One of the world’s largest producers of platinum group metals, has worked with Johnson Controls to develop, pilot and implement Johnson Controls’ P2000 X-Ray software control integration. The solution will help the mining house to optimise and manage its X-Ray machines – a vital part of the security matrix it has put in place at its processing plant to combat losses due to theft.
Johnson Controls’ P2000 X-Ray software, built on its globally recognised P2000 access control system, interfaces to the mine’s full body scan X-Ray machines, ensuring compliance with Department of Health regulations, while making use of intelligent algorithms to minimise risk and improve process speed and efficiency. The software additionally integrates fully with their existing P2000 Access Control & CCTV security systems to improve control and pro-actively identify risk.
The mine’s losses to theft were considerable and as such, improving security and control measures, especially at its processing plant, was critical. They also needed to fully comply with the Department of Health safety regulations. The organisation’s X-Ray machines are a vital element of their integrated security system, with full body scans allowing them to quickly identify goods that people are trying to smuggle out of their facility. To improve the effectiveness and control of this process, they identified the need for a specialised integrated access control & CCTV solution for their body X-Ray machines.
This solution needed to meet the specific needs of their processing plant and ensure that they fully comply with all of the health regulations in terms of radiation dosages. It also needed to be intelligent enough to help them assess and minimise their risk. A final essential requirement was for the system to be flexible enough to interface with the existing components of our security system. For example, it needed to integrate with their access control, CCTV surveillance, IP intercoms and perimeter control solutions, to offer a holistic and fully informed view of incidents and allow their teams to pro-actively identify risk.
Johnson Controls, already a preferred systems integrator and partner for integrated security management for the mining house was able to meet these requirements, in designing a solution to fit their technical & operational requirements as well as consideration of their health and safety, and process requirements.
Says Marius Brits of Johnson Controls: “Johnson Controls offered the mining house a turnkey solution. We were able to write customised software that modelled the specifications of their technical engineering team, and were able to offer them in-house design engineering alternatives. In addition, the client could in future rely on local support of the software solution backed by global expertise. We were pleased to be able to work with the organisation on this project, which fitted our capability well. It allowed us to create a solution that filled a clear gap in the mining industry. It also allowed us to supply a first fully integrated, access control system, X-Ray control system & CCTV system for the industry.”
The P2000 X-Ray software was developed by Johnson Controls’ international and local technical teams in consultation with the client, along with input from subject matter and industry experts – over a period of 12 months.
Notes Brits: “The P2000 X-Ray software interfaces to the mine’s full body X-Ray machines and carries out full-body gender-specific stop-and-search scans, with radiation dosage-control record-keeping that is approved by the Department of Health. An intelligent algorithm ensures that risk is minimised by, among others, ensuring that the safe radiation dose per person is not exceeded and is evenly spaced over a defined period. In addition, through integration with the client’s security systems (e.g., CCTV, access control and video analytics) the software is able to target potential high risk incidents, groups or individuals.”
Ongoing testing of the software at the site throughout development was followed by testing and approval by the Department of Health. ‘Go-live’ of the system took place on 1 September 2014.
Says Brits: “The P2000 X-Ray solution is flexible, taking into consideration a number of variables, such as regulations pertaining to search and radiation dosage, the physical configuration of the client’s facilities, its processes and needs.”
The P2000 X-Ray software is modular, facilitating typical search process configurations, taking into account placement of the X-Ray machines, search cubicles and viewing stations for male and female viewers, supervisors and security staff doing physical searches.
Notes Brits: “Search processes are governed by regulations and internal policies. For instance, only a female viewer may assess a scan of a female employee and a male viewer is needed to assess a scan of a male employee. The P2000 X-Ray has a number of safeguards and intelligent alerts that facilitate this process, ensuring that the correct staff are present and that no-one is unnecessarily subjected to a scan. This increases the efficiency of the process, introducing greater rigor and limiting wastage.”
Concludes Brits: “We will continue to work with the Platinum producer to implement, refine and support the solution. The solution has been industrialised and launched to market, with the purchase of a single software license per X-Ray machine making it available to other sectors. These include prisons and hospitals, and government and military facilities globally. The software will continue to be upgraded and supported by Johnson Controls.”
