With a cost estimated at more than one billion euros by the French Building Federation (FFB), theft is one of the main scourges of the building site, whatever the size or department of the company. In order to mitigate this problem of intrusion but also the risks of fire, it is essential to combine different security solutions and to set up a reliable system of surveillance and control of the accesses of the building site.
Theft of construction machinery and vehicles, siphoning of fuel, disappearance of tools, materials and equipment installed or stored, and even deliberate fires: these acts of vandalism are very costly for companies, representing at least 1% of the building industry’s total turnover according to the FFB. In addition to this direct financial loss, the entire ecosystem is impacted because of the impossibility to meet delivery deadlines, resulting in operating losses. In addition, these malicious acts damage equipment and endanger the personnel employed on the sites, which represents an additional risk.
How to monitor and secure a construction site?
By combining different means of surveillance, companies can ensure the security of their construction site. This also applies to any type of sensitive site requiring enhanced security, such as an industrial site.
Access control management
To secure the perimeter of a site under construction, it is essential to identify all the people and vehicles entering the site every day. To do so, companies can put in place several means depending on the scale of the site: identification badges, gates, surveillance cameras, security guards, etc. Closing the site with a gate and restricting access to a limited number of people are simple methods which have proved their worth in terms of site protection. It is therefore a question of controlling the entry and exit of personnel, not forgetting the service providers, but also monitoring the equipment in order not only to detect intrusions but also to keep a precise view of the stock.
Sensors and intruder alarms
Once you have established the perimeter of the site you wish to protect, it is more than recommended to install various sensors that will allow the detection of potential intrusions and malicious acts. As part of a classic surveillance system, these devices can take various forms: motion sensors, high-definition cameras, panoramic vision, night and infrared vision, etc. These detectors work in cooperation with an anti-intrusion alarm system: the recording of a suspicious movement by one of the sensors triggers the alarms associated with them. Thus, the security officers, notified of the intrusion attempt, can react quickly with full knowledge of the facts and at the right place.
Private security guarding
As for human resources, they allow the supervision of the entire video protection system and can take decisions adapted to the detected threats. Security officers are therefore key players in the surveillance of a site under construction. In addition to controlling access and monitoring all the cameras from the supervision centre, they make regular rounds to ensure that the perimeter is properly secured. In the event of alarms detected by one of the sensors, they carry out investigations to characterize the threat and react accordingly. Smaller-scale sites with smaller budgets may replace the on-site security teams with a remote video surveillance center.
Fire watch
Another major risk on a construction site is fire, whether deliberate or accidental, which can be avoided thanks to operational prevention measures. Certified safety officers are trained to carry out the various compliance and safety checks related to fire risks: checking the presence of fire extinguishers, the emergency exits, the storage of materials and flammable elements, etc. The role of the qualified personnel is to detect any fire outbreaks, by observation during patrols or by means of various sensors connected to a security centre.
Where to install surveillance cameras on the construction site?
Equipping a construction site with security cameras is not an easy task due to the unevenness of the terrain, the lack of building and consequently the lack of high supports to place the cameras. However, it is necessary that every sensitive area of the site is included in the field of vision of an optical, thermal, or infrared sensor.
Construction site access points
In terms of site monitoring, it is mandatory to cover all access points to the construction site, i.e. parking areas, entrances and exits and identification points.
Periphery of the site
For maximum protection against intruders on your site, day and night surveillance cameras should be placed at all corners of the site and along its fences.
Storage and equipment depot
For optimal management of the flow of materials, tools or equipment, they will be held in a building or temporary prefab structure kept under video surveillance.
Living quarters
It may also be worthwhile to secure certain bungalows at the entrance to the site with cameras, depending on the size of the construction site and the nature of the goods to be protected.
What solutions does Tonner Drones offer for construction site surveillance?
A global solution combining man and machine
Tonner Drones offers solutions combining the strengths of men and machines, mobilizing security experts alongside ergonomic and innovative surveillance technologies. The site surveillance proposed by Tonner Drones is a turnkey service with customized customer support at each stage: from the preliminary study before installation to the operational monitoring of the security system.
Security officers’ teams
The security officers provided are specially trained in site guarding and they master the use of the surveillance equipment included in the service. In addition to managing entries
and exits, these experts carry out regular checkpoints and assessment when alarms are triggered. Depending on the threat detected on the construction site, the security officers can adapt their intervention and, if necessary, liaise with the police.
Autonomous monitoring technologies
Depending on the configuration and size of the site to be protected, two technological solutions can be recommended by Tonner Drones experts.
SPOTTER BOT®, mobile video security trailer
Learn moreISS SPOTTER® Automatic, the autonomous surveillance drone
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The modular safety video trailer that can be adapted to any construction site
The SPOTTER BOT® mobile and autonomous security trailer is particularly well suited to securing construction sites and provides many advantages. Equipped with a retractable mast on which panoramic, optical, and night cameras are mounted, the SPOTTER BOT® trailer offers an unobstructed view of the various sensitive areas of your site.
This rugged trailer is weatherproof and vandal-proof. The solution is mobile and can be installed and deployed quickly as the construction site evolves. Video streams and camera control are accessible 24 hours a day via the internet (3G / 4G, wifi or Ethernet connection) from any device (computer, tablet, smartphone) and can be integrated into your existing supervision system (compatible with Milestone or Security Center).
The autonomous surveillance drone for large-scale and long-term construction sites
Calibrated for the surveillance of important sites such as industrial sites or long-term construction sites, this automatic drone equipped with optical, thermal, and infrared cameras works with a docking station allowing the recharging and protection of the aircraft. All video streams are transmitted to the security guard via the Video Management System interface. From the Security centre, the officer can operate the 3 modes of the drone thanks to a very simple proprietary interface:
- the automatic round, which allows patrolling along one of the configured routes,
- the automatic assessment on alarm, to check the situation of an area without having to move teams,
- the Click & Go mode to immediately launch the drone to a designated area in case of a suspected threat.
What are the advantages of security trailers compared to fixed surveillance cameras?
Today’s remote surveillance systems are now equipped with high definition or 4K cameras that provide companies with a comprehensive view of their site day and night. However, a “traditional” fixed camera system has some limitations when compared to an innovative solution such as the SPOTTER BOT® security trailer.
A stand-alone solution
With its battery or fuel cell power supply, the safety trailer can operate with up to 1 month of autonomy when not directly connected to a 220VAC outlet. But it is for its self-management features that the SPOTTER BOT® solution earns the “autonomous” label. Indeed, the video trailer does not require any specific intervention after its deployment and has an intelligent control feature that notifies you in real time when any maintenance is required.
Extended scope of monitoring
Another advantage of the solution is that the SPOTTER BOT® safety trailer provides an increased field of vision thanks to its high-quality sensors and mast height, whereas traditional cameras struggle to be installed high enough. The panoramic camera, the optical camera, the night mode with LED lighting and the powerful zoom all guarantee a 360° risk detection day and night.
Resistance of cameras to damage
The solid structure of the SPOTTER BOT® allows it to resist aggression and malicious acts while ensuring continuous security on the site. Thanks to its anti-theft geolocation system, the SPOTTER BOT® notifies you on your smartphone whenever the trailer moves suspiciously. For maximum strength, the trailer has a powder-coated and galvanised chassis and body, along with DOT/CE LED lights and stainless-steel mounting hardware. Its mast also contains an internal cable wick designed to prevent vandalism.
Mobile and adaptable to the construction site
Finally, if the SPOTTER BOT® autonomous surveillance trailer scores points compared to fixed cameras, it is also because of its great modularity. Its mobility allows it to adapt very easily to the constraints and evolution of the site.
In addition, its interchangeable head allows you to customise the solution to your needs by choosing from a wide range of options: panoramic cameras, infrared cameras, lighting, etc. The system offers a wide range of possibilities for remote monitoring, as the various sensors and elements located on the mast can be moved to any other support for maximum coverage of the site to be monitored.