Remote Security for Modern Agriculture

The cost of theft is increasing for rural communities. Farm equipment costs are also high, and more farmers are relying on technology to help them manage their farms and increase their yields. However, a farm can be a difficult place to secure, as it often involves large areas of land to patrol. One way to tackle this is to use remote security solutions, and thermal imaging can play a key role in maximizing their coverage and efficiency.

Higher Risks in Modern Farming

Farmers are under pressure to increase yields and quality with a growing population to feed. This means they need to make the most of the land they farm. Technology helps them do this; for example, many now use GPS technology to map a farm and use its space wisely.

Remote security for large areas

Another challenge for security systems is that these rural areas do not have access to electricity or a grid. Few fields have such luxuries. As such, farmers can usually only secure certain areas of a farm with modern methods. To monitor the livestock and crops, which are the money-making parts of the farm, a farmer has to ‘make rounds’, which can be extremely time-consuming and tiring.

It is clear that a remote system is needed to provide helpful and effective security. These need to be independent of both electricity and the grid. They also need to be robust enough to withstand adverse weather conditions, smart enough to provide farmers with accurate alarm management, and also be able to monitor an area remotely.

Solar and Thermal Technologies

Solar-powered, 4G cameras are coming into play. Solar energy is nothing new and is already being used to power all sorts of equipment that is not close to a traditional power source. Applications range from securing remote pipelines to monitoring festivals and other temporary outdoor events. However, as with many remote technology applications, power management is key. If the power runs out too quickly, the benefits are limited as the cameras will need to be regularly maintained and charged.

Reduced Power and Bandwidth Consumption

Hikvision’s developers have come up with a solution, incorporating thermal technology into the camera. Since a thermal channel uses a fraction of the power of an optical channel, it will last longer. This can extend battery life by about a day, depending on which features are enabled on the camera. The 80w solar panels can charge the camera in just six hours on a sunny day. Users also have the option to schedule a ‘sleep mode’ on either the thermal or optical channels, which helps extend battery life.

When there is no ‘connected’ network or wifi, the cameras use 4G to do this. Thermal technology also plays a key role in maximising the available bandwidth. Since a portion of the bandwidth is needed to transmit a thermal image, a typical application is to set up a thermal sensor to monitor an area by switching to the optical lens only when an alert is heard. This means that a farmer can check the alert with a more visual optical image without the system constantly broadcasting bandwidth-heavy optical images.

Smart Applications

Embedded with a Deep Learning algorithm, the cameras can accurately classify people and vehicles, significantly reducing false alarms caused by wildlife or falling leaves, for example. The cameras are also equipped with a flash light and audible alarm designed to deter intruders even before they enter. The combined technology in the kit is useful in other ways. For example, the thermal technology has various purposes such as fire prevention and animal health monitoring.

Weatherproof and Environmentally Friendly

Protected by the IP67 standard, the Hikvision Thermal Solar Kit can be used outdoors as it can withstand rain and dust. The kit is easy to install and very cost-effective, with a junction box that protects the few cables needed to protect against vandalism and a bracket for simple pole mounting. The kit also has sustainable features; its low power consumption means it can save 104kWh per year, equivalent to 17kg of CO2.

Farmers are increasingly turning to more expensive technology to improve farm management and yields. This has led to the need for another type of innovation. One that will help protect this equipment and keep the farm operating at optimum levels. The combination of solar energy with both optical and thermal camera technology provides a sustainable monitoring solution, even in the middle of a remote field.