolio that includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Jaguars, Midway can have up to a million dollars of assets parked on any of its lots. Some of the company’s newest locations lack secure perimeter fencing. Sean Perez, Midway’s General Manager, says, “We needed to protect our vehicles, but even more importantly, we had to ensure the safety of our employees and clients.” The problem became acute when Midway opened a new location to provide loaner and replacement vehicles for an adjacent dealership partner. Prior to Midway’s arrival, the lot had been populated by vagrants and the homeless who would sleep in and around the cars parked there. “When we took over the property, we needed to provide a safe and secure environment where we could conduct business,” Perez explains. “There were issues with vandalism and graffiti. Some of the displaced homeless would get aggressive. We needed a proactive solution – a way to stop these incidents from happening rather than trying to prosecute the individuals after the damage was done.” Traditionally, Midway’s properties have been less exposed, with electronically secure gates or fences that restrict access. However, as Midway’s expansion plans include growing alignment with business partners like dealerships, many future sites will likely face similar security challenges. To address this situation, the company sought: A scalable system that could grow incrementally with Midway’s expansion Flexible technology that could be moved to new sites with minimal effort A technology partner capable of servicing and supporting a long-term solution The ability to outsource monitoring services in the near future The solution “I tend to be conservative,” says Perez. “I wanted to start off slow and then, when comfortable that we’d found both the right partner and technology, have the ability to really scale up.” Midway Car Rental deployed ROSA units, ¬Responsive Observation Security Agents, manufactured by Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD). “I have to tell you, I was a bit skeptical at first about these ROSA units,” says Perez. “You can stick an armed guard out there, but the idea that a technology device could provide both consistent monitoring and serve as a deterrent system seemed like a stretch. However, our two ROSAs are really helping us protect our assets. In very short order, our problem decreased and our situation has improved dramatically.” About ROSA ROSA is a compact, self-contained, security and communication solution that can be deployed in about 15 minutes ROSA is a compact, self-contained, security and communication solution that can be deployed in about 15 minutes. Its AI-driven security systems include human and vehicle detection, license plate recognition, responsive digital signage and audio messaging, and complete integration with RAD’s software suite notification and response library. Two-way communication is optimised for cellular, including live video from ROSA’s dual high-resolution, full-color, always-on cameras. “The folks from RAD sent out an engineer to help us determine where to mount the ROSA units by identifying areas on our site that are most exposed to potential vandalism or other threats,” says Perez. The devices are highly visible, featuring scrolling LED text, colorful neon ribbons, and two video cameras. ROSA may be programmed to display welcome messages or marketing messages during business hours, along with a reminder to visitors that the property is under surveillance. When it detects the motion of humans or vehicles on the lot, it sends an alert to Perez and his team along with an associated video clip, keeping them well informed of activity happening in real-time. Functions During off-hours, ROSA's automated response kicks in. Its friendly daytime messaging is replaced with a more stern warning to trespassers. Upon detecting a human or moving vehicle, ROSA responds with flashing red lights and a visual warning to vacate the property immediately. If ROSA continues to detect a presence, more lights, sirens, and a pre-recorded audio message add a sense of urgency. Monitoring personnel, who have been alerted of the event and have access to live video, can also issue pointed commands over ROSA's loudspeaker. Ultimately, if the police must be summoned, the encounter has been thoroughly documented and recorded. Perez describes ROSA's effectiveness as a deterrent. "I've watched when people encounter the system. Initially, their reaction is one of shock and awe. When the unit goes off with its lights flashing and they hear those verbal commands, they’re terrified. They look like they've seen a ghost. Literally, in less than ten days after we put those things out, the word had spread to stay away. The vagrants were gone. It was like night and day." Intuitive and customer-friendly Currently, Midway's management has chosen to monitor the system themselves. Perez explains, "Initially, I was getting alerts somewhat often, but they quickly tapered off. At this point, they're infrequent. With just these two units in place, plus two more scheduled to go up in Newport Beach in the coming weeks, we can handle the monitoring independently. Within the next year or two, as we open new locations and add more units, we'll take advantage of RAD's monitoring services. We had that in mind when we went this route – that with our continued growth, we would eventually leverage that option." "The system is very intuitive and customer-friendly," adds Perez. "I've used other systems that are really cumbersome. The RAD SOC dashboard is nothing like that. The ease-of-use is amazing." So is the deployment process. As ROSA requires nothing more than power to operate, it is truly plug and play. "We had them installed and received training all within a few hours on one day," says Perez. "We haven't run into any issues, but if we do, the relationship we've built with the RAD team is so good that I can call on them at any time for assistance. They are very, very customer-centric." Evaluating ROI Midway Car Rental quantifies the value ROSA delivers in several ways, including monetarily, a reduction in crime, and improved peace of mind. Perez elaborates, "Thanks to the ROSA units, we've addressed all sorts of issues. Damage to vehicles, graffiti on the exterior of the building, the homeless tampering with our electrical outlets to charge their phones, trash left around the property – that’s all gone since we put the ROSAs in. There are also important intangibles that you really can't put a price tag on, like an improvement in employee well-being and productivity because our staff now feels safe at work." RAD's cloud-based software simplifies the management of multi-site systems The system's scalability and flexibility ensure that Midway's investment will continue to pay dividends. Perez says, "We're growing so fast, we're trying to put flagpoles in the markets where we identify a need, but that doesn't mean we're locking ourselves into long-term leases. Down the road, if we decide to move locations, our ROSAs move with us. We heavily factored their ability to easily install, uninstall, and re-install when deciding to go with this technology." Consistent with Midway's plans, RAD's cloud-based software simplifies the management of multi-site systems. As new Midway locations open and ROSA units are installed, management and monitoring of all devices can occur through one login to the centralised RAD SOC dashboard. Alert notifications include the location of the activated unit. RAD’s suite of products In addition to ROSA, RAD offers a suite of other products that share the same platform for delivering automated remote services, including some that are more appropriate for indoor use. Should Midway encounter new security challenges in the future, they can expand their system with other RAD devices. "For now, ROSA is what fits our needs best, but I've seen some of those other units, and they look pretty cool," says Perez." Midway uses the ROSA units through RAD's subscription model. The company pays a low monthly fee that covers unlimited use of the devices, software and software updates, maintenance, and technical support. Their out-of-pocket equals a small fraction of what hiring a security guard would cost. When asked whether Perez recommends the system to others, his answer is concise. "It's a no-brainer!" he laughs. "Knock-on-wood, we've been nearly without incident for the four months since the ROSAs went up. I attribute that to the units' effectiveness."

ASSA CLIQ® Remote has proven to be the perfect partner for the Hean Castle Estate in southwest Wales, delivering assured key control and much-needed flexibility when managing access control across the site. Covering over 1,200 acres, the Hean Castle Estate owns and manages a diverse portfolio of land and property around the village of Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire. The Estate operates a range of different enterprises, including beef farming, forestry and biofuel production, two substantial holiday caravan parks and a beach centre, together with a significant portfolio of leased commercial properties. Challenge Previously, the Estate used a mechanical master key system, which posed a number of specific challenges. The first of these was around lost keys, with one lost key potentially compromising the entire system. The second challenge was around the inflexibility of the mechanical master key set-up. Due to the number of different departments on the Estate and the areas they each required access to, this often involved members of staff having to swap keys or members of the management team having to attend remote sites in order to provide access. Solution Enables granting key holders, regardless of their location, remote access to properties and facilities on the estate The solution was ASSA CLIQ® Remote from the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group. Supplied and installed by local distributor Lock-Tech, ASSA CLIQ® Remote is an award-winning electromechanical solution, using high-end micro-electronics and programmable keys and cylinders to help the Hean Castle Estate stay in control of access rights across the site, at all times. The solution enables the team to grant key holders, regardless of their location, remote access to properties and facilities on the estate, saving time and money around key control. The system was first installed in the Estate’s administrative office and a series of adjoining workshop buildings and has been expanded across Hean Castle Estate ever since. Almost 80 cylinders and padlocks have been fitted across the site, with 40 CLIQ® keys in use and seven wall PD units installed, which allow users to update their key credentials without having to visit an administrator. Positive feedback David Lewis, Trustee at Hean Castle Estate, explains: “ASSA CLIQ® Remote has proven to be a great success across the Hean Castle Estate. Firstly, lost keys are no longer an issue. For instance, we had one case where an employee forgot to return their key when leaving the business. With ASSA CLIQ® Remote, this problem was quickly remedied, by simply revoking their access rights. From a security and peace of mind perspective, it’s difficult to fault.” “Secondly, the ease with which access rights can be set up is a big benefit. For example, we programmed the system so that our staff’s access credentials end half an hour after their shift has finished. And with many different contractors, such as electricians and engineers, visiting our site, ASSA CLIQ® Remote lets us give these professionals access to only the areas they need. In comparison, with a mechanical master key system, a member of our team would have to escort them to the building and wait for the job to be done. Given how geographically dispersed the Estate is, this would waste a lot of our team’s time, but this is no longer an issue with ASSA CLIQ® Remote.” ASSA CLIQ® We have worked with Lock-Tech for a long time and always receive excellent service" “Finally, as the Estate expands, the ASSA CLIQ® Remote system can grow with it. The system is now simply part of the infrastructure of the Estate; should we need more cylinders or padlocks added to it, then this is an easy and hassle-free process. We have worked with Lock-Tech for a long time and always receive excellent service, and the same can be said of ASSA ABLOY too, who have been very quick to respond to any questions we may have.” Nojmol Islam, Category Product Manager – El Mech & New Technologies at the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group, adds: “We are delighted with the success of the ASSA CLIQ® Remote system at Hean Castle Estate. It’s a perfect example of how versatile the solution is, with it being used in a range of applications, from outbuildings and doors to gates and residential properties.” “This includes ASSA CLIQ® Remote’s weatherproof padlocks, which have been fitted to a number of gates and car park barriers across the site. Meeting the highest rating for IP68, these padlocks are ideally suited to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, in applications that are exposed to the elements all the year round.”

Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services is a volunteer organisation that provides lifeguard services at Waihi Beach, New Zealand. Over 15,000 people pass through the clubrooms every year, and with theft becoming a problem the club knew it was time to step up its security. During the busy New Zealand summer season from mid-December to the end of January, regional lifeguards are at Waihi Beach every day to keep beachgoers safe and respond to emergencies. The club also has a 24-hour emergency call-out squad and provides volunteer weekend patrols over the summer months. Over 15,000 people pass through the building in a year, including school and community groups who use it as a venue. When lifeguard rescue gear had gone missing a few times, and five motors were stolen from another lifeguard club in the region, Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services knew it was time to step up its security. Gallagher solution Gallagher’s Command Centre Mobile App gives club managers the flexibility to lock and unlock the doors from anywhere Parts of the clubrooms need to be open to the public, but access to the accommodation, office and storage areas needs to be tightly controlled. Gallagher security equipment was installed to enable all the doors to be managed appropriately. Lifeguards are now issued with access wristbands to wear while they’re on patrol. Simply swiping the wristband at a Gallagher T15 access reader will unlock the door. When the day is done, the last one out can set the alarms with a simple exit button at the door. Gallagher’s Command Centre Mobile App gives club managers the flexibility to lock and unlock the doors from anywhere and check-in if an alarm is triggered. The equipment is hard-wearing and able to handle the environmental stress that comes with operating near the ocean. Channel partner Aotea Security also installed 14 CCTV cameras around the clubrooms. The office administrator can now check the cameras from the comfort of the office and use Gallagher Command Centre and the mobile app to monitor, lock and alarm doors from anywhere. Business value Andrew Cochrane, Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services Asset Director, has been with the club for 24 years. “We are a charity that relies on volunteer support, donations and fundraising efforts for all of our rescue equipment, vehicles and supplies, so any loss is hard to recover from,” says Andrew. “The equipment is not only worth a lot of money, it’s crucial to saving lives. Losing any of it hinders our ability to perform rescues and respond to other emergencies in the wider region.” The new security system has provided enormous peace of mind to club volunteers. “Our new system is flexible and easy to use, and that’s important when we have so many people coming and going,” says Andrew. “Previously, checking whether all the doors were closed was a hassle, but now they can all be locked and alarmed easily at the end of the day.” “Our new security system creates a safe and secure environment for staff, volunteers and other people using the clubrooms – like school groups. It’s given us peace of mind, and we know that when an emergency happens our people, equipment and vehicles will be ready to go.”

Ipsotek, a pioneer in artificial intelligence (AI) powered video analytics, has announced that it has been awarded a security systems project at the Katara Culture Village in Doha, Qatar, in partnership with Mannai Trading Co, a Qatari based company listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange. Ipsotek’s highly scalable VISuite AI platform and advanced VISuite FR facial recognition system have been selected and approved by the Qatar Ministry of Interior to improve the security and safety as well as provide business intelligence at the iconic cultural village of Katara. VISuite AI enables users to efficiently manage automatically generated alarms in real-time, resulting in reduced operator response times and the ability to track chosen behaviours of interest in complex environments. Security threat VISuite FR automatically detects and informs operators of people that have visited a site multiple times in a configurable timeframe and could pose a security threat. It is optimised for use in busy and security-sensitives scenarios where the highest level of recognition is required. In addition to the project at Katara in collaboration with Mannai ICT, Qatar’s renowned Systems Integrator and the Information & Communication Technology Division of Mannai Corporation, Ipsotek has a number of other major projects across Qatar. The company has also announced that it has appointed Mr Jihad Marei as Country Manager for Qatar and is in the process of opening a new office in one of Qatar’s Free Zones. Key strategic partners We are very proud to have been awarded the Katara Heritage Village project with Mannai Trading Co." Also known as ‘The Valley of Cultures’, Katara is one of the main cultural destinations in Qatar, featuring a museum, open amphitheatre, opera house, cinema, conference hall, beach, Souq and multiple restaurants. Katara hosts hundreds of events and attracts over 10 million visitors each year. Charlie Bennett, Ipsotek Head of Sales for EMEA said: “We are very proud to have been awarded the Katara Heritage Village project with Mannai Trading Co. Mannai has become one of our key strategic partners in Qatar and we have enjoyed collaborating on several projects together this year, which is why we have also chosen to grow our presence in country further by employing Jihad Marei as Country Manager and open a dedicated office in Qatar.” Artificial intelligence video analytics Shamnad Karuvadi, Deputy Manager ELV Physical Security at Mannai Trading Co said: “We are very pleased to be working with Ipsotek as our solution partner for Artificial Intelligence Video Analytics. Ipsotek has added a great deal of value to the Mannai solution portfolio and together we look forward to providing the highest levels of safety and security to protect critical infrastructure. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Charlie Bennet & Mr. Jihad Marei at Ipsotek for their extensive support.”

360 Vision Technology’s Invictus ruggedised Hybrid PTZ cameras are being used to protect endangered nesting green sea turtles. The Invictus camera has been deployed as part of Security Centres International’s high-performance Mobile Advanced Safety Tower (MAST), rapid deployment camera solution, which is now installed on the Cayman Islands, British West Indies. Mobile Advanced Safety Tower The MAST unit was deployed after a funding campaign led by Caymanian, Michael Ridley, to install video surveillance at a key nesting beach at Sand Hole Road in Boatswains Bay. “Sand Hole Road is a critically important nesting beach for the female turtles, who crawl out onto the beaches to dig nests and lay eggs during the night,” Michael explains. We are all very confident that the data obtained from this project will prove invaluable " “Unfortunately, poaching poses a constant threat to the survival of the nesting sea turtles at many locations. In addition, economic development of the island has seen more beach front property being built and a subsequent squeeze on places available for the turtles to nest safely after migrating long distances between feeding grounds.” HD surveillance imaging He adds, “After analysing the Cayman Islands Department of Environment (DoE) detailed nesting data accumulated over 20 years, to identify the most vibrant turtle nesting grounds, I selected the beach to implement a pilot program to monitor nesting turtles and protect them from poaching activity. The beach site has been dubbed, ‘Turtle Beach’ and provides a perfect nesting ground for turtles due to its minimal property development, zero light pollution, and enough sand and vegetation to support the turtles’ nesting activity.” “The Invictus based MAST solution was perfect for the application at the beach,” says Stuart Bostock, Executive Group President at Security Centres International. “Featuring world-class HD surveillance imaging from the 360 Vision Invictus camera, leading-edge design, robust build, zero infrastructure requirements and seamless Video Management System (VMS) integration, MAST is the only product of its kind. It’s also 100% self-powered, using solar energy and a 100-hour back-up battery; a feature supported by the use of the low power requirements of the 360 Vision Invictus camera.” High-performance CCTV surveillance Monitored 24/7, images from the camera enable DoE and Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) officers to be alerted and dispatched when nesting turtles arrive at the beach, assisting the DoE to monitor the beach and provide the highest level of protection against poaching. “We are all very confident that the data obtained from this project will prove invaluable in assisting the DoE with their conservation efforts and assist them with their Island-wide monitoring efforts,” says Michael. “Sand Hole Road is a critically important nesting beach with poaching posing a constant threat to the survival of the sea turtles that nest there, so high-performance CCTV via the MAST solution was specified as the best way to protect them.” Night-time surveillance The MAST system was selected for deployment on the beach due to its excellent night-time surveillance capability The MAST system was selected for deployment on the beach due to its excellent night-time surveillance capability, operating without the need for any supporting local infrastructure. Plus, the MAST system is silent in operation, posing no environmental impact, and thanks to the 360 Vision IR LED illuminator equipped Invictus camera, the system can operate without a visible light source that may disturb, or draw unwanted attention to the turtles nesting site. Mark Rees, Managing Director at 360 Vision Technology added “The Invictus is a high-performance, ruggedised all-in-one PTZ camera with full 1080P HD and Predator ultra-low-light camera technology, making it the perfect choice for off-grid temporary/rapid deployment mobile surveillance rigs, such as MAST. Additionally, Invictus’ low-power consumption greatly assists the longevity of critical off-grid battery power when deployed in remote applications, extending MAST’s operational performance, and meaning fewer maintenance visits to the camera, with the benefit of less disturbance to the green sea turtles.” Video evidence gathering “The Invictus camera’s unparalleled mix of competitive cost and advanced functionality make it the perfect imaging component for the innovative MAST system, where it is now providing much needed surveillance protection and research video.” To date, the use of the MAST unit has proved a huge success in protecting the sea turtles from poachers and providing evidential video of the turtles’ feeding and nesting activity on the beach. Calculating population, nesting patterns and survival rates from the footage gained during this season, plans have already been made for additional protection measures and the extension of the MAST based surveillance program to other locations on the British West Indies island.