Networking and communications

Surveillance systems are based on information from various sensors and the distribution of information and raw data within the system to multiple users that allow real time situational awareness and timely decision making. Radar, cameras and other sensors produce information that is rich in detail that typically involves large bandwidth.

Linking remote sensor sites, regional and national Command and Control Centres requires the use of different communications and network technologies. The availability, or lack of existing communications as well as distances between sites and the local terrain will shape the type of communications used to provide the communications infrastructure required to allow the Command and Control system to operate reliably and with high performance.

Typical options include:
  • Land line (copper or fibre optic)
  • Microwave
  • Satellite communications (e.g. VSAT)

In remote locations where there is no communication infrastructure and where there are large distances between sites, VSAT is a good, reliable communications option. Bandwidth demands can be high using video and other data exchanges. If high bandwidth is not available or too costly, we implement bandwidth reduction strategies to manage the data and communications budget and still meet the surveillance performance criteria.