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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the I-LIDS System...
How is the quality of the pictures? The quality of the pictures is dependent upon the specific camera that is used. The current device is capable of rendering 640x480 images that can clearly pick out the presence of a single aquatic hanging from a trailer or a license plate. The video is not full motion as it does have to be transmitted via wireless 802.11 technology and so there is some halting to the video. This however does not impact the ability to catch the launch details as shown in the example video. How long will the solar panel and batteries work? We have designed the power to be provided for peak weekend periods with most of the recharging to occur during less busy periods during weekdays. The solar panel is designed to charge for 6 minutes of run time for each hour of sunlight. The batteries will provide 16 hours of continuous power to the operating camera even without solar power replenishment. Does the landing have to be designed differently? It is important to communicate to boaters what you want them to do and where so that the I-LIDS can monitor those activities. Ideally there is an area pre launch where boaters park to unhook tie-downs that you can designate as a clean-off area and have the I-LIDS focused on that location. What's the process for getting approvals on our lakes boat launch? The boat launches are typically owned by municipalities, the DNR, or another government entity. You would need approval from the owner prior to installing the system. Having a Lake Association can facilitate this process. Educating owners as to the impact to tax revenues from properties becoming devalued from invasive infestation is an important step. Do we buy or lease the I-LIDS and monitoring? Environmental Sentry Protection, LLC will either sell or lease systems. It is probably most convenient to pay for the setup and then lease them for a season and allow us to manage the monitoring. Who's responsible for damage to the system? It depends on the contract with our company. We can offer insurance coverage on the units, but there is a higher cost associated with this. We have designed the units to be tamper proof with the lens and dome being inexpensive replaceable components if need be. How does one access the internal components? A special tool is used to access the locked top to slide out a sleeve containing the camera, electronics, etc. One tool would be provided to a contact at the lake in the event that there needed to be a servicing of a component that could be done remotely. We have been in development for 14 months on this system and are in the process of installing our first systems this summer. News on these systems will be published on the site as available. Is there a guarantee that this will stop invasives from coming to our lake? There is of course no ability to remotely stop a boater from backing into your lake even if he has invasives on his trailer. However we have seen that without an I-LIDS at the launch site, you can be guaranteed that most people do not read the AIS signage or take time to understand their responsibilities to clean their boats. Who is responsible for installation and removal? As part of the contract our company would install them, ensure it is operational, and remove it in the fall. What if there is no broadband service to our lake? A local resident could be equipped with a small system which will capture video's and transmit them over phone lines during non-peak times to the Internet server. Are the systems eligible for a grant? The Wisconsin DNR has an Aquatic Invasive Species Grant process twice a year (August 1 and February 1) where Lake Associations are encouraged to apply for 50% matching funding of educational/monitoring efforts to prevent the spread of AIS. We can help you in preparing this grant request.
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