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    1. Cannabis Security

    SightLogix protects the grow sites for Aurora Cannabis

    Oct. 28, 2021
    As Aurora’s grow facilities were developing, their need for robust physical security over expansive operations became paramount
    Courtesy of Aurora Cannabis
    Given Aurora’s perimeter security needs at the site, SightLogix smart thermal cameras offered the most robust solution to meet all the requirements, under all conditions, all the time.
    Given Aurora’s perimeter security needs at the site, SightLogix smart thermal cameras offered the most robust solution to meet all the requirements, under all conditions, all the time.

    Aurora Cannabis is a pioneer in global cannabis, serving 13 markets internationally. They have created a diverse portfolio in both the consumer and medical markets which have increased access to safe, high-quality cannabis worldwide.

    As Aurora’s grow facilities were developing, their need for robust physical security over expansive operations became paramount. Vandalism, theft of plants, and destruction of property can severely impact business operations.

    Given the unique characteristics that are part of cannabis grow operations – large applications, often outdoors, where lighting and conditions are difficult to control – Aurora turned to SightLogix to help solve their cannabis security challenges.
    Courtesy of Aurora Cannabis
    Given Aurora’s perimeter security needs at the site, SightLogix smart thermal cameras offered the most robust solution to meet all the requirements, under all conditions, all the time.
    Given Aurora’s perimeter security needs at the site, SightLogix smart thermal cameras offered the most robust solution to meet all the requirements, under all conditions, all the time.

    As Aurora was beginning to set up for an outdoor grow site, they needed to address their perimeter security as part of their licensing requirements. Health Canada, the governing Canadian body for cannabis, has many regulations for grow sites. According to one of their requirements, cannabis sites must be able to detect and verify human intrusion in all weather conditions with 100% coverage, 100% of the time.

    In addition, as part of compliance, all alarms are required to be cataloged and investigated, so maintaining low false alarms was key to all stakeholders.

    Given Aurora’s perimeter security needs at the site, SightLogix smart thermal cameras offered the most robust solution to meet all the requirements, under all conditions, all the time.

    Implementing The Right Technologies

    The SightLogix team was able to work directly with Aurora’s Sr. Director of Corporate Security, Mike Soberal, along with Aurora’s integrator to understand their requirements. Together, they developed a complete solution for perimeter security to protect the site from intruders and meet Health Canada’s requirements.

    Utilizing the SightLogix SightSurvey tool, they were able to create a detailed perimeter design that selected the optimal lenses, displayed intruder detection ranges along the perimeter, ensured the absence of blind spots, and created a blanket of automated protection across the site.

    The SightLogix cameras selected for the Aurora application were SightSensor HDs, smart detection cameras that include both thermal and visible imagers. They also employ Dual-Sensor Analytics (DSA) to enhance detection performance under difficult outdoor conditions. DSA detects targets from both thermal and visible sensors simultaneously, allowing Aurora to reduce nuisance alerts and increase intruder detection reliability.

    Once the SightLogix system was installed, Aurora was able to meet all their outdoor intrusion detection requirements at the grow site.  These include:

    • An ability to detect intruders at all areas of the perimeter – inside and outside the fence line
    • Reliable intruder detection 24/7 in the presence of wind, snow, fog and complete darkness
    • With SightLogix’s Dual Sensor Analytics, they were able to filter out the movement of small animals, blowing debris, and other false alarm causes
    • Ease of integration between SightSensors and Aurora’s VMS system
    • Long-range detection that reduced devices, infrastructure, and bandwidth otherwise required by less capable solutions.
    Mike Soberal, Aurora’s Senior Director, Corporate Security
    Mike Soberal, Aurora’s Senior Director, Corporate Security
    “After an extensive search for a solution for our unique perimeter security needs,” said Mike Soberal, Aurora’s Senior Director, Corporate Security, “SightLogix not only provided an all-in-one resolution, it came at a cost-effective price and the support during implementation and since has been second to none.”

    Properly securing any outdoor asset from unauthorized intrusions starts at the perimeter, and cannabis facilities are no different. You need to know – in real-time – the instant an intruder enters anywhere along the perimeter so you can intervene and stop the event in the act.

    SightSensor cameras are designed for security applications where detection really matters. These are the reasons cannabis sites across the world have turned to SightLogix smart thermal cameras to address outdoor security challenges, including:

    • Our system’s unmatched video analytics detection performance, which won’t miss intruders or trigger excess nuisance alarms
    • The power of our system to provide early warning of intruders over large areas perimeters
    • Dual-video thermal and visible systems that provide a layered solution you can trust 24/365
    • Built-in stabilization ensuring reliable detection in the presence of wind or vibrations
    • Operating in complete darkness without expensive lighting and infrastructures
    (Image courtesy Little Ivan/bigstockphoto.com)
    All told, 36 states have passed laws permitting the use of medicinal marijuana and at least 18 have legalized recreational cannabis use thus far. While many see this as an opportunity to cash in on a fast-growing industry, the reality is that there are still significant barriers to entry for those that want to grow and sell cannabis.
    ID 3771803 © Donald Sawvel | Dreamstime.com
    Highlights from the ongoing SecurityInfoWatch.com cannabis security regulations series include Alaska, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania
    Courtesy of Getty Images -- Credit: Ingo Dörenberg
    In March 2019, the state became the first in the nation to license cannabis consumption sites.
    Courtesy of Getty Images -- CasarsaGuru
    The cannabis industry is in many ways like the pharmaceutical and food industries, and hybrid strains of plants and the specific recipes used to create edibles or vape cartridges are all valuable to competitors, thus rising a corporate espionage threat.