Emscher conversion generation project: Camera monitors construction site and protects people
Underground conversion work: The entire main course of the River Emscher and its tributaries are currently being renaturalized as part of the Emscher conversion project. This includes the Pausmühlenbach, which flows into the Emscher in the north of Essen. By laying new sewers, the Pausmühlenbach will be free of wastewater in the future. To ensure that the sewer construction work can be completed without delays due to theft or vandalism, camera-based surveillance from Video Guard is used here.
The conversion of the Emscher system is a mammoth project in the Ruhr area that has been ongoing since 1992 and involves the creation of a centralized wastewater system. More than 430 kilometers of new underground sewers are being laid and the River Emscher and various tributaries are being redesigned in a near-natural way. At the heart of the project is the Emscher sewer (AKE) – it runs underground largely parallel to the Emscher and collects the wastewater previously discharged through the river. The 51-kilometer canal begins in Dortmund and ends in Dinslaken. In this context, work on various tributaries such as the Pausmühlenbach, which is also to be completely cleared of wastewater, is also of great importance.
Securing shafts and excavation pits
The construction company Batteux from Münster is involved in the sewer work on the Pausmühlenbach. The particular challenge here is that the stream runs very close to nature and in some remote areas that are difficult to see and control. This in turn makes it easier for thieves to steal materials and machines – something that needs to be avoided, especially in view of the current shortage of materials in many areas.
To protect the entire area against unauthorized access, theft and vandalism, Batteux relies on the Video Guard camera system. The intelligent monitoring system not only protects property, but also prevents people from coming to harm. This is because deep shafts and excavation pits are often created during sewer work. The latter can become a source of danger for uninvolved third parties. This is because accidents can occur in pits and shafts – in the past there have been repeated reports in the press about children falling into unsecured boreholes. Preventive safety measures such as the use of fences and video surveillance, as at Pausmühlenbach, help to prevent such serious accidents and safeguard everyone involved in the construction work.
Video Guard takes over after hours
At the end of working hours, Video Guard switches on automatically and takes over monitoring of the construction site. The mobile towers are each equipped with three cameras that monitor the defined area without blind spots. The mast is also equipped with infrared spotlights, which produce well-lit images even in complete darkness. The eye-catching signal colors of the towers draw the attention of both pedestrians and people with criminal intentions to the surveillance. However, if unauthorized persons enter the premises, the security personnel in the connected control center will ask them to leave the premises via the loudspeakers integrated in the towers. If they do not comply with the request, the relevant police headquarters will be alerted immediately. At the same time, the monitoring system protects bystanders: It does not detect passers-by walking past the construction site or adjacent areas that are not part of the monitored radius. The Video Guard system therefore meets the strict requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
