Wireless video transmission technologies are meeting the demands of security needs in environments which were once off limits while opening new avenues of opportunities for integrators.

Skilled in understanding the needs of clients in industrial and harsh environments, Data Consultants Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., provides the technology know-how to clients in the Great Lakes region of the U.S.

“We work with companies, way up north, whose work takes place in very cold and icy climates,” explained Josh Bylsma, physical security consultant for Data Consultants. For these companies, he said, there are situations which need surveillance by technology which can take the extremes. Data Consultants met this challenge with a phase-in approach for a ferry company located along the U.S. and Canadian border. “The customer had a unique situation with his ferry operation that needed surveillance for several reasons including monitoring operations and recordkeeping.”

The installation took place at Champions Auto Ferry which serves Harsens Island, a remote town with less than 2,000 in population located 25 miles northeast of downtown Detroit. “Champions Ferry provides transportation to and from Harsens Island across the St. Clair River, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The only way to get to Harsens Island from mainland Michigan is Champions Ferry, who have been providing this service since 1937,” said Bylsma. The ferry owner, David Bryson operates this service during the harsh winters through icy water conditions.

The weather provides a juxtaposition of scenery and concerns. Each summer, Harsens Island is transformed into a vibrant vacation destination with bustling shops, bed and breakfast hotels and restaurants attracting thousands of tourists as well as boating and outdoor enthusiasts. During the winter, the island all but shuts down, save for essential businesses and stores that remain open for the island’s year-round residents.

“Champions has been providing ferry service to island residents and visitors since 1937 when my grandfather first started the business,” said David Bryson. “Even the harsh winters and icy waters don’t stop us from operating.”

To better monitor the number of cars being transported on the ferries, and to ensure a safe and relaxing environment for passengers, the company sought a video surveillance solution that would record transactions and activities and serve as a reliable backup if incidents needed further examination or investigation.