Perimeter protection: thermal cameras, radar and fence sensors compared.

Watching a long fence line with ordinary cameras produces many false alarms and many blind spots.

Thermal cameras

Detect heat, so work in darkness, smoke and light fog. Excellent for detection at range, but images lack detail for identification, so pair with a visible-light camera.

Radar

Detects moving objects across wide areas and can cue a camera to point at them. Good for open yards and solar farms.

Fence-mounted sensors

Detect vibration or cutting on the fence. Precise, with false alarms from wind and animals if not tuned.

Video analytics

Virtual fences and loitering alerts on visible cameras, useful where lighting is good.

Layering

Use detection to raise the alarm and cameras to verify. A control room or remote monitoring service then decides the response.

Environment

Vegetation, animals, weather and terrain change performance. Design for them, and test seasonally.

Power and links

Remote perimeters may need solar power, batteries and wireless links. Plan them with the sensors.

Response

Technology only detects. Define who responds, how fast and with what authority.