Modern boats are equipped with state-of-the-art electronic systems for navigation and other items. They often also have state-of-the-art video and sound systems, jet-skis and a lot of other expensive equipment on board that any robber would love to steal.

Marina crime prevention, just like home or business crime prevention, is a matter of detecting potential risks and eliminating them. Most crimes occur when criminals find a safe and easy opportunity to strike. Most of the time, this happens in full darkness, under cover of the night.

Continuously, fully lighting up a marina during night-time is not always the best solution. Installing supplementary lighting is often expensive. Powering and maintaining it can be very costly. In some sensitive locations it is also considered too intrusive. Furthermore, lighting essentially lays out a route of attack for intruders, creating shadows in which they can hide and gain access undetected.

Thermal imaging: an effective solution to see in total darkness, in all kinds of weather conditions
A perfect solution for monitoring a marina during night time, but also during other parts of the day, is thermal imaging. Thermal imaging is the use of a thermal imaging camera to “see” thermal energy emitted from an object. Thermal, or infrared energy, is light that is not visible to the human eye because its wavelength is too long to be detected. It’s the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Thermal imaging cameras produce images of invisible infrared or “heat” radiation. Based on temperature differences between objects, thermal imaging produces a clear image.

In contrast with other technologies, such as light amplification, thermal imaging needs no light whatsoever to produce an image on which the smallest of details can be seen. Thermal imaging provides full visibility irrespective of the prevailing light level and weather conditions. It can see in total darkness, through light fog, in the far distance, through smoke and is able to detect anyone hiding in the shadows. It is an excellent tool for security and surveillance applications in marinas.

Affordable technology
Recent evolutions in detector technology have made thermal imaging much more accessible and affordable. A typical example is the use of thermal imaging in cars to facilitate night-time driving.

With its latest generation of thermal imaging cameras FLIR Systems, the world leader for thermal imaging technology, has opened up the wide potential of this versatile technology to all.

Typical of this new breed is the FLIR Systems SR-19 security camera that provides a brand new weapon for intruder detection and for which there simply is no competitor. It is primarily designed for perimeter surveillance and asset protection. It is a great tool for marina surveillance during any part of day, in all weather conditions. The SR-19 provides reliable round-the-clock awareness without the need for supplementary equipment.

A full range of thermal imaging cameras, all easy-to-install
FLIR Systems markets a full range of thermal imaging cameras which can be used for security and surveillance applications. All cameras can see in total darkness. Some can detect potential threats up to 400 metres away, while others can cover a distance of several kilometres. Depending on the user’s preference and needs, they can be fixed mounted or installed on a “pan and tilt” system. This way the user can direct the camera, to have it look wherever he wants, from a distance.

Various options exist to connect FLIR Systems thermal imaging cameras and to integrate them in already existing security systems in marinas. They can be configured for stand alone use, as part of a network or in a hybrid configuration with local and network based control.

Most FLIR Systems thermal imaging cameras can be integrated in any existing CCTV infrastructure providing early detection and visibility 24/7 all the year round. They can be integrated in a TCP/IP network and controlled over a PC. No need to put extra cables. This way, you can monitor all activity in a marina over the internet, even when you are thousands of kilometres away.

Automatic threat detection software
Putting someone behind a screen to monitor activities during the night is not always the preferred solution. For threat detection in marinas and monitoring if no-one is accessing them, powerful autonomous threat detection software exists.

Operators can define a variety of triggers based on movement in the scene. It can easily be programmed that certain lights switch on if suspect motion is detected or that a security guard is warned to have a look at the scene. This intelligent video decision making software coupled with the thermal imaging power of a FLIR Systems thermal imaging camera presents an extremely reliable automatic threat detection package.

About Infrared Thermography
Thermal imaging, also called thermography, is the production of non-contact infrared or “heat” pictures from which temperature measurements can be made. Portable infrared cameras scan equipment and structures, then instantly convert the thermal images into pictures in a JPEG format for monitoring and analysis. Thermal imaging increases efficiency and maximizes safety in many industries and environments and is rapidly expanding into new markets.

About FLIR Systems
FLIR Systems is the world leader in the design and manufacturing of infrared cameras. The company has over 40 years of experience and more than 50,000 infrared cameras currently in use worldwide for applications including predictive maintenance, research & development, process monitoring, automation and many others. FLIR Systems has four manufacturing plants located in the USA and Sweden and operates direct sales offices in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, Japan and Australia. The company numbers over 1,300 dedicated infrared specialists, and serves international markets through a network of 60 regional offices providing sales and support functions.