Construction Site Armed Security

Every year, construction sites and storage yards face the costly problems of vandalism and theft. Recent studies suggest that this kind of criminal activity can cost businesses more than $1 billion dollars annually affecting productivity and adding to an already busy and complex workload for site owners and employees. Every year, millions of dollars worth of equipment either goes missing or is damaged; ongoing construction work is damaged and delayed, and vandals take many items of value from sites. While multiple on-site guards at a site can be beneficial, this can also be cost-prohibitive, without providing the thoroughness and consistency of surveillance that a truly secure construction site or storage yard needs. Remote Guard Video Surveillance offers an effective, technology-based solution that can supplement or replace on-site security guards, providing a cost-saving and highly efficient form of security that allows larger areas to be “patrolled” using cameras and other surveillance equipment.

What are the benefits of implementing remote surveillance at a construction site or storage yard?

The size and scope of many construction sites and storage yards present a variety of challenges when it comes to security, as well as a number of opportunities any thief or vandal can exploit. A typical construction site or storage yard is often difficult to patrol with only uniformed officers. All the storage facilities, walls, fences, and containers, as well as parked machinery, hinder visibility, and the use of guards on patrol loses much of its effectiveness.

The wide range and amount of equipment on a site or storage yard is difficult to consistently monitor and secure, particularly larger items, or items that are easily moved. Remote Guard Video Surveillance can meet these challenges by providing camera analytics guided by a remote monitoring team. Specific areas or pieces of equipment can be focused on with mobile or portable technology. Buildings, sheds, containers, and other items that create hiding places for criminals can now be watched not only by on-site guarding but technology that will provide unobtrusive views of suspicious activity, as well as identifying evidence of wrongdoing for site managers and law enforcement officers.

Thermal Imaging and Night Vision Technologies

Thermal imaging and night vision technologies in the hands of professional security companies can provide around the clock, enhanced security for construction sites and storage yards.

Thermal imagery has become a weapon against theft and vandalism. It has become highly sophisticated, while still being relatively easy to utilize. One such powerful and relatively easy-to-use thermal imaging solution is Thermal Radar.

Thermal Radar provides 360-degree surveillance, it’s like operating up to 20 thermal cameras dotted around any area being secured. This low-power, low bandwidth surveillance system can help construction sites or storage yards overcome power and limited internet connectivity issues by utilizing solar power and cell phone technology to transmit the recorded “images” in real-time to the surveillance center.  Portable power units can also provide enough power to even the most remote of sites for remote surveillance to be implemented.

A good remote surveillance solution should include conventional security cameras and well thermal imaging surveillance equipment. Some security companies will even utilize drones to fly over the area being secured. These “eyes in the sky” can be fitted with conventional cameras and recording equipment as well as thermal cameras, adding extra security for your construction site or storage yard. This remote surveillance can extend the security of the site after business hours, during holidays, or at any other time when on-site guarding becomes difficult, providing peace of mind via the remote monitoring team.

Lowering Costs and Helping Staff

The cost of construction site security can drop between 40% and 60% with the right security provider. Perimeter security is tightened, and access into and out of the site is improved, as the technology can capture vehicle license plates as they enter and exit the site. Site and yard managers have a better sense of who is coming and going.

Remote surveillance systems also bring with them some unexpected benefits that can help a construction site’s staff better manage their time. One of these is that the system can be used for weather forecasting. Knowing the weather conditions on-site, particularly on sites that require subcontractors to travel some distance, allows for early decision-making. This can avoid the costs of teams turning up and being unable to work.

Another benefit lies in staff management. If a site is falling behind schedule, staff movement and activity can be monitored. Extended breaks because no management is on-site can lead to delays, and delays cost money! Remote technology can help employers have a clearer sense of their employees’ day-to-day routines, and help them to better manage their time.

In the complex world of construction and storage, companies can no longer afford to rely only on an on-site security team, no matter how experienced. A remote security and surveillance solution that expands on and enhances the work of these trained professionals–via camera analytics, thermal imagery, and remote monitoring– is the most effective way to secure a construction site or storage yard. The cost savings are considerable, and using professional security will provide total peace of mind.