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Introduction
A major U.S. airport required a more reliable detection solution for monitoring animal activity along perimeter fence areas. The airport had previously relied on motion and IR detection devices, but outdoor conditions such as vegetation growth, storms, and changing weather often caused false alarms.
To improve detection accuracy and reduce unnecessary alerts, the airport selected OPTEX REDSCAN LiDAR for a short-range perimeter application. With reliable outdoor performance, simple setup, and contact closure output, REDSCAN provided a practical solution for detecting activity in the field while helping security teams focus on genuine events.
The Site
The application is located along perimeter fence areas at a major airport facility. The REDSCAN sensors are used to support animal detection in outdoor areas where accurate awareness is important for airport operations and security response.
Due to the sensitive nature of airport security, the facility name and exact installation details have been omitted.
The Challenge
Before installing REDSCAN, the airport needed a more reliable way to understand what was happening in the field. The previous devices, described as motion detector / IR detector technology, were prone to false alarms caused by environmental movement.
Vegetation growth, storms, and other outdoor conditions could trigger unnecessary alerts, making it harder for security personnel to determine when actual activity was taking place.
The airport needed a detection solution that could provide a more accurate representation of activity along the perimeter while remaining suitable for outdoor conditions.
The Solution
OPTEX REDSCAN was selected for its weather resistance, short-range detection capability, and straightforward operation. For this application, the airport did not need a longer-range device. REDSCAN offered a simpler and more appropriately scaled solution for the defined perimeter detection area.
Within the airport’s security system, REDSCAN is used as a detection device. Once the detection area is configured, the sensor provides a contact closure output when activity is detected. The airport is not using the device as part of a complex camera or VMS integration; instead, REDSCAN serves as a reliable field detection sensor that triggers alerts based on actual activity.
The Outcome
Since the REDSCAN installation, the airport has seen a significant reduction in false alarms compared to the previous system.
According to the airport representative, the improvement was dramatic. On a scale where 10 represented frequent false alarms and 1 represented alerts only when real activity was occurring, the system improved from “a 10 to a 1.”
“It has absolutely cut down on false alarms from the old system. It went from really bad to fantastic.”
REDSCAN also demonstrated strong performance in harsh weather conditions. During one weather event, a REDSCAN sensor became encased in ice and continued to operate.
"We were astonished. We thought they had failed."
The airport representative noted that the device continued working in the field in approximately 30-degree weather while encased in roughly three-quarters of an inch of ice.
"I couldn't believe that it continued to work."
By reducing nuisance alarms and continuing to perform in challenging outdoor conditions, OPTEX REDSCAN helped the airport improve the reliability of its perimeter detection system while supporting more efficient security response.
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