Context
Because of their activities, some industrial and civil sites are sensitive. Namely sites where there is a lot of people, such as airports, or sites where hazardous materials are stored or manufactured, like nuclear power plants or chemical plants.
Increasing terrorist threats over these sites have been leading authorities to strengthen their surveillance.
In order to fulfill their mission, surveillance teams of sensitive sites not only require fixed and PTZ cameras, but also handheld observation devices for their rounds. Since most sensitive sites do not exceed a three kilometers perimeter, surveillance teams must be equipped with medium range observation devices. These devices must also provide images whatever the light conditions, and shall be easy to use and lightweight as well.
Among the French Gendarmerie, there are special units assigned to airports, in charge of the protection of French and foreign VIPs when they are transiting through these airports. Their main duty is to perform surveillance outside the airport to secure airstrips and to prevent any trespassing in the airport.