Hanwha Vision: AI Security to Stop Copper Theft at Utilities

Copper theft is one of the most disruptive and costly security challenges for utilities and oil and gas operators. According to The Insurance Information Institute, US utilities lose nearly 920 million dollars annually due to copper theft, while operators across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America report oil siphoning and copper stealing as the most common theft categories affecting substations and remote assets. Beyond material costs, these incidents cause power outages, equipment failures, environmental and safety hazards, and lasting brand damage.

What was announced

Hanwha Vision has outlined a comprehensive approach to combat copper theft at utility and oil and gas sites, combining AI-powered cameras, intelligent analytics, and secure-by-design architecture. The strategy shifts operators from reactive cleanup to proactive and predictive prevention, using visible deterrents, real-time detection, and centralized remote monitoring.

Key elements include AI-enabled thermal cameras for long-distance detection in complete darkness, multi-sensor and PTZ cameras such as the new T Series AI Ruggedized Camera, the TNB-9000 8K ultra-HD bullet camera, low-light cameras with onboard IR emitters reaching up to 650 feet, and Wisenet Wave VMS for unified oversight of distributed infrastructure.

Why this matters

For CIOs, CISOs, and security directors managing distributed critical infrastructure, copper theft is both an operational and a cybersecurity risk. Criminal groups increasingly attempt to disable cameras or exploit unsecured networks, meaning physical security and cyber resilience must be addressed together.

Hanwha Vision AI analytics accurately differentiate between people, vehicles, animals, trees, and environmental movements, drastically reducing false alarms — one of the biggest challenges in remote-site security. Combined with encrypted data transmission, secure boot, firmware integrity checks, and role-based access control, this approach protects assets while lowering the operational burden on security teams.

Technical details

• AI-powered thermal cameras: detect people, vehicles, and temperature variations from long distances, even in complete darkness.
• Multi-sensor and PTZ cameras: multi-directional panoramic and PTZ models replace several devices, requiring one VMS license and one cable for 360-degree coverage.
• T Series AI Ruggedized Camera: PTZ innovation built for demanding utility and oil and gas environments.
• TNB-9000 8K bullet camera: ultra-HD surveillance for large perimeters and fine detail capture.
• Low-light cameras: onboard IR emitters deliver clear imagery at distances of up to 650 feet.
• Wisenet Wave VMS: centralizes monitoring of remote locations spanning thousands of miles.
• Cybersecurity: encrypted transmission, secure boot, firmware integrity checks, role-based access control, and compliance with global security standards.

Softprom and Hanwha Vision

Softprom is the official distributor of Hanwha Vision. Our team supports integrators and end customers with product selection, project design, licensing, and deployment of AI-enabled video surveillance solutions for utilities, energy, and critical infrastructure.

This content was prepared as part of the Softprom DistriFlow project — an automated system for monitoring and adapting vendor news. Original source: original article.