REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS

CONSTRUCTION SITES

Providing remote video from a construction site can be filled with numerous pitfalls. Frequently a key, missing resource on a job site is an available high speed Internet connection. Obtaining a DSL, T1 or cable Internet connection within a reasonable amount of time is generally difficult if not impossible. Further, the chance of buried cables getting cut or dug up on a construction site is very high.

For these reasons, J-Systems construction camera systems feature stand alone wireless communication options comprised of either an industrial grade 802.11x wireless radio or high speed cellular gateway.

This communications flexibility allows images and video to be used in new ways such as marketing collateral (published and Web), job site surveillance, and weather monitoring to name just a few.

These systems are commonly used by customers like Walsh Construction on projects ranging from high rise buildings in Chicago, major airport projects or new construction such as at the Redstone Arsenal. Systems are pre configured and tested prior to shipment making installation a simple task; mount it, power it and point it with no technical knowledge required.

WIRELESS REMOTE VIDEO

Many users require a means of monitoring remote locations such as storage facilities, buildings, power grid, and telecommunications infrastructure for unwanted people or vehicle activity. An extremely remote project we worked on was located on Beaver Island in the northern portion of Lake Michigan. The remote video system was created for a local property owner who needed the ability to monitor his remote cabin and out buildings from any internet connection. Further complicating this project was the fact that the only communications link available was via satellite.

The cameras were located on various parts of the property without having to dig up the ground and bury cable. To accomplish this, a local wireless network was installed to send the video from the remote cameras to a wireless access point. From the access point, all data was up-linked to a satellite for viewing across the Internet.

To provide an automated video patrol capability, one of our SMART + IP based pan-tilt control system was also installed. This system features a high resolution Mobotix day-night camera with full control via the Internet. The entire system less the satellite terminal has been operating for 3-years (without heating or cooling) in extremely harsh environments; sub zero temperatures, blowing rain that turns to ice, and blowing snow. (TOP)

SECURITY - LAW ENFORCEMENT

Camera systems designed for law enforcement agencies are generally engineered solutions which have been designed to solve a specific surveillance need; many systems would be classified as covert.

While specific agencies and uses cannot be disclosed, it is possible to describe some of the key elements of these systems. Many have been designed for battery power operation and utilize automotive type computers running Milestone NVR software for video storage. In order to protect the batteries and prevent abrupt computer shutdowns, a special, micro based, low voltage disconnect was designed to prevent hard disk crashes and deep cycle battery discharges.

Numerous systems utilize secure cellular communications and feature IP controlled PTZ capability. This provides positional control as well as power zoom lens adjustment from anywhere the cellular network reaches.

These systems are generally designed for operation in low light conditions and in all types of weather. Many feature remote IP control of major sub systems which can be turned on and off to conserve precious battery power when not needed.(TOP)

WILD LIFE PRESERVATION

The nesting Bald Eagle is a protected species in many parts of the world. Not long ago, Tranzeo Wireless was charged with setting up a remote video monitoring system to watch the nesting Bald eagles in western Canada. J-Systems was hired to design and produce these systems. It was important to protect the eagles in their nesting locations by making sure near by road construction, involving blasting, did not disturb their nesting habitat.

The solution for this system was solar powered, high resolution IP camera systems that were hardened sufficiently to operate in the woods of western Canada. The only option for a communications link was a cellular backhaul.

Installation concerns involved buried cables to prevent animals from chewing through them. Further, while solar is a common solution to power remote IP camera systems, these solar systems had to be hauled up a mountain side and secured to a side of that mountain – a rather unusual mount. Cameras had to be mounted in tall trees to observe the eagles nest. To our knowledge, these systems are still in operation after 3 to 4 years. (TOP)

WEATHER OBSERVATION

Monitoring weather is an important consideration for many situations such as airport runway conditions, airport visibility, harbor conditions, road conditions and general safety in construction areas. Ice, snow, sleet, fog, and rain combinations can create treacherous conditions so having the ability to see the weather first hand can be an aid in predicting when and where to issue warnings.

Weather is always an important variable for all ski lodges; are the trails fogged in, is there a good snow pack, is it snowing, or are conditions ripe for an avalanche. Using cameras to observe weather will answer many of these questions and provide early warning of hazardous or poor skiing conditions before skiers drive many hours to reach their favorite slopes.

Large road construction projects similar to a recent Illinois toll road extension built by V3 Construction, are spread over many miles and used cameras to evaluate construction site weather conditions. Deep snow, deep water and mud can all be evaluated before multiple crews are sent to inaccessible job sites only to turn around resulting in wasted time, gas and dollars. (TOP)

WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL

A recent project for Lockheed Martin involved the design and manufacture of a hardened wireless remote control system. This system provided pan-tilt positional control for spot lights as well as remote On-Off control for the surveillance camera system and the spot lights. Wireless IP based remote control allows extended battery life and service time for a trailer mounted solar system.

Similar systems have been designed for law enforcement systems that operate off of deep cycle storage batteries which had to be re-charged at another location. Conserving battery charge was critical for these system so we designed a cellular based, IP addressable control system that allowed a remote command center to turn major power consuming sub systems off during off-activity times and then back on when needed. This more than doubled the time between charge cycles for the battery bank. (TOP)

DIGITAL SIGN MONITOR

With digital billboards becoming more and more common, the necessity to monitor the displayed, rotating advertisement is a necessity. Advertising clients want the ability to monitor their advertisements to make sure their ads are displaying as planned and with the duration contracted for. Many digital signs allow the advertiser the ability to change their own ad so a video monitoring system provides the ad designers with needed feedback to make sure the ad is displayed correctly.

We setup a multiple camera, high resolution video monitoring system running over T1 lines in Chicago recently to monitor a digital sign which displayed ads for the Wrigley chewing gum company. The sign owner wanted to offer an effective real-time viewing opportunity to ensure the client that their ads were displaying properly.

Digital signs are so bright at night that a unique iris control had to be implemented to display the sign equally well under all lighting conditions. This type of monitoring has also proven useful for the White Way Sign company who installed and maintains the billboard. Not having to drive to the site to inspect what is happening is an extremely effective tool that has proven itself time and time again.

J-Systems also setup a completely redundant cellular backhaul communications system in the event that one of the T1 lines went down. Failure of one of the T1 line results in an automatic fail over to the cellular system. (TOP)

COMMUNITY WEB ATTRACTION

We have had some interesting applications in this area. One of our most ambitious projects was the wireless video monitoring system for a 12-mile stretch of new toll road being built for the Illinois Toll Way Authority by V3 Construction. This involved the installation of four 50 foot tilt-over camera towers (initially in corn fields) that each had two high resolution IP cameras at the top. Each system was completely solar powered and used the Verizon wireless cellular network for backhaul of images.

These systems remained in place for almost four years during the complete construction phase. The images from these cameras were archived for all sorts of uses such as marketing collateral (Web site and DVD media) and the images were displayed on multiple Web sites for public consumption.

A limited number of people were allowed direct access to the live cameras to monitor road construction progress as well as weather conditions on any specific day. Winter weather in northern Illinois is certainly unpredictable and as this was a year round construction site, it was important to understand job site conditions before crews were allowed in the area.

Other common application also included resorts, highway congestion, weather cameras, and hotels that want to show off their sandy beaches or beautiful ocean views for potential visitors. . (TOP)