Substation Video Monitoring
Centralized video surveillance of substations enhances security and grid operations
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The electric grid has been identified as a potential target for terrorists and substations represent an exposed location for these threats. Live video surveillance represents a viable deterrent for attacks on substations; however, video monitoring requires significantly more bandwidth than the low-bandwidth communications used to enable SCADA. To enable video monitoring capabilities, utilities need to consider high-bandwidth alternatives supported by Smart Grid technology, such as fiber or broadband wireless.
With a high-bandwidth communications network for video monitoring, supported by Smart Grid technology, centralized systems can record video surveillance and operators can see real-time video feeds from the substation. With PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) video cameras, operators can also remotely control video cameras to focus on any portion of the substation.This can be combined with substation management applications to allow operators to visually confirm commands such as throwing a line switch.
With a high-bandwidth, two-way communication network connecting transmission and/or distribution substations, utilities can deploy video monitoring equipment that provides:
- Live video feeds to provide real-time monitoring as well as video recording and archiving
- Centralized surveillance for security monitoring
- Visual confirmation and inspection of distribution equipment
From a communications perspective, not only do substations require significant bandwidth for live video feeds, they also require latency-sensitive and always-on connectivity to enable real-time monitoring.
The SecureMesh WAN products provide an optimal solution for video monitoring at substations. SecureMesh WAN mesh nodes are cost-effective outdoor wireless devices that provide local Ethernet connectivity that can easily connect to networked cameras and provide standard communication protocols such as TCP/IP to connect to video surveillance applications. Each SecureMesh WAN node provides long-range links (up to 10 miles apart) to connect substations with high-bandwidth, low-latency, and always-on wireless communications. In addition, every link is encrypted for security and the video feeds can be partitioned into virtual LANs and/or virtual private networks (VPNs) for additional security and QoS traffic guarantees.
Extending broadband Smart Grid technology to network substations for video monitoring results in better security and visual inspection of substation equipment.
