DESCRIPTION OF THE “GOLDEN EYE” SYSTEM AND ITS MAIN PARTS
Remote Automated Operations Stations (AOS)
AOS structure:
- Telescope of Cassegrain optical system for receiving infrared evolution in middle range provided with IR receiver (MIR channel);
- Video camera for visual control (Video channel);
- Azimuth and angular spatial scanning mechanical device;
- Internal computer for control and data processing;
- electronic blocks for processing analog information and transferring it into digital format;
- modules for data transforming and transferring within GSM channel.
- Power supply module;
- GSM device for receiving and transmitting digital information;
- “ VAISALA” weather station;
- Radiation detector.
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Telescope IR-sensor
- The Cassegrain optical system functions in a wide range of wave-length (starting with LIR and ending with UV). In our case the telescope of Cassegrain optical system implements spatial selection of thermal sources in the middle infrared (MIR) range of 2,8 – 5,2 mkm. Telescopic system includes the objective and the sensor of visible range with the angular reaction field of 1° and provides protection against false alarms caused by solar radiation the most energetic part of which is present in MIR range. Software of the internal computer measures signal amplitude of the visible range sensor, takes the decision about identification of this signal as false target and cuts it off. It increases noise-suppressing features of the system and minimizes probability of false fire alarm caused by reflected sun spots.
- MIR – sensor is a cooled Pb-Se-resistor which has max sensitivity in MIR range. The most effective spectral range of IR evolution for fire detection (average temperature 800°C) is 2,8 - 5,2 mkm where there are the best transparency windows in the atmosphere and where the most target contrast is ensured.
Video channel secures fire detection at smoky phase and visual analysis of the required direction.
A high resolution 2.0 Megapixel USB 2.0 Camera is placed on the parallel optical axis of the IR Monitoring Station and rotates on azimuth along with it. It can be directed on azimuth at the command of CCS with the accuracy of 1°. Still image capture is provided across a high speed USB 2.0 digital interface.
camera 2.0 Mpix
Mechanical scanning device rotates the telescope on the azimuth (from 0° to 360°) and secures movement at spatial angle of about 7 angular min. The full scanning cycle is completed when the angle of 7° below sky line has been reached. The surveillance from a tower of 30-40 m enables to control territory on a spiral from the skyline to the insensitive dead zone which depends on the tower height. The scanning speed on azimuth is 1 rotation per 10 sec. Full scanning time of the territory under surveillance is about 5-6 min.
Internal Computer is located in the body of the remote Automated Operations Station (AOS) and is meant to receive signals from infrared sensor and to process, analyse and accumulate information from IR-sensor.
The Computer performs functions of general operation, controls mechanical scanning device, controls correct functioning of the AOS, receives and preprocesses the signals from the telescope, identifies false signals and cuts them off, secures criteria condition such as double confirmation of the effective signal by three rotations, measures signal amplitude of IR- sensor, stores and transmits to the CCS thermal maps of the territory under surveillance as well as camera images of the directions in question. In order to detect effective signals against the noise background, digital filtration is used which improves detection capability of the system.
Power supply module generates the necessary voltage values. AOS has been developed under consideration of low power consumption. Maximum power consumption is up to 90 W. Optional power supply can be either rechargeable battery with voltage of 24~27 V or combined wind-solar generator.
Facilities of the radio network for receiving and transmitting digital information include facilities of GSM operator. GSM operator defines the transmitting speed. Optional UHF link, LAN TCP/IP interface or satellite can be used as a communication subsystem.
Weather station of Finnish “Vaisala” brand can be integrated in the remote AOS.
“Vaisala” weather station
Vaisala” station comprises a group of weather sensors providing information about local temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, and rain. This weather data, in combination with the data from infrared sensor, is directed to the computer which collects and processes all the data according to commands from CCS.
Radiation detector can be placed on the remote AOS at customer’s option in order to control the level of background radiation and monitor the situation during forest fires.
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CENTRAL COMMAND STATION (CCS)
Central command station (CCS ) receives communication from the remote Automated Operations Stations (AOS) through the central communication system. All data from remote modules is directed to the central computer which is responsible for overall system control. The central computer is responsible for control of remote AOSs, as well as collecting, processing and recording the data received from remote modules, transmission of the alarm signal in case of fire detection and forecast of fire propagation. CCS comprises a PC with Windows OS, GSM modem, power supply source and emergency alarm device. CCS is operated with the software which has the following functions:
= operation of the GSM radio network for receiving and transmitting the data;
= diagnostics of accurate functioning of CCS units and those of the remote AOS;
= adjustment of parameters and operation regimes of each remote AOS;
= displaying of the digitized map of the area under surveillance;
= task-setting to determine the fire direction, displaying on the digital map the area which is to be checked and providing detailed information, namely: detection time, forest area description, meteorological data, approach to the fire location etc., as well as transmission of the emergency sound alarm;
= task-setting to triangulate the fire location according to bearings determined from towers;
= displaying thermal fields of the area under surveillance;
= imaging and recording of images in JPEG etc.
All the abovementioned functions are operated very easily by trained stuff with medium qualification.
