This month’s focus
Security and
illegal mining
I
n 2017, it was estimated that South
Africa’s illegal mining trade was worth
R7-billion a year, and in 2015 the
South African Human Rights Commission
estimated that there were an active 30 000
illegal miners (known as zama-zamas) in
South Africa. surveillance imaging won’t cut it, as their
distances are too great, and the lighting
requirements are simply too much.
Instead, pan/tilt or fixed thermal cameras
will offer the most useful eyes, as they
operate just as effectively by day as by
night without the need for any lighting.
It has been reported in the news that
mining towns across South Africa are
under siege by illegal mining syndicates,
with zama-zamas trespassing at both
abandoned and functional mines. Not
only does illegal mining lead to lost
revenue and tax, but also lost employment
opportunities, capital expenditure,
exports and foreign exchange earnings.
Furthermore, illegal mining is extremely
dangerous and happens often under
desperate conditions without regard for
safety. So, what can be done to secure
mining properties in order to prevent
zama-zamas from gaining entry? These military-grade cameras have low
power requirements and multiple lens
options that allow surveillance operators
to view images in environments with little
or no lighting. Thermal camera technology
detects ‘heat signatures’ generated from
objects and people to create an image of
the environment.
It starts with getting the right visual
security components in place. With
the right mix of thermal cameras, 4K
visual cameras and an intelligent video
management system coupled with smart
analytics, it becomes much easier and
more cost-effective to physically secure
mining premises to detect and/or prevent
unauthorised access.
In security, the importance of visual
surveillance cannot be overemphasised.
In mining applications, its purpose is to
detect, prevent and deter zama-zamas, as
well as provide evidence that can be used
to catch and prosecute illicit miners.
Because mining properties usually have
such large perimeters, standard CCTV
48 AFRICAN MINING JULY - AUGUST 2019
Due to the large size of mining sites, the
cost of setting up fencing is a massive
barrier and it doesn’t always guarantee
keeping zama-zamas out. Instead,
technology has been used by smart security
manufacturers to create a unique perimeter
security solution to this persistent problem.
4K cameras are vital in mining surveillance,
as these cameras can capture higher quality
footage with the additional benefit of
up to four times more detail at full 25
frames per second (fps) than today’s top
full HD 1080p cameras and legacy 10MP
cameras. This allows operators to cover vast
distances and electronically zoom in to
areas of the picture without losing detail,
making these cameras ideal for mining area
surveillance and especially useful in post-
event playback.
However, 4K cameras can be coupled with
thermal cameras that help operators see
in total darkness and day light. Thermal
cameras can penetrate through dust,
smoke and any adverse weather conditions
with an effective detection range of up to
Illegal mining is costing mining companies and the country millions of dollars a year. Laurence Smith shares
some advice on what can be done.
Laurence Smith, executive at Graphic Image
Technologies.
1km, depending on the lens used. This is
especially useful in a mining environment
where dust and smoke are prevalent. By
using thermal cameras, the mine can also
reduce the overall number of cameras
required in a surveillance set up, given
their extensive range.
Mines must look towards 4K and
thermal camera solutions in order
to create a safe and secure mining
environment when facing the looming
threat of zama-zamas. With the right
visual security technology solution in
place, security operators will improve
their intruder capture rate while reducing
the overall risk to security personnel,
along with preventing the loss of revenue,
jobs and foreign exchange earnings.
Laurence Smith is an executive at Graphic
Image Technologies b
www.africanmining.co.za