Now more than ever, effective perimeter fencing is a must for the transportation industry. Threats from thieves, trespassers and unwitting members of the public wandering into danger areas is a serious issue for land, air and sea transport firms/facilities.
Providing effective fencing is what companies such as Jacksons Fencing (www.jacksons-security.co.uk) and RBtec Perimeter Security Systems (www.rbtec.com) are all about. Based in Stowting Common, U.K., Jacksons Fencing has been securing properties since 1947. RBtec has been keeping perimeters safe since 1986, and is headquartered in North Bergen, New Jersey.
“Jacksons Fencing is one of the U.K.’s leading security fencing manufacturers and installers,” said Nick Bishenden, the company’s senior manager. “The transportation facilities sector is a key sector that we work in and have helped revolutionize how to increase security using fencing.”
“RBtec provides a perimeter security system for any transportation system; airport, trains, bus depots and such,” said Dori Ribak, the company’s vice president of marketing. “We offer a variety of solutions: We are not a one-size-fits-all company.”
In the following virtual roundtable, TSI asked Bishenden and Ribak about what’s new and different in perimeter fencing. Here is what they told us.
TSI: What advances have been made in perimeter fencing for transportation facilities?
Nick Bishenden: Over the past decade, “smart fencing” technology has evolved significantly. Initially, these systems relied on basic vibration detection sensors attached to fences, which were prone to false alarms. Today, however, we have moved to more sophisticated solutions, such as fully monitored high and low voltage electrified perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS), which are now commonly used. These advances have greatly enhanced site security by providing more reliable intrusion detection.
Acoustic fencing is often preferred for its additional benefits in the sector. Acoustic fencing is compatible with PIDS systems and offers several advantages over traditional metal security fences. It not only reduces noise and provides privacy but also minimizes light pollution.
Additionally, acoustic fences are designed without foot or handholds, making them more difficult to climb. This results in longer attack times compared to metal-style fences. Moreover, they are more aesthetically pleasing, which can be a significant factor for sites concerned with their appearance.
This type of fencing is ideal for transport infrastructure that often generates significant environmental noise and has strict requirements for security and privacy.
Dori Ribak: RBtec uses different technologies for different perimeter fencing applications.
For instance, we have small fence sensor kits called IRONCLAD, that are designed for smaller sites, meaning the perimeter is short. They would apply to train depots or small transportation support sites, such as a radar station or something like that, that are not necessarily inside the airport perimeter.
As for large sites? To protect their perimeters, we have a fiber optic system called RaySense AI DAS. RaySense is a distributed acoustic sensing sensor that can monitor up to 60 miles’ worth of perimeter. This means that we can theoretically cover a whole airport with one unit.
RaySense comes in a couple of versions. We have a small version that is up to six miles for smaller parameters and from six miles to 60 miles for the larger.
Then there’s LIDAR. With LIDAR, we can know the depth of the scenery and how far from the sensor the intruder is and which direction they’re walking in. For instance, using a real-time LIDAR image of a train platform, we can see the train and the platform where people are standing. This allows you to detect if someone is jumping or falling, by crossing a line and triggering an alarm.
As far as AI and its use in perimeter security, we employ AI to detect certain frequencies and vibrations. We train the system to know that if this vibration comes in a certain frequency, it’s an intrusion — versus low frequency vibrations due to wind or rain, which are false alarms.
TSI: Are you using AI solely for detection purposes?
Dori Ribak: No. AI has played a huge role in allowing us to set up perimeter fences quickly, instead of having to manually adjust them on a section-by-section basis. Take an airport installation: Using AI, instead of needing a three- to six-week calibration process, we can do it in less than a week.
AI-enabled perimeter fencing is playing a huge role in making those systems more accessible, more reliable and more cost effective, to be honest. If you don’t have to sit down and engineer for a month to calibrate the system, then the overall solution is cheaper as well.
TSI: Overall, how do transportation sites use these kinds of advanced perimeter fencing solutions to protect their premises?
Nick Bishenden: Transportation facilities rarely use these systems in isolation. Instead, they are typically integrated into a comprehensive security strategy that includes perimeter fencing, gate systems, automated gates, and turnstiles. This multi-layered approach significantly strengthens overall security.
TSI: How well have these advances been accepted by the global transportation industry as a whole?
Nick Bishenden: Recent advances have significantly improved site security by providing more reliable perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS). Overall, PIDS have greatly benefited the transport sector. Not only do they act as a deterrent to opportunistic attacks, but they also offer a robust barrier for high-security sites, allowing instant CCTV recording and manned security to swiftly respond to breaches within minutes.
Transport hubs and storage facilities have leveraged PIDS to reduce costs and decrease the need for on-site security personnel. In the event of a breach, CCTV can focus on the attack and a remote team can be notified and dispatched to the location, often arriving faster than traditional security guards, who might only be alerted once an intruder has already entered a building or vehicle.
Dori Ribak: Oh, the industry response so far has been amazing. With RaySense, once we introduced the new AI unit, we have had record sales with that system since it came out. AI makes it easy to install, makes it cheaper, and more accessible as a general idea.
TSI: All told, what positive results are being delivered by these advanced fencing products? And what is coming next?
Nick Bishenden: They have significantly enhanced the security of the sector by not only reducing attacks and vandalism but also minimizing damage and theft when sites are targeted.
Security remains a top priority, which means advances in technology and fencing to improve security are inevitable. The future of fencing goes beyond just providing security; we are already seeing this with innovations like our acoustic barriers. Following the successful launch of our solar fence panel range, we envision fences that offer multiple solutions. Imagine a fence that not only enhances the aesthetics of a transport site but also reduces noise and light pollution, provides robust security, and generates solar energy. This is the future of perimeter fencing — multifunctional, sustainable, and innovative.
This being said, in the U.K., “smart fencing” and technology is important but specifying the correct fence for an application is still a problem. Standards such as LPS 1175 have helped but more work is needed to educate architects and specifiers to create a 3D approach where PIDS, the physical fencing, gates, automation, and the likes of Vehicle Access Control Points (VACPs) are specified and all work together to create a layered security approach.