And using professional video surveillance solutions can make the difference between the success or failure of your approaches. Marine surveillance plays a vital role in maintaining security at sea and is crucial for border control, monitoring commercial or military vessels, or coordinating actions between strategic targets. Moreover, marine monitoring can be indispensable in protecting natural environments and discouraging activities that may negatively affect the nautical landscape.
Video marine surveillance can be used by government agencies in search and rescue operations, can be an invaluable tool in the national defence strategy of maritime and territorial units of military and navy branches, can ensure the security of national and international trading routes, and can be a deterrent for potential bad actors or illegal migrants. But at the same time, maritime security can be maintained by different surveillance technologies, and you most likely want to know about them. So, in the next few minutes, we will list some of the advantages of EO/IR cameras, present the operating principles of RADAR and SWIR sensors, and discuss how these professional camera modules can be crucial in maintaining national or private objective security.
Why Should One Invest in EO/IR Cameras?
The national security strategy of the British armed forces is complex. Nevertheless, a significant percentage of the approaches used for target surveillance involve electro-optical and infrared camera modules. But what are these modules, and what are their benefits? For one, the EO component of the camera module is designed to record visible light and is crucial for the remote monitoring of strategic targets in good visibility conditions. On the other hand, the IR component can receive the thermal signatures of selected targets, making it ideal for low-light applications. EO/IR cameras are a vital tool in maritime surveillance, as they can help to remotely identify vessels or potential threats and thus complement national security measures adopted by military or government agencies.
As a modular system, EO/IR cameras can operate in low-light conditions and identify targets from an appreciable distance. EO/IR modules can be equipped with long-range lenses to help them identify threats at distances that are not visible to the naked eye, can detect the thermal signature of stealth objects that would typically fool conventional RADAR systems and can be augmented with AI's to automate the detection or surveillance of potential threats. Since these systems can be integrated with existing infrastructure, EO/IR can provide a live feed of maritime or land targets, and the actions and decisions arising from the recorded images can be taken tens or hundreds of kilometres away.
How Do They Work?
EO/IR cameras most often consist of two modular components, to which additional surveillance elements such as RADAR systems or SWIR sensors can be added. In an EO/IR system, the electro-optical sensor captures visible light and converts it into electronic signals that can be reproduced in a video stream. From this point of view, an EO module acts like an ordinary electronic camera, similar to those found in our smartphones. However, its capabilities are much more advanced. On the other hand, infrared sensors detect ultraviolet light emanating from the target. In other words, they can see heat. Since heat signatures can be visible regardless of atmospheric conditions and daylight availability, infrared cameras are used to detect objects or vessels at night time and play a particularly significant role in maritime surveillance applications.
In an EO/IR surveillance system, the modules are often combined as a single unit, turning the camera into a versatile device that can be used in different conditions. Moreover, EO/IR cameras are often merged with RADAR or SWIR sensors, which enhances their capabilities. On top of that, EO/IR systems can benefit from gyroscopic stabilisation and AI image processing to upscale the video stream to a higher quality. Depending on customer preferences, EO/IR camera modules can be tweaked for maritime surveillance or shrunk down for use in hostile terrestrial environments.
What Are the Advantages of RADAR and SWIR Camera Sensors?
First, we should see how these systems work. RADAR modules emit radio waves which are then redirected back when encountering an object. Depending on the interval between sending and receiving the radio pulse, the RADAR system can calculate the object's position and determine the size, direction of travel or speed at which it moves towards or away from the target under surveillance. The SWIR sensor, on the other hand, works on a different principle. Short-wave infrared camera modules detect light in the 950-2500 nm spectrum, i.e. outside of the visible light values. When photons are recorded by the sensor, with the help of a semiconductor, they convert the resulting electric charge into a video stream, which can then be used to reproduce video signals or photo stills.
SWIR sensors can operate in low-light environments and record video or photo stills, irrespective of atmospheric conditions. Moreover, SWIR sensors do not emit external signals, making them useful in surveillance. The difference between an IR and SWIR sensor involves the wavelengths of the recorded light. While an IR camera captures infrared thermal radiation that comes in the form of long waves, SWIR sensors operate in higher frequencies, and this can lead to a better differentiation of recorded objects and an increased ability to penetrate smoke or fog.
Short-wave infrared cameras are more expensive than their IR counterparts, and their use cases can be more niche. On the other hand, radar systems are not affected by atmospheric phenomena, can successfully penetrate certain materials, can be integrated with different surveillance systems, and can provide a superior detection range compared to other types of surveillance equipment. In complex systems, radar equipment tends to be more expensive than IR and SWIR sensors, but its flexibility makes it suitable for a broader range of use cases.
Choosing a Suitable Camera Module is Crucial
Choosing the appropriate tool for the job can make the difference between success and failure when it comes to land or maritime surveillance. Are you the manager of a private agency responsible for strategically essential locations? In this case, purchasing a modular EO/IR system that can work regardless of the environment may be necessary for your success. Are you an employee of a government agency? In that case, you'll need more remote sensing capability, and here, a RADAR module could be precisely what you need. Are you interested in border patrolling? In that case, you may need a camera with a SWIR module, which can record images regardless of climate phenomena.
Choosing the appropriate tools may be necessary to monitor your objectives effectively. A high-tech camera could act as a deterrent, and its capabilities could be crucial in preventing potential attacks from bad actors. An EO/IR camera module, when used in conjunction with a RADAR or SWIR module, could be an excellent tool that will improve the security capabilities of your already existing systems and act as the central piece of your maritime or mainland surveillance approach.
