Arecont Vision's megapixel solution enhances perimeter security at BASF China facility

BASF is one of the world’s leading chemical companies. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. The company has been a committed partner to Greater China since 1885 and currently is one of the largest foreign investors in the Chinese chemical industry with major investments in Nanjing, Shanghai and Chongqing.

Need for protection

According to BASF’s Greater China Report published in 2012, local production enables more intensive collaboration with customers based in Greater China, and improves resource efficiency. BASF posted sales of over $6.8 billion in 2012 and employed 7,305 people.

Protecting BASF’s chemical facilities demands high levels of security because of the nature of the operations and their potential for being the target of threats and/or criminal activities. To help safeguard people, property and assets, BASF’s security management has implemented a layered security approach that starts with perimeter protection.

Fences and intrusion detection systems only provide limited protection, and false alerts create additional security issues. To provide more comprehensive and actionable coverage, BASF China needed real-time, visual monitoring of the perimeter on a 24/7 basis, without adding any additional lighting.To help safeguard people, property and assets, BASF’s security management has implemented a layered security approach

Megapixel solution

Working in collaboration with Tyco Fire and Security China, the BASF security team selected Arecont Vision’s 3-megapixel (MP) AV3135 colour cameras to meet their video security needs. The dual sensor AV3135 also has a 1.3MP true monochrome sensor that provides low-light performance.

As the ambient light diminishes, the AV3135 switches to the monochrome sensor to deliver clear, high resolution surveillance images for identification and recording purposes. The Arecont Vision AV3135 megapixel cameras also provide an increased coverage area for better situational awareness compared to analogue or IP VGA cameras; and improved functionality including the ability to digitally zoom into live scenes and recorded video while maintaining high resolution.

And because of the cameras’ superior day/night capability, no expenses were incurred to install additional lighting.

No local power sources needed

Another cost saving benefit of the Arecont Vision AV3135 megapixel cameras is that they are Powered over Ethernet (PoE) which eliminates the need to install local power sources. The AV3135 megapixel cameras are part of Arecont Vision’s H.264 MegaVideo® line of cameras that offer bandwidth and storage efficiency of 10x greater on average over traditional megapixel counterparts. The proven results laid to rest management’s concerns about storage space.

BASF’s corporate security team was highly impressed with the quality and coverage of the Arecont Vision megapixel cameras when images were compared to analogue cameras.

“Arecont Vision megapixel cameras provide the extremely clear images that are needed for security monitoring of the facility perimeter," said Raylene Xie, Global Account Manager, Tyco Fire and Security China. "Even BASF corporate was excited about the difference in quality between the megapixel and analogue images."

The increased image quality of megapixel video played the largest role in providing superior perimeter security for the BASF facility. Expanded coverage areas and day/night capability of the Arecont Vision AV3135 cameras also contributed to a successful and effective new system.