Scenarios & Selection

Figure 3.1: Wilderness perimeter fence node — solar-powered pole with PTZ + two fixed cameras, radar sensor, and weatherproof cabinet on copper grounding ring

The wilderness perimeter node is the most demanding scenario in terms of environmental resilience and power autonomy. Sites are typically 5–50 km from the nearest road, with no AC mains power, no fiber, and cellular coverage that may be marginal or absent. Lightning density is often high due to open terrain and elevated pole structures. The primary threats are unauthorized entry, poaching, and equipment theft. A solar + battery system sized for the worst winter month is mandatory, and the pole must be engineered for wind loads up to 40 m/s. The radar sensor provides multi-sensor fusion to reduce false alarms from wildlife movement.

Figure 3.2: Pipeline station cabinet interior — DIN-rail mounted industrial components including PoE switch, dual-SIM router, edge NVR, SPDs, terminal blocks, and copper grounding bar

Pipeline infrastructure nodes combine surveillance with process monitoring. The cabinet interior is the critical design element: all components must be DIN-rail mounted for maintainability, labeled for rapid fault isolation, and protected against the elevated surge risk from long metallic pipeline runs. AC mains power is typically available from the station's own supply, but a UPS with minimum 4-hour backup is required. The primary threats are unauthorized access to valve controls, theft of copper, and process anomaly detection (leak, pressure event). Integration with the SCADA/OT network requires careful VLAN isolation to prevent cross-contamination.

Figure 3.3: Solar farm perimeter node — pole-mounted PTZ and fixed camera with microwave backhaul dish, weatherproof cabinet on raised stand, copper bonding strap to pole base

Solar and wind farms present a unique combination of abundant on-site power generation (from the farm's own AC supply) and large perimeter areas requiring multiple distributed nodes. The key challenge is backhaul: fiber is often not run to perimeter nodes, and cellular coverage may be poor in rural flat terrain. Point-to-point microwave or licensed radio links between perimeter nodes and a central aggregation point are the preferred solution. Flooding risk must be assessed for cabinet placement, and the dense metallic structure of solar panel frames creates complex grounding requirements. Panel theft and inverter tampering are the primary threats.

Figure 3.4: Telecom tower fence camera — vandal-resistant dome on anti-climb bracket with stainless steel label plate, external conduit with drip loop, and weatherproof junction box

Telecom tower sites are characterized by excellent backhaul availability (the tower's own fiber or microwave link can be leveraged), reliable AC power from the tower's rectifier system, but extremely high vandalism and theft risk. The camera installation must be anti-vandal (IK10 minimum), tamper-evident, and use anti-climb brackets to prevent camera repositioning. The tower operator's network can often provide a VLAN for surveillance traffic, eliminating the need for a separate cellular SIM. Grounding is typically excellent due to the tower's own earthing system, but bonding of the camera bracket to the tower ground must be verified.

Figure 3.5: Forest fire lookout tower — 20m lattice tower with long-range PTZ, thermal camera, smoke detector array, solar panels, satellite dish, cellular antenna, and weatherproof cabinet at base

Forest fire lookout towers represent the highest-performance end of the unattended surveillance spectrum. The primary mission is early fire detection at ranges of 5–20 km using thermal imaging and smoke analytics, combined with PTZ optical zoom for confirmation and documentation. Tower height (15–25m) maximizes detection range but creates extreme wind loads and lightning exposure. Solar power with large battery banks is standard. Satellite backhaul (Starlink or VSAT) is often required due to the remote hilltop location. The thermal camera's sensitivity to temperature differential enables detection of sub-hectare fires before visible smoke appears.

Figure 3.6: Rural traffic checkpoint — cantilever arm with LPR camera and IR illuminator, PTZ overview camera, roadside cabinet with power meter, PoE switch, and router with fiber conduit

Rural traffic checkpoints combine license plate recognition (LPR) with general traffic overview. The LPR camera requires precise positioning and illumination design: the IR illuminator must be co-axial with the camera axis, the camera must be aimed at the vehicle front plate at the correct angle (15–25° from horizontal), and the trigger zone must be defined to capture plates at the correct distance for the chosen focal length. AC mains power is typically available from roadside supply, but surge protection is critical due to long overhead cable runs. Fiber is the preferred backhaul for LPR due to the high data volume of plate images.

Figure 3.7: Warehouse perimeter — corner-mounted dual bullet cameras with PIR-triggered IR floodlight, weatherproof junction box, and conduit along building fascia at dusk showing IR illumination effect

Warehouse and industrial perimeter surveillance benefits from AC mains power and often fiber or structured cabling within the building, but the outdoor environment presents challenges including large open areas requiring long-range coverage, high-value targets attracting organized theft, and the need for evidence-grade video for insurance and legal purposes. Corner mounting with two cameras provides 180° coverage of both wall faces from a single installation point. The PIR-triggered IR floodlight provides supplementary illumination for evidence-grade color video at night without the cost of continuous lighting. Integration with the building management system (BMS) and access control is common.

Figure 3.8: Construction site portable mast — ballast-base steel mast with two cameras, cellular router enclosure, solar panel, and lockable battery cabinet at base; construction site background with cranes and workers

Construction site surveillance must balance security effectiveness with the need for rapid deployment, relocation as the site evolves, and eventual removal. The portable mast with ballast base (no ground anchoring) enables repositioning within hours. Solar + battery power eliminates the need for generator or temporary mains connection. Cellular backhaul provides immediate connectivity. The primary threats are material theft (copper, tools, equipment), unauthorized access outside working hours, and health & safety compliance monitoring. The system must be designed for easy handover between site phases and eventual decommissioning with full data export.