New MicroTrack™ Buried Cable Sensor Provides Precise Intrusion Detection

It’s not often that a truly ground-breaking innovation comes along in the perimeter security industry. But with Southwest Microwave’s latest intrusion detection system—the INTREPID™ MicroTrack™ buried cable sensor—people are certainly stopping to take notice.  

As part of the proven INTREPID™ family of perimeter security products, MicroTrack provides detection of walking, running, jumping or crawling intruders while also pinpointing their location to within three meters (10 feet).

“Each MicroTrack system consists of a processor unit and two pairs of buried cables, capable of securing up to 400 meters. Each cable pair—one transmitter and one receiver—are buried six to eight inches underground,” explains MicroTrack product engineer Steve O’Brien. “An electromagnetic detection field is created around the cable pair that allows us to detect disturbances and precisely locate intruders.” Multiple MicroTrack systems can be networked to secure larger sites.

Covert, Accurate Detection
The buried cables of the MicroTrack system provide covert, terrain-following detection. Both potential intruders and innocent passers-by won’t even know a perimeter security system is in place, making the MicroTrack system less vulnerable to defeat and more aesthetically pleasing.

The terrain-following properties of the new MicroTrack system are extremely impressive. In addition to following ground contours and going around corners with ease, the MicroTrack system fully adapts to its environment and provides uniform detection along a site’s perimeter.

Best of all, the MicroTrack system can pinpoint intruders down to three meters (10 feet). This precise degree of target location ensures accurate, precise CCTV assessment and is unavailable in any other buried cable sensor.

Simple Configuration
Configuring the system is easy. Standard features include software-controlled detection zones and site-adaptive sensitivity leveling™, which allow the installer to tailor the system to an individual site’s requirements. Users can assign detection zones anywhere along the cable with the click of a button. MicroTrack features up to 102 zones per 200 meters (656 feet) of sensor cable and up to 204 zones per processor unit.

“You can fine-tune the sensitivity based on each site’s particular needs,” explains O’Brien. “To configure the system, you simply do a calibration walk and set a sensitivity threshold based on the site’s profile. When a target enters the detection field, the receiver cable picks up the altered signal in the disturbed field and transmits it to the processor. Then, the processor analyzes the phase and amplitude of the altered signal and compares this with the calibrated threshold.”
             
Revolutionary Features
The advanced MicroTrack system uses the pre-configured threshold information to detect legitimate targets and ignore harmless disturbances such as small animals crossing the detection field. The system’s high signal-to-noise ratio and precise target location offer excellent probability of detection and a negligible nuisance alarm rate.

In fact, the consistent reliability of MicroTrack is an important characteristic of the system. “We have performed thousands of hours of field research, application studies and testing over the last several years, as we do with all of our intrusion detection sensors,” says Mike Tutor, another of MicroTrack’s product engineers. “We are impressed with how repeatable and consistent target detection and location have been.”

“Also,” says Tutor, “the ability to calibrate the MicroTrack system at every point along the cable pair has eliminated the need for precise positioning of the cables upon burial. This makes installation simpler and less time-consuming.” 

MicroTrack features a built-in communications system that interfaces with INTREPID setup software, ensuring easy installation and reliable, cost-effective diagnostics. Flexible system monitoring and control is achieved via Southwest Microwave’s new Perimeter Security Manager software, which will also integrate a full range of perimeter security devices and CCTV equipment to provide comprehensive perimeter security management across one or multiple locations.

The MicroTrack system will be available for USA installation in early 2006. For more information, contact your Southwest Microwave representative.