Case Study Series: Solar CCTV System Enhances Surveillance Along Key Carriageway for National Highways.

In a collaborative effort between Kier Highways, National Highways, and Birmingham City Airport, Sunstone was tasked with providing a cutting-edge surveillance solution for a crucial carriageway serving the NEC and Birmingham Airport. This project brought together key stakeholders to address the need for efficient surveillance in areas prone to high traffic flows, congestion, and potential hazards.

Solar CCTV System (Highways Specification)

We successfully designed, manufactured, and deployed three Solar CCTV Systems (SICS) in Area 9 for Kier Highways and they provided quick and easy deployment to strategic locations, catering to areas with high traffic volume, interchanges, susceptible to congestion or accidents. The Solar CCTV System (SICS) boasts several key features designed to enhance surveillance efficiency and flexibility, including: 

• Surveillance Data Transmission: Each Solar CCTV System is equipped to send surveillance data seamlessly via the integrated wireless access point or through a 4G network. This ensures real-time transmission of critical surveillance footage to the National Highways Video Management System (VMS) via the internet.

• Advanced Camera System: The SICS system includes an Pan, Tilt, and Zoom Camera (PTZ) capable of capturing high-definition footage. This sophisticated camera system offers flexibility in monitoring and can be adjusted remotely to focus on specific areas of interest.

• Reliable Connectivity: With a Wireless Access Point (150Mbps) or 4G connectivity options, the SICS ensures reliable and high-speed data transmission even in remote locations. This feature enables uninterrupted surveillance coverage regardless of the availability of traditional wired connections.

• Sustainable Power Solution: The SICS is powered by a robust solar array, coupled with an 800Ahs battery system. This sustainable power solution ensures continuous operation of the surveillance system, reducing dependency on external power sources and minimising environmental impact.

• Portable and Versatile Design: Designed for mobility and flexibility, the SICS comes with a transport base, telescoping outriggers, and a telecommunications cabinet. This portable design facilitates easy deployment to various locations, allowing for swift installation and repositioning as needed.

• Optimal Surveillance Coverage: Equipped with a telescoping stainless steel mast and a 360-degree field of view PTZ bracket, the SICS provides comprehensive surveillance coverage. This enables monitoring of vast areas with minimal blind spots, enhancing overall security and situational awareness.

• Stakeholder Accessibility: Access to the surveillance stream is not limited to designated control centers. Stakeholders can conveniently access the surveillance footage via phone and tablet applications, ensuring widespread accessibility and efficient monitoring by relevant personnel.

The SICS System combines advanced technology, sustainable power solutions, and user-friendly features to deliver reliable and effective surveillance capabilities for enhancing highway safety and security. In addition, the system offers a multitude of benefits, enhancing surveillance efficiency and flexibility in monitoring key roadways. These benefits include:

• Rapid Deployment: With a streamlined installation process, the SICS can be fully deployed in under one hour. This quick deployment time ensures minimal disruption to traffic flow and allows for swift implementation of surveillance measures to address emerging security concerns or traffic incidents.

• Minimal Groundworks: The SICS eliminates the need for extensive groundworks, as it does not require hardwired power or data connections. This reduces construction time and costs associated with trenching and laying cables, enabling efficient deployment without compromising on surveillance capabilities.

• Easy Redeployment: The modular and portable design of the SICS allows for effortless relocation to new locations or in response to changing surveillance requirements. Whether due to shifting traffic patterns or evolving security needs, the system can be easily redeployed to address emerging priorities without significant logistical challenges.

• High-Speed Connectivity: The SICS leverages high-speed surveillance and data connections over 4G or free-to-air wireless networks. This ensures real-time transmission of surveillance footage to control centres or relevant stakeholders, enabling prompt response to incidents and enhancing overall situational awareness.

By offering rapid deployment, minimal groundworks, easy redeployment, and high-speed connectivity, the SICS System optimises surveillance capabilities while minimising operational disruptions and costs. This translates to improved efficiency in monitoring key roadways, ensuring enhanced safety and security for both motorists and pedestrians alike.

The success of our Solar CCTV System deployment has been recognized on multiple fronts. It was awarded Project of the Year at the Security and Fire Excellence Awards 2017 and shortlisted for Product of the Year at the British Engineering Excellence Awards 2018. Additionally, it received commendation at the Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation Awards 2018 for its innovation in collaboration with Kier Highways and Carnell.

Furthermore, a cost-benefit analysis conducted by Highways England revealed significant savings, estimating over £130,000 per deployment compared to traditional hard-wired security systems.

Our Solar CCTV System has proven to be an effective and innovative solution for enhancing surveillance along key carriageways, offering swift deployment, autonomous operation, and substantial cost savings. Its recognition and accolades underscore its impact and effectiveness in ensuring safety and security on our highways.

Case Study Series: Sunstone's Solar CCTV System Transform Roadworks Monitoring for Balfour Beatty.

Using Sunstone’s Solar CCTV System, Balfour Beatty has achieved surveillance coverage for a section of roadworks approx. 3km long without the need for ground works, cable runs or additional road closures.

Balfour Beatty’s road works and highways experience includes specialising in various fields such as road design, construction, asset management and providing maintenance. They offer a range of services from design, build, finance and operate to smart motorway schemes. They have long-established relationships with the Department for Transport, Highways England, Transport Scotland, the Welsh Assembly Government and many local authorities.

Balfour Beatty were awarded the project to make highway improvements to a section of the A2 in Kent. Sunstone were asked to provide surveillance for the section of the carriageway with images being relayed back to a control room within the works compound. The most important factors for the client at the brief stage were:

• Monitoring of the cameras

• PTZ function to be able to investigate an incident if required

• Best possible image quality day and night

• Ideally 500m centres for each SICS System 

Solar CCTV System (Highways Specification)

The Solar CCTV System (SICS) is powered entirely by renewable energy all year round and requires no groundworks or infrastructure in place to deliver HD quality traffic monitoring over the cellular network.

Built upon the company’s core principle of developing solar-powered game-changing security and communications technology, the SICS is ideally suited for highways security and is recommended by the Highways Agency as a “business as usual product.”

The project start date was during the lockdown period of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite disruption in supply chain services and staff re-allocation, Sunstone were able to deliver five SICS Systems to the Balfour Beatty Compound during April and May 2020 in time for the roadworks commencing. Not restricted by power or cable needs, the units are designed to be deployed and streaming live within minutes of positioning. Sunstone provided training to the Balfour Beatty operational team to allow them to deploy and commission the units themselves reducing the number of operatives on the highway and significantly reducing road closure time.

The SICS System delivers images back to the onsite monitoring team via a 3G/4G connection with high-level encryption. They can also operate on a wireless point to point or point to multi-point wireless mesh network. Each system is installed with a Tether Box, these link into an online viewing portal providing a very user-friendly tool to access images without the need for an additional VMS platform. Each user can be provided with full or restricted access to the cameras via password and there is a clear audit trail for any data captured.

Solar CCTV System (Highways Specification)

Due to the distance between each system, Sunstone selected the Nautilus camera supplied by CBC UK. The camera not only offers exceptional HD image quality over a significant distance, it also operates with a low power draw making it ideal for a solar powered solution. Night-time images are also extremely clear as the cameras have long range infrared and white light options which can be controlled remotely by an approved operator.

 At a time where businesses look to cut their carbon footprint, Balfour Beatty leads the way in the Highways industry by using the SICS – a zero-emissions solution. At the time of writing the units have been fully operational with camera operators continuously working the PTZ functions for over 3 months, operating entirely on solar energy with no need for recharging or physical visits to the units. Sunstone’s remote health check software allows for power monitoring to take place offsite and any issues that may arise can be addressed before surveillance images are lost.

Sunstone CEO Paul Schelhaas said ‘Sunstone is committed to advancing robust, smarter surveillance and communications solutions, powered by renewable energy. It makes business sense for companies like Balfour Beatty not to be limited by cabled power sources and data lines, and our solutions enable businesses to reduce their carbon footprint’ and ‘the SICS is perfect for use on Highways and proven to save money against alternative solutions. We are delighted that the Highways Agency have approved this product for use on the UK’s road infrastructure and to be working with Balfour Beatty, such a key player in this sector. We will be trialing a Stopped Vehicle Detection solution on this site in the next few weeks to further enhance our technology.

Solar CCTV System (Highways Specification)

The feedback from the Balfour Beatty project team on both the image quality provided and ease of use has been incredibly positive. One of the biggest advantages on a project like this has been that the Operating Team can deploy and reposition the systems whenever they require without the presence of the Sunstone engineers reducing road closure time, reducing the health and safety risk onsite and allowing complete client autonomy.

Darren Lindsay, Construction Manager at Balfour Beatty said “We have been extremely pleased with the surveillance systems provided by Sunstone Systems, the picture quality from the cameras is excellent with crystal clear images for incident investigation when required. Our monitoring team and stakeholders have found the Tether software easy to use both to view and control the cameras. The use of renewable energy solutions is always of interest to us and this solution provides us with the image quality we require whilst being powered by solar. A huge advantage with these units is that after a very brief training session from the Sunstone team in our compound our engineers were able to deploy and commission the systems themselves within a few hours. This means that we can plan the installation in with our own work plans and road closures. We will also be able to reposition the units ourselves as the works progress.”

Case Study Series: The Solar CCTV System's Triumph in Tengiz, Kazakhstan.

In the vast and challenging landscape of the Tengiz oil field in Kazakhstan, maintaining security and surveillance presents a formidable task. Tengizchevroil (TCO), a consortium of industry giants including Chevron, ExxonMobil, KazMunayGas, and LukArco, found themselves grappling with poor telecommunications coverage, extreme weather conditions, and disconnected construction areas. The need for a self-sustaining and rapidly deployable Solar CCTV System became imperative to safeguard operations in this remote and corrosive environment.

Enter the Solar IP CCTV System (SICS), a groundbreaking solution engineered to overcome the unique challenges faced by TCO. Developed in collaboration with TCO and Fluor, the SICS stands as a testament to innovation in remote surveillance technology. Its patent-pending design ensures complete self-sustainability and standalone operation, facilitating easy transport and rapid deployment across the expansive terrain of the Tengiz oil field.

At the heart of the SICS lies a sophisticated blend of ruggedized solar panels and a proprietary battery system engineered to endure the harsh conditions of extreme temperatures and deep cycling. This robust infrastructure ensures continuous operation and seamless wireless surveillance, delivering high-definition monitoring to local control centers even in the most remote and vulnerable locations.

The implementation of the SICS has yielded remarkable results for TCO. With 58 systems deployed and fully operational, the oil consortium has achieved unprecedented levels of security and connectivity across their operations in Tengiz. Notably, the project has garnered recognition on the global stage, earning the prestigious Project of the Year award at the IFSEC Global Fire & Security Awards 2017. As the SICS System enters 7-years of operations with TCO in Tengiz, these technologies continue to deliver key benefits, including:

• Self-Sustainability: The SICS's innovative design, incorporating ruggedized solar panels and a proprietary battery system, ensures complete self-sustainability. This eliminates the need for hardwired power sources, allowing seamless operation in remote areas where traditional infrastructure is unavailable or impractical.

• Rapid Deployment: The standalone nature of the SICS enables rapid deployment across expansive and challenging terrains. Its portable design facilitates easy transport and installation, empowering organizations like Tengizchevroil (TCO) to swiftly establish comprehensive surveillance coverage in remote and vulnerable locations.

• Resilience to Extreme Conditions: Engineered to withstand extreme temperatures and deep cycling, the SICS's robust infrastructure guarantees uninterrupted operation even in the harshest of environmental conditions. This resilience ensures continuous surveillance and telecommunications capabilities, essential for maintaining security in remote oilfield environments.

• Seamless Wireless Connectivity: Leveraging wireless technology, the SICS delivers high-definition monitoring to local control centres without the need for hardwired data connections. This ensures seamless connectivity across disconnected construction areas and poor telecommunications coverage zones, enhancing overall situational awareness and response capabilities.

• Enhanced Security and Connectivity: The successful deployment of the SICS in Tengiz has enabled TCO to achieve unprecedented levels of security and connectivity across their operations. By providing real-time monitoring and high-definition surveillance, the SICS has bolstered TCO's ability to safeguard critical infrastructure and assets in the challenging oilfield environment.

• Future Expansion and Innovation: As TCO continues to leverage the capabilities of the SICS in Tengiz, efforts are underway to expand its deployment and refine its capabilities for future projects. Ongoing collaboration and innovation promise to redefine the standards of surveillance and telecommunications in remote oilfield environments, ensuring the safety and security of critical operations.

To meet the demanding operational needs of TCO in Tengiz, the SICS System boasts advanced features tailored to endure the environment, provide dependable renewable energy, and deliver essential surveillance and connectivity where required. These features include:

• Constructed from 316L Stainless Steel: Engineered to withstand the corrosive atmosphere and maintain robustness in challenging conditions.

• Thermally Insulated: Ensures year-round operations in extreme temperatures, guaranteeing consistent performance regardless of weather conditions.

• Rapid Deployment: Designed for swift offloading, deployment, commissioning, and power generation in under one hour, facilitating immediate implementation and response to security needs.

• Easy Decommissioning: Enables effortless removal with a retractable mast, foldable and secured solar array, and integrated forklift pockets for simple lifting, allowing for efficient relocation or reconfiguration as necessary.

• Integrated Connectivity: Provides seamless integration with existing surveillance and communication networks, ensuring real-time monitoring and connectivity to critical areas within the oilfield.

• Remote Monitoring and Control: Offers remote access capabilities for monitoring and controlling surveillance systems, enhancing situational awareness and response efficiency.

These features collectively ensure that the SICS System meets the stringent requirements of TCO in Tengiz, delivering reliable security, surveillance, and connectivity in even the most challenging environments. As the SICS continues to support TCO's operations in Tengiz, efforts are underway to expand its deployment and refine its capabilities for future projects. Through ongoing collaboration and innovation, the partnership between TCO and the developers of the SICS promises to redefine the standards of surveillance and telecommunications in remote oilfield environments.

In the harsh and complicated terrain of Tengiz, the Solar CCTV System stands as an example of reliability and resilience, ensuring the safety and security of one of the world's most critical oil operations.