Thermal security cameras for industrial sites
For oil and gas leases, industrial and laydown yards, construction sites and long fence lines in Alberta and BC.
Updated
The quick answer
A thermal camera sees heat instead of light, so it can pick out a person or vehicle in total darkness, through light fog, falling snow and smoke, and against busy backgrounds where a regular camera struggles. It’s a detection camera: it tells you something is there, at long range, but it doesn’t show faces or plates. Paired with a regular or PTZ camera and remote video monitoring through our monitoring partner, it gives early warning along fence lines, leases and yards, with fewer false alerts from headlights, shadows and blowing snow.
Thermal vs regular cameras
| Thermal camera | Regular camera with infrared | |
|---|---|---|
| What it sees | Heat given off by people, vehicles and animals | Light, including its own infrared at night |
| In the dark | Works in total darkness with no lighting | Works to the range of its infrared or the site lighting |
| Snow, fog and rain | Sees through light fog and snow better; heavy weather still cuts range | Infrared bounces off snow and rain, which can cause false alerts |
| Detection range | Long range for spotting a person or vehicle | Shorter range at night |
| Identifying people and plates | No: it shows a heat shape, not a face | Yes, at the right distance and lighting |
| Headlights and glare | Not blinded by them | Can be washed out |
| Typical job | Detecting people and vehicles along a perimeter | Seeing detail at doors, gates and close areas |
Where thermal fits
| Site | Why thermal helps |
|---|---|
| Oil and gas leases | Dark, open pads where lighting the whole site isn’t practical. |
| Industrial and laydown yards | Long fence lines and stacked equipment that throw shadows for regular cameras. |
| Long fence lines | Fewer cameras to cover the same distance, with detection zones along the fence. |
| Remote and off-grid sites | Many models use little enough power for a solar-powered camera mast, and alerts go out over cellular. |
| Construction sites | Open sites with no lights after the crews leave. |
How a thermal setup usually works
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Detect | Analytics on the thermal camera flag a person or vehicle crossing a line or entering a zone. |
| Verify | A regular or PTZ camera turns to the spot, and the alert goes to our monitoring partner with the video. |
| Respond | Depending on your plan: a talk-down warning through a speaker, lights, an alert to your staff, or a call to police by the monitoring partner. |
| Record | The clip is saved, so you can review what happened in the morning. |
What thermal cameras don’t do
Not what they’re for
- Identifying faces or reading plates (that’s the job of the regular camera beside it)
- Fever or medical screening: we don’t install them for that
- Seeing through walls or glass
- Hazardous-location claims: equipment near classified areas is planned with your safety team
What they’re good at
- Spotting people and vehicles in the dark at long range
- Fewer false alerts from lights, shadows and blowing snow
- Covering long fence lines with fewer cameras
- Early warning, so the regular camera and our monitoring partner can verify
Brands and built for winter
Several of the camera brands we install make thermal cameras, including Axis, Bosch and Hanwha Vision, and they record on video platforms such as Genetec and Milestone. Models, detection ranges and analytics differ, so we confirm what each one detects at your distances during design.
We choose housings and mounts rated for Alberta and BC winters, and size solar panels and batteries for the short days. Camera health alerts tell you if a camera goes offline, and you get admin access and full documentation on every project.
Long fence line or dark yard?
We’ll walk the site, map where people and vehicles come from, and plan detection and verification together.
Related: remote site securityoil and gas site securityindustrial yard gate accessmonitored fenceslicence plate recognition
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
We repair and take over cameras, access control, intercoms and alarms installed by other companies, when your current provider has fallen short.
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Thermal camera questions
What does a thermal security camera see?
Heat. People, vehicles and animals show up against a cooler background, even in total darkness.
Can a thermal camera identify a person?
No. It shows a heat shape, not a face. A regular or PTZ camera beside it shows the detail.
Do thermal cameras work in snow and fog?
Better than regular cameras in light fog and falling snow, though heavy weather still shortens their range.
Can thermal cameras see through glass or walls?
No. Glass blocks the heat a thermal camera sees, so they’re mounted outside or with a clear view.
Can you use thermal cameras to check people for fevers?
No. We install thermal cameras for security detection only, not for fever or medical screening.
Do thermal cameras work with video monitoring?
Yes. A thermal detection can send an alert with the video to our monitoring partner, who checks it and follows your plan.
Can thermal cameras run on solar power?
Many models can. We size the solar panels and batteries for Alberta and BC winters, with cellular for alerts and remote viewing.
Do you install thermal cameras in hazardous areas?
We don’t make hazardous-location claims. Equipment near classified areas is planned with your safety team.
Which thermal camera brands do you install?
Thermal models from Axis, Bosch and Hanwha Vision, recording on platforms such as Genetec and Milestone. We pick the model for your distances and site.
More answers: Alarm and fence questionsGlossary: fence intrusion detectionelectric security fence
Get a thermal camera quote
Tell us about the site, the fence line or area to cover, and whether there’s power and internet. We’ll follow up to book a site walk.
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