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specifically designed to help protect the security of underground utility infrastructures by monitoring the position of covers at the manhole or vault access points .
LCM-6100 systems are part of the FiberStrike suite of fiber optic sensing systems made by Cleveland Electric Laboratories ( CEL ) in Tempe , AZ , which have been deployed both domestically and internationally .
FiberStrike sensing systems use light ( not electricity ) to sense position or movement , and system attributes address all of the criteria listed above .
An LCM-6100 system for monitoring manhole or vault covers consists of LCM-610 sensors , LCM- 2600 monitoring equipment at a remote location , optical fiber that links the sensors with the monitoring equipment , processing software , and a graphic user interface that is intuitive and easily used without requiring extensive training .
Protective mounting hardware also is available that adjusts to virtually any manhole wall configuration .
Feb 2017 Edition
of thousands of dollars each time they must be welded and then cut open again .
The ROI for a FiberStrike system may be estimated by comparing how many times a city has to go through the manhole welding process , or estimates of how much will be lost in the event of thefts , vandalism or terrorism , against the system installation cost .
Type SMF-28 fiber is commonly used in telecom systems , and if dark ( unused ) fiber of this type already passes through manhole / vault spaces to be protected and testing confirms it is suitable , installation costs may be reduced by using such fiber to link cover position sensors and the LCM- 2600 remote monitoring equipment .
Up to fifty LCM-610 sensors may be multiplexed on one fiber , making efficient use of available fiber and further reducing installation costs .
The FiberStrike system continuously monitors the position of manhole or vault covers and immediately reports a change at any cover ; the LCM-2600 equipment can simultaneously monitor hundreds of cover sensors if desired , with every cover individually and uniquely identified .
Alerts also can be transmitted to multiple authorized recipients via voicemail or text .
Individual identification allows exact location of any attempt to access a manhole or underground vault through a cover on which a sensor has been installed , and facilitates an immediate focused response by security or law enforcement personnel if appropriate .
John J . Martin , Physicist , Cleveland Electric Laboratories
Value When dignitaries or high-profile individuals visit cities , in many cases municipal crews will weld manholes shut , costing tens or even hundreds
For more information on LCM-6100 systems , as well as other FiberStrike intrusion sensing
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