09/11/2010
South African farmers thwart thieves using Vivotek IP cameras
Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa
Viljoen explains that Gramco IT recommended a surveillance system based on Vivotek SD7151 speed dome IP cameras on a wireless network built using Mikrotik routers and flat-panel antennas. Designed to preserve exceptionally crisp detail under a variety of lighting conditions, the SD7151 automatically detects ambient light levels, removing the IR cut filter as night falls to accept IR illumination and switching from colour to black-and-white mode to ensure optimal picture quality.
In addition, the SD7151's powerful 18x optical zoom lens enables it to monitor even locations a considerable distance away from the camera. A progressive-scan CCD sensor ensures razor-sharp picture quality even with zoomed video, while to allow full coverage of the large expanses, the SD7151 provides continuous 360° pan and 90° tilt. SD7151 cameras were placed at strategic locations, mounted on 30-metre towers. The farmer's house is used as a control centre, and from there the farmer can view simultaneous real-time video feeds from all the cameras. Gramco IT also implemented a motion-triggered alarm solution so the farmer can be alerted to any suspicious activity even when away from the video monitors.
According to Viljoen, the farmer describes the surveillance system built around Vivotek´s cameras as "amazing". He is particularly impressed by being able to spot intruders from up to two kilometres away, and even read a license plate from a distance of 800 metres. Besides deterring would-be intruders, the farmer counts simple peace of mind as the greatest benefit of the setup. He can go to sleep every night, no longer worried that he might wake to discover hundreds of heads of cattle stolen by poachers during the night.
In fact, the Vivotek SD7151-based surveillance system has been so successful at thwarting poachers that neighbouring farmers are rushing to adopt a similar setup, and now an area of approximately 50 square kilometers is being effectively monitored day and night.