High-tech, low impact

Sadly, we need to protect our homes with a range of security measures, but that doesn’t mean we have to live behind bars, caged up like prisoners. Security is a dynamic, ever-evolving industry in which cutting-edge technology is constantly employed to produce best-practice applications.

Security old style

Conventional security solutions, such as high walls, electrified fencing, dog and guard patrols and the like, create an atmosphere of tension, and – especially in scenic areas – they detract immensely from the aesthetic appeal of our properties. This is particularly so in estates that have glorious natural features such as rivers, estuaries, forests and/or beaches that may – if not properly secured – offer ingress for criminals into the estate. Most of us want to live in as natural an environment as possible, which is why we resent walls that – admittedly – form a barrier to crime, but also form a barrier to nature, and to the free movement of animals.

A new look at an old problem

Security systems have come a long way since razor wire and floodlights. Most modern security applications are designed to blend into the landscape without detracting from the view, while actively and effectively creating a barrier – just not necessarily a visible one. This is done by using innovations such as thermal cameras and artificial intelligence-driven video analytics to establish virtual boundaries. These technologies can detect and differentiate between a wide variety of triggers, and identify whether they are animal or human, initiating an alert in the latter case. And LPR (license plate recognition) can also be utilised for conservation and anti-poaching purposes, as well as for keeping troublesome intruders at bay.

‘By incorporating these cutting-edge technologies,’ says Verifier MD Mike Voortman, ‘the division between nature and estate becomes effectively invisible.’

These systems provide efficient and effective early warning perimeter monitoring, even in the toughest physical environments, while maintaining a low nett zero impact on the environment.

‘These systems,’ adds Voortman, ‘can be solar-powered, which allows for energy security and off-the-grid independence.’

It’s never too late

While sustainable design principles should ideally be incorporated from the beginning, as damage to the environment can take years or decades to reverse, it’s not too late to change your estate’s security approach. Most contemporary security systems can be seamlessly integrated into existing structures and systems.

‘What you should be looking for,’ says Voortman, ‘is a company that offers a soft approach to estate security, because this has been shown to have a low impact on the environment, but – through the use of cutting-edge technology – has a high impact on crime.’