August, 2004
"Eye in the Sky" Security for the Construction Industry [Irish Construction Times]
John Murphy outlines the benefits of the Netwatch security system, which is becoming an effective security alternative on many construction sites around the country.
Theft is costing the Irish construction industry millions of euros every year in lost revenue and security measures according to a recent crime report. Stolen stock represents three per cent of turnover while 25 per cent of those surveyed said they suffered regularly from stock theft. The survey showed that almost one in two businesses (46 per cent) had experienced crime in the past 12 months.
However, developments in satellite and digital CCTV based technologies have led to the creation of a security system, which can deliver all of the advantages of intensive manned security solutions at a fraction of the cost. Netwatch is a proactive security system allowing trained security personnel to watch in real time criminal activity taking place and take action to prevent theft or damage to property. When a break-in takes place, live pictures of the area where the security breach has occurred are sent to the command system. The command centre then speaks directly to the intruder, warning them that they are on private property and that the Gardaí have been called. Knowing that they are being watched and that the Gardaí have been notified is a huge deterrent - in 95 per cent of cases recorded the intruder leaves the premises without committing a crime. Because the control centre can check the site first, false alarm calls are virtually eliminated, so Garda time isn't wasted.
It is not the case that traditional systems don't work. They do work, but to varying degrees of effectiveness and every project manager has to weigh up the costs of an investment against the results it delivers. For example, having manned security patrols constantly monitoring a construction site on foot, backed up by a sophisticated CCTV systems will probably result in an almost watertight system, but at enormous cost. On the other hand having security personnel calling to a site on a patrol basis is much cheaper but quite ineffective as criminals can hide until the security people have left the area.
A traditional burglar alarm system may work well in detecting unauthorised entry to a construction site office, but it may not result in the crime being prevented, these traditional alarms are unsuitable for external use on construction sites.
Similarly, passive CCTV systems simply record what has already happened and are usually only examined long after the damage is done. Criminals tend to disguise themselves with headgear and scarves making identification near impossible. Recently, the trend has been for criminals to smash up or even remove the recording equipment on gaining entry to a construction site.
For the construction industry this situation poses very real problems. With hundreds of thousands of euros worth of high quality plant and materials on site, the cost of even one crime event can be enormous. Furthermore, construction sites are inherently dangerous places and we have seen in the past that burglars and other intruders to sites are actually able to sue for personal injuries incurred during their unauthorised visits. Sites can be closed down for weeks for health and safety reasons causing unwelcome and costly delays to the programme.
From its central command centre in Carlow, Netwatch provides extremely cost effective monitoring and control of remote site activity 24 hours a day, reducing the need for on-site guards. Netwatch enables companies to monitor and manage multiple remote sites from a single location. The Netwatch system also minimises costly Garda call-outs through the ability to remotely verify and respond to calls.
The Netwatch system differs from standard CCTV systems in some very important respects. Firstly, it is an event-based system. When an intrusion takes place on a construction site live pictures of the area where the security breach has occurred are sent down telephone lines or by satellite to the Netwatch command centre. Secondly, it is a fully interactive system. The cameras can be controlled remotely to focus on different areas and they are equipped with microphones and speakers allowing the command centre to communicate directly with the intruder to warn them to stop, that the Gardaí are on the way or indeed to alert them to danger.
Being able to talk directly to the intruder is particularly advantageous on remote construction sites, once a criminal knows that the audio warning is live, his response is to immediately leave the area. Imagine the scene, a criminal is attempting to gain entry to a construction site and he get the following personalised audio warning, "Hey you in the blue jacket! You are trespassing! Leave this area now! The Gardaí are on route! The result is always the same, they leg it from the area in a confused and hurried manner. The system is free of intimidation and corruption and is totally accountable. It is as if every camera on site is a guard on duty 24 hours per day with no sacrifice to alertness, personal safety or integrity. A full record of actions taken by the command centre can be verified by interrogating the on-site digital recorder.
The Netwatch system also allows for a high degree of liaison with the Gardaí. For example, if the Gardaí inform Netwatch that they have a car in the area the command centre will simply guide them to the exact location of the intruder allowing them to be apprehended "red handed". If, on the other hand, the Garda response time might be too long Netwatch communicates directly with the intruder to warn them that they are on camera and that the Gardaí have been alerted.
Another advantage of the system is that Gardaí and keyholders know they are only called upon when the activation has been caused by a genuine intruder, and they have the added protection of our command centre keeping the criminal under surveillance as they approach the premises. Finally, it is truly cost effective with a full monitoring service costing as little as EUR20 per day - about the same as an hour of a security guard's time.
The Netwatch System is now successfully protecting construction sites for such companies as John Sisk & Sons, PJ Walls Limited, Bowens, Laing 0 Rourke, P Elliott & Co, JJ Rhatigan & Co, Patrick Brock Construction and CLG Developments to name but a few.