Climbing to the Top: How FiberPatrol’s Dual Sensing Channels Improve Fence Cut and Climb Detection
With over 40 years of experience designing innovative solutions for the physical security industry, Senstar has developed a substantial and profound level of institutional knowledge. We don’t develop half-baked solutions to showcase a specific technology; rather, we continuously research new technologies and bring to market only meaningful solutions that solve real security and operational problems.
The FiberPatrol FP1150 fiber optic distributed acoustic sensor (DAS) is an ideal example of the Senstar approach. It combines the latest advances in fiber optic sensing with practical benefits designed to protect facilities and infrastructure.
DAS fiber optic sensors like the FiberPatrol FP1150 can be installed directly on the fence. It turns the existing fence into a smart fence by analyzing the smallest of vibrations across the fabric. By using advanced signal processing techniques and experiential intelligence, it can distinguish between background noise like wind or rain and real intrusions like someone cutting, climbing, or otherwise disturbing the fence fabric.
For facilities with ultra-high security requirements, such as correctional facilities, distribution centers, energy generation sites, or large transportation hubs like airports, FiberPatrol has found substantial uptake – its high probability of detection, low nuisance alarm rate, extended coverage distances, integrated gateway software, and 20+ year sensor cable service life make it an ideal solution.
One FiberPatrol feature that has been well-received is its use of separate detection settings for fence cuts and climbs. The dual-sensing channels improve the overall probability of detection (PD) versus Nuisance Alarm Rate (NAR) by expanding the range of intrusion detection to cover more edge cases. For example, one edge case could be the improved detection of stealthy, sophisticated attacks that would otherwise require lower threshold settings to detect. The latter approach, while still effective, may increase NAR. FiberPatrol, with its dedicated detection channels, can retain optimal parameters for both types of intrusions.
The added detection capabilities do not increase calibration complexity however; the FiberPatrol units include built-in presets optimized for specific fence types that simplify the calibration process. The presets ensure the system is ready to go out-of-the-box. Software-defined zones enable specific fence segments to use customized versions of these presets, ensuring optimal operation across non-homogenous perimeters.
For sites with longer perimeters, these features are critical to reliably detect intrusions of all types while minimizing the generation of nuisance alarms. The end result is a solution that works, one that avoids creating additional hassles for security staff while ensuring the highest level of performance.
