Special Products
Project Overview
A large automotive parts manufacturer with a 50-acre facility in Detroit required advanced perimeter protection. The plant had experienced several break-ins targeting copper wiring and valuable scrap metal, with thieves cutting through the chain-link perimeter fence under cover of darkness.
Our solution combined thermal imaging cameras with radar detection to provide early warning of perimeter breaches, with PTZ cameras automatically tracking any detected movement.
Key Challenges
The facility's perimeter was irregular, with varying terrain including wooded areas, a railway siding, and a stormwater retention pond. False alarms from wildlife (deer, raccoons) were a major concern, requiring sophisticated AI detection to distinguish humans from animals.
Environmental conditions including fog, snow, and extreme temperature swings (-20°C to 40°C) required ruggedised equipment with IP67 ratings and built-in heater and blower modules to maintain clear optics year-round.
Products Used
The perimeter was divided into 12 zones, each monitored by a thermal camera paired with a microwave radar sensor. Four Axis PTZ cameras with 12x optical zoom were positioned at key corners to auto-track any confirmed human detection. All cameras were connected via armoured fibre optic cable to withstand industrial conditions.
The central monitoring station featured a video wall displaying all 12 zones simultaneously, with automatic alarm pop-ups when detection occurred. A Dahua 16-channel NVR with 16TB storage provided 30-day retention.
Final Outcome
Within the first month, the system detected and alerted security to three attempted break-ins, all of which were intercepted before the intruders reached any valuable assets. False alarm rate was under 5% after the AI learning period.
The plant manager reported that the system paid for itself within 14 months through prevented theft and reduced insurance costs. The thermal imaging capability proved particularly valuable during the winter months when traditional cameras struggled with fog and snow.
Products Used
The following products were selected and installed for this project based on their reliability, performance, and suitability for the specific requirements of the site.
Completed May '26
