How a "blind" technology keeps an eye on your premises

Why Radar?

you're wondering how - and why - radar made its way from the realms of military and aviator (for example) to the world of surveillance and security, the answer is simple: Radar detects moving objects and individuals and establishes their precise position, angle of movement, and speed without relying on visibility. That makes it a particularly valuable tool for detecting and tracking trespassers.

Goodbye lights at night

Radar doesn't depend on visibility to detect - or follow - objects and individuals. Darkness, fog and even rain won't trip it up. So it won't miss a threat the camera can't see. And for those times when you do need to see, Axis security radars can trigger a lamp, so you won't need costly, always-on lighting to keep your premises safe at night.

Minimise false alarms

With radar, motion detection is based on radio waves that "bounce back" from moving objects. So, effects caused by moving shadows and beams of light won't set off an alarm. And, you can set your radar to react only to objects at a certain distance, speed or type - such as people or vehicles. Which means no more alarms set off by spiders or by raindrops on lenses and less money wasted on false alarms.

Hello lower costs

In addition to savings on lighting and the costs of false alarms, radar technology is in itself a cost-effective to other "blind" technologies including PIR sensors and thermal cameras. Not least because it covers a large area and makes it possible to track objects without the need for staff intervention.

When is radar right for you?

Radar for surveillance purposes is perfect for wide-open, outdoor areas with moderate activity. For example, for big retail stores that keep stock outside in a fenced-off area or for industrial sites, storage facilities, and critical infrastructure with enclosed outdoor areas. It's particularly useful for detecting trespassers who've breached your perimeter and for detecting façade climbers and preventing intrusion from the roof.

Protection you can count on

Radar is a proven technology that's been doing important work in military, marine, and airline applications for ages. Now it's also being adapted for and used in surveillance.

Fewer false alarms

Radar is not sensitive to things that often trigger false alarms when using surveillance camera, like moving shadows, light beams, raindrops or insects.

Information cameras can't provide

Such as an objects precise position, speed and direction of movement as well as accurate object classification

Automatic PTZ tracking

Radar delivers exact coordinates, object type, speed and direction of objects, so PTZ cameras can track them without human involvement.

Flexible coverage

180-degree coverage with up to 60m (200ft) range for people and up to 85m (280ft) range for vehicles. Plus, near-distance coverage and vertical detection when security radar is appropriately mounted.

Detection with privacy

When visual video surveillance is not possible or permitted, security radars provide detection without compromising privacy

A cost-efficient complement to video surveillance

Security radars are reasonably priced, they don't rely on always-on lighting, false alarms are less likely and you'll need fewer guards thanks to remote monitoring and alarms

Easy integration

Security radars are based on an open platform, so they're easy to integrate with network cameras, audio and access control solutions as well as video management systems.

Why radar for surveillance?

By nature, radar isn't dependent on visibility. Darkness, fog, or even moderate rainfall doesn't impact its ability to detect motion, and it's not "fooled" into reacting erroneously to things like moving shadows, beams of light, or insects. So you get reliable detection, keep false alarms to a minimum, and reduce costs.

How does radar work?

First deployed in the 1940's for military purposes, radar technology accurately detects moving objects in low or no light. Since those early days, radar has proved useful in applications and industries as diverse weather forecasting, fishing, aviation, and automotive.

Radar uses a system similar to the one bats use to navigate in the dark. It works like this:

1. A radar device transmits signals consisting of electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency spectrum (also known as radio waves).
2. When a radio wave hits an object, it is reflected or scattered in many directions, with a small portion reflected back to the radar device.
3. A receiver in the radar device detects the reflected signal, which provides information including precise location and velocity of the object that was hit.
4. In the case of an Axis security radar, the information provided by the radar can be used to detect and classify the object, and automatically activate and steer a PTZ camera to track it. Or it can be used without a camera to avoid compromising privacy.

Who benefits from a radar?

Security radars play a role in protecting large outdoor areas or facades for a number of sectors including manufacturing, storage, critical infrastructure, shopping centres, factories, warehouses and schools.

How network surveillance protects your premises

In addition to security radars, we offer visual and thermal network cameras, network intercoms and audio equipment. They provide a cost-effective complement to traditional approaches to security and guard patrols, because they all support intelligent analytics that let you monitor your premises and reduce the need for constant staff presence. And, open industry standards make it easy to integrate with your other systems, or add to and upgrade your system.