Installation of External Intrusion Detectors in Harsh Environments
Thomas M. Andrews · 1993
External intrusion detectors have always been a compromise between probability of detection and nuisance false alarm rates. In general, such detectors are carefully selected and the proposed operating environment planned and developed, with the cost of site preparation often exceeding the cost of the detection equipment. Circumstances arise however where it is difficult, excessively expensive or time does not allow for the preferred site preparation. A sudden increase in the value of site assets, changes to the threat levels, the need for temporary rotection or even the desire to minimise the effects on the P oca1 environment can all result in the need to install detectors in less than ideal conditions. On such occasions, before the equipment is selected and installed, an appreciation of site constraints on the type of equipment is required. Of concern to system design engineers is that most of the available proprietary documentation assumes ideal site conditions. In reality, this is rarely the case. Where other than ideal conditions prevail, the responsibility for determining changes to the installation requirements invariably rests with the local engineering staff.