All construction sites require security, but when the project is a highly technical one in a sensitive environment, special expertise is required to ensure safety, prevent trespass or theft and to monitor site activity 24/7. ECS® International Security has a proven track record for designing and delivering security and intelligence solutions for complex sites, using a combination of tried and true methods and leading edge technology. For the ANU Colleges of Science Transformation Project, (http://facilities.anu.edu.au/PropertyandBuildings), ECS® is providing a Total Security Management Service to the construction manager, Hindmarsh Construction Australia Pty Ltd.

Three of the company’s senior technicians designed and constructed a Security Management System that incorporated Access Control, Intrusion Alarms, Photo IDs, Automatic Gates and Turnstiles on a single LAN platform together with both analog and IP CCTV for continuous surveillance of critical areas. In addition, ECS® is providing three highly trained security officers and two guard dogs to secure the site. The ANU Science Transformation Project involves several sub sites – Main Plant, Chemistry, Teacher’s Department and Wes Whitten – so a comprehensive and integrated approach was required.

“Construction sites are dynamic – ever changing. Part of our system involved wireless applications. This presented its own unique challenges on a site of this magnitude,” said ECS® International Security Systems Consultant, Richard Spinckler. “Our engineers had to allow for the ever changing geography of the project to maintain continuous connectivity between the sites. The design and equipment chosen had to be extremely robust to withstand the tortures of construction activity.”

ECS® has a 21 year history of providing security solutions for the construction industry, with other recent major projects including the Youth Detention Centre in (Mitchell, ACT), Vantage Apartments in (Bruce, ACT) and several ACT Schools Projects for Hindmarsh; the New Rouse Hill Shopping Town (NW Sydney), Jacksons Landing (Pyrmont, near Sydney CBD), The Attorney General’s Office, Alexander Maconochie Prison Centre in (Hume, ACT), Section 92 in (Civic, ACT) and Australian Health Management (Wollongong, NSW) for Bovis lend Lease; Kangara Waters (Belconnen, ACT) for St Hilliers; the National Film and Sound Archives; and works for the Department of Parliamentary Services at Parliament House.

From offices in Sydney, Canberra and Suva (Fiji), ECS® provide efficient and professional services for both works in progress and as part of long term security and access control. Their comprehensive services include Security, Occupational First Aid, Traffic Control and Concierge personnel; Dog Handlers; Armoured & Armed Cash-in-Transit; CCTV; Access Control; Building Automation; 24 Hour Monitoring; Site Telephone and Nurse Call Systems; Risk Management and Consulting; and Drugs and Explosives Screening at the workplace. All ECS® systems are designed to use best-available technology, with attention paid to details such as ensuring security of power supply, backups, constructability issues including integration into existing structures, and capacity for future upgrades and expansions.