The AMG5600 series transmission solution and ruggedized AMG 9000 unmanaged Ethernet switches were supplied for the solution at the EirGrid East West Interconnector. The Interconnector helps ensure Ireland’s future electricity needs can be met and can also be used to export any excess energy that is produced in Ireland to the markets in Britain and vice versa.
The electronic security solution comprises an Integrated security management system with CCTV, including thermal imaging cameras, fully functional PTZ domes and static cameras interfaced to a Pulse Secure electrified fence. The solution also covers access control, audio video intercom and an intruder detection system.
Neal Smith, major projects manager at Reliance High-Tech – the systems integrator for the security solution – said all of the individual systems are connected to the Reliance High-Tech remote management facility to manage and monitor the entire system remotely.
“From the onset we wanted to implement a fibre optic based solution. AMG Systems was our choice both for termination of the fibre cables on both sites as well as for the transmission technology. Because of the geographical layout on both sites, the most appropriate system design is a point-to-point network topology using AMG 5600 for video and contact-closure transmission.”
The transmission system delivers a multitude of signals, from video only to video and audio, bi-directional data, audio and contact closure signals over multimode fibre back to the control rooms.
Smith continued: “There was also a requirement for Ethernet transmission and to this end we’re using ruggedized AMG 9000, unmanaged switches. The main reason for implementing AMG’s technology is that they deliver a proven solution in the design we wanted, using very robust transmission equipment capable of multi signal transmission. AMG’s equipment also has an extremely low failure rate and, significantly, there is zero interference from high voltage power lines going into the transmission solution.”
The East West Interconnector is considered part of Ireland’s national critical infrastructure. The project is co-sponsored by the European Union’s European Energy Programme for Recovery and is capable of carrying 500 megawatts of electricity – the equivalent of powering approximately 300,000 homes.
