An infrastructure is nationally critical when the services it provides are vital to a country’s security and economy.
The list of critical infrastructures includes sites that facilitate transportation, information and telecommunications, water, public heath, government services, emergency services and shipping.
These sites may be threatened by terrorism and criminal activities, extreme weather and other natural disasters, and industrial accidents.
Mitigating and confronting these threats requires balancing the need for prevention and identification with an effective strategy for a response, damage control and, eventually, a return to regular operations.
MER’s Multilayered Concept
To provide reliable perimeter protection for critical infrastructure sites, MER Group has developed a concept of operation (CONOPS) that involves integration of sophisticated surveillance technologies in different zones – surrounding the site and within it.
In every critical site, MER integrates the most fitting surveillance technologies, and customizes them to address unique requirements. The following technologies and systems are often at the core:
– CCTV System and Video Analytics for surveillance of critical points and instant analysis of incidents and threats
– Perimeter Intrusion Detection System to detect intrusions with minimal false alarms and automatically record using cameras
– License Plate Recognition (LPR) & Access Control System to identify employees and visitors
These infographics demonstrate MER’s perimeter protection concept, using a power plant as an example:
Outputs from the surveillance technologies installed throughout the site are fed directly into Smart-M, a data fusion system that uses the data to extract actionable insights for effective real-time decision-making. Smart-M functions as the heart of the command & control platform, providing complete visibility, enabling fast and efficient response and supporting long-term asset optimization.
Using Smart-M, with its built-in GIS (Geographic Information System) and its predictive, preventive and proactive capabilities, critical infrastructure sites are able to address numerous security and safety challenges, both in routine and in emergencies.
Smart-M for critical infrastructure sites is fully integrated with the leading Business Intelligence (BI) tools in the market to generate easy to understand reports and views that support decision making at the highest levels in the clearest and most dynamic manner. It enables organizations to optimize and streamline their security operations, identify weak points, and improve resource allocation.
The surveillance technologies and the Smart-M management platform serve as the foundation of any successful perimeter protection concept.
But achieving complete security requires use of other elements, such as intelligence collection and cybersecurity.
MER has two decades of experience providing holistic security solutions for critical infrastructure sites. The company has provided end-to-end security solutions for electricity plants, offshore gas rigs, government buildings, military bases, gas pipes and many other sites.
