Perimeter protection has always been an important subject in military applications and later was further developed in the civilian sector to become an important part of security systems. Today it is indispensable for airport security, industrial sites, embassies, power plants, prisons, harbours, cities, public places and many more.
GIT SECURITY explores different options on safeguarding perimeters and also informs about the latest solutions.
When we think about intrusion, a person who enters a building comes to mind, although the burglary actually begins much earlier, namely at the borders, fences and properties. As soon as an unwanted someone or an object enters prohibited area the clock starts ticking and a quick reaction is of the essence. The possibilities on the market are seemingly endless. One first essential step is to gain insight about your properties and the options that are best-suited to protect it. A kilometre-long fence for a boarder, for example, has different requirements than an airport.

Barriers and Fences
As we’ve established, time is essential. The faster and the more precisely an intruder is detected the longer security personnel has time for action. Or – the other way around – the longer a protection system can stall an intruder the better. Physically hindering protective measures like barriers and fences are a very underrated form of protection.
Comprehensive perimeter protection can be created by a combination of mechanical and electronic components. Depending on the type of perimeter, this should include exterior protection with fences, crash bollards or other barriers, vehicle sluices with quick folding gates or a barrier/sliding gate combination if necessary, entrance and access control systems for pedestrians as well as additional video monitoring. Perimeter Protection Group, for example, offers different movable or fixed crash bollards for sites. Pedestrians may enter unhindered, but vehicle traffic is to be stopped. All bollards feature robust construction with heavy gauge material and high tensile steel. Due to their modern design the crash bollards can be used in inner city surroundings for city security as well as for securing the perimeter of large properties like airports. The area of aircraft maintenance hangars forms a specific security risk. Especially flag carriers form attractive targets for attacks. These are i.e. those airlines or airplanes, which are owned by a state or represent it. Size and complexity of modern airports require various components like the so-called taxi gates with large opening widths for the convenient passage of airbuses, type-tested quick folding gates and other fences. All of their products are particularly well-suited for connection to integrated central control platforms which will be talked about later in this article.

From Fence to System
It all comes down to functionality: Perimeter fences must be highly reliable, difficult to bypass and not generate false alarms, even in adverse conditions. ­Gallagher, as another company who is specialised in perimeter security, also delivers robust perimeter security systems suited to the most rigorous requirements of high security sites. Their monitored pulse fence system consists of a grid of energized, high tensile wires that can be constructed inside a new or existing perimeter fence. The monitored wires detect unauthorized entry or exit into defined areas and trigger instant alerts. Attempts to breach the perimeter are deterred by an energized pulse sent around the perimeter fence line. Monitored pulse fencing meets stringent safety criteria, while delivering a short but safe shock, making it almost impossible to climb the fence. Zoned fences allow voltage levels to be adjusted to meet varying needs: high for maximum deterrent and low for periods of low risk. A networked perimeter solution incorporates sensors that continuously measure and report on wire tension and monitor fence structure vibration or movement.

Electronic Deterent
Sicurit is another well-known producer and distributor for perimeter protection solutions, especially in Italy. One of their latest product developments for high-end applications such as border and Airport security is a High Security Fence that combines high resiliency, pin-point detection and a unique design that makes it seemingly impossible to climb with bare hands (hand and footholds reduced to 76.2x12.7mm only). Additionally, the fence has been designed to hide any electronic component and cable required for its activation in case of an attempted penetration making it vandal and tamper proof. The HSF Activa fence is the result of a strong cooperation between Sicurit and Cavatorta.
As we can see, fences, bollards and gates increase the possibilities of intrusion detection immensely. Hindering an intruder may be or may have been one of their fundamental functions, yet they have been developed to detect intrusion data and even deter very effectively, thus being oftentimes an integral part of the entire security system.

Long Distances
Moving on to solutions that focus on data collected by the intrusion detection system. They can be collected by buried, fence-mounted or video-based sensors, and can be used to direct cameras, automatically track intruders, and activate deterrent devices such as security lights, intercoms or sirens. Senstar’s FiberPatrol family of intrusion detection sensors, as an example, are ideal for border applications and large facilities with unmanned perimeters. The fiber optic sensor supports distances up 80 km (49.7 mi) and uses no in-field conductive or powered components. The sensor is EMI and lightning immune and can be buried to provide covert detection. Senstar sensors work with virtually all security systems. Software integrations are available for industry standard video and security management systems, while built-in I/O capabilities ensure that sensors can report zone, supervision, and equipment status events to on-site intrusion panels or alarm systems.

Radar Technology
With a range of around half a million square metres, a single radar unit can already cover a comparatively large area – even in poor weather and light conditions. The number of devices can be minimized when securing outdoor areas, thus reducing infrastructure and maintenance costs. One of the radar companies, Magos, has developed an intelligent solution. Mass-AI software can be roughly summarized as follows: Radars and cameras are displayed on a dashboard map. The displays of detected events are defined as targets and camera control is taken over, so that the camera follows the object automatically. The AI software permanently analyses the objects on the video stream. Finally, Mass-AI classifies objects as animals, for example, and identifies them as such. The visualization is done with the graphic boxes around all objects, such as vehicles or people.
Navetch Radar is another radar technology provider, whose sensors scan 360°, and can detect up to 3 kilometres. It is a rules-based software, meaning operators can choose which behaviour and movement in and around the site is considered a threat. It provides the exact location of intruders anywhere on the site and analyses target parameters such as speed and direction.
Innosent would be another interesting company when it comes to radar solutions. Their isys-50xx product series is perfectly suited to be combined with further security technologies such as video cameras in order to reduce the rate of false alarms. Thanks to the Tracker license available for isys-50x1 product variants, the series is also available as a standalone solution. The new isys-5011 and -5021 systems allow commercial security applications to incorporate such functions as radar tracking, object classification, defined danger zones and filter options for the first time.