Guatemala. IDIS video technology works on 24/7 monitoring of volcanic activity at Guatemala's Fuego Volcano.
This volcano, one of the most active and dangerous in the world, is now monitored day and night to give an early warning of impending eruptions. Emergency agencies, scientists and residents can view continuous live images, all captured by IDIS' award-winning 8MP 31x IR PTZ camera.
Even from more than nine miles away, the 8-megapixel model offers ultra-high-definition, full-day and night surveillance of the active caldera, showing sudden eruptions of gas and ash every 15 to 20 minutes.
In June 2018, nearly 200 people died at the Fuego Volcano during a series of explosions and pyroclastic flows that left little evacuation time. This was the volcano's most powerful eruption since 1974 and the deadliest since 1929, but it was far from an isolated incident. More than 60 major eruptions have been recorded in the last five centuries, and with 54,000 people living on the fertile farmland 10 km from the crater, the risk remains high.
Consequently, ultra-high-definition continuous video monitoring, along with sensor data, including seismology and gas detectors, now aims to protect vulnerable communities living around the volcano through early warning.
The H.265 IR DC-S3883HRX camera, which features an 8MP lens, 31x autofocus and optical zoom, infrared performance up to 200 m and a high-sensitivity auto-return positioning sensor, was installed by IDIS, its partner Epcom, and Guatemalan telecommunications specialist, Crelosa.
The IDIS PTZ also features a true wide dynamic range (WDR), allowing it to easily adapt to changing lighting conditions; Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) ensures constant coverage of scenes at a distance, so images of the volcano remain sharp and crisp; and the H.265 and smart codec require minimal bandwidth even for 4K live monitoring.
The chamber also remains stable despite the region's variable weather conditions, even under strong sunshine and when temperatures drop sharply at night. The water droplet cleaner is essential during the rainy season.
"We are honored that IDIS technology has been chosen for such an important application," says Joon Jun, President of Global Business at IDIS. "Our camera not only allows volcanologists and scientists to learn more about this more active volcano, but will also potentially help save lives."
