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by Stephanie Neil, MA Editorial Staff Posted on Friday, November 03, 2006 3:10:08 PM   | Abstract: | Video surveillance system leverages existing low-bandwidth communication networks giving water utilities a low-cost way to monitor sites. |
Have you ever wondered -- as you filled your glass and took a big gulp -- if the water was safe to drink? It likely is, given the strict water quality standards enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But as consumers, we are acutely aware that there are new threats to our water supply in the form of bioterrorism. Following 9/11, water utilities have been under government pressure to secure remote facilities such as wells, pumping stations and storage towers, which typically have nothing to stop an intruder from entering and tampering with the water. It's a pricey proposition, however, to deploy a security team to monitor each site 24/7. It's even more costly for these public municipalities to purchase and install the physical and technological infrastructure required to keep intruders at bay. Indeed, there are closed-circuit TVs and Internet-enabled cameras. But these require high-bandwidth data networks. What water utilities need is a way to leverage their existing low-bandwidth communication network, which was put into place to support supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. SCADA software provides a method of interfacing with distributed data points. It polls remote controllers based on rudimentary parameters (is something on or off, for example) and can emit alerts. Now, thanks to start-up Longwatch Inc. (Norwood, MA), this same infrastructure solves the more daunting issue of security. [Click to continue] |