Eye in the sky may target the high

[Rocker]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/chri...target-the-high

 

Eye in sky may target the high

 

By CHARLIE GATES - The Press Last updated 05:00 17/04/2009

 

Cannabis "factories" could be exposed by an aircraft with an infra-red camera over Christchurch.

 

The Christchurch City Council plans to use the eye in the sky this winter to create a thermal map of the city and use the information to offer people with poorly insulated homes advice on energy efficiency.

 

Christchurch drug squad officers hope to use the map to look for hot houses one of the tell-tale signs that lamps are being used in an attic for cannabis cultivation.

 

"If the council made that available for us, it would be a useful tool for us to consider," acting head of the Christchurch drug squad, Detective Sergeant Earle Borrell, said.

 

Indoor cannabis cultivation was increasing, Borrell said.

 

"Growing cannabis under lights has become common because they can produce high-quality material in controlled circumstances, with the advantage of having more discreet cultivation," he said.

 

Infra-red cameras mounted on helicopters are used by British police to spot cannabis factories.

 

The West Yorkshire police spotted more than 250 cannabis factories in the first six months of last year using the specially equipped helicopters.

 

The thermal map is part of a plan to slash Christchurch's $1.6 billion annual energy bill and cut energy use by every city resident by 9 per cent.

 

The council plans to make the thermal map public as soon as it is created. No decision has been made on whether the map will be published on the internet.

 

The $240,000 initiative will be funded by the council's sale of carbon credits to British Gas for $4 million in 2006.

 

Council corporate services manager Paul Anderson said the council would co-operate with the police if they wanted to use the map.

 

"That is not the primary objective of the project. The primary objective of residential thermography is to identify poorly insulated properties and offer assistance to householders," he said.

 

"We would co-operate fully with police if they wanted to use the images we take. I am not sure whether the police would be able to use them, but we would be very happy to co-operate with them."

 

The thermal map is part of a 10-year, $6.6m council plan to cut projected growth in energy use in Christchurch from 19.9 per cent between 2008 and 2018 to 0.04 per cent.

 

Author: Charlie Gates

Date: 17/04/09

Source: The Press

[luciddreaming]

SHit, well they're fucked....

GTFO! NOW PEOPLE!

Thing is, probably a lot of the houses will have heat signatures coming out if the place is badly insulated as they say.

[Stokes]

We've had those camera's in oz for awhile now, when i lived in central qld 4 times a year those helicopters where seen flying in a grid pattern over the state forests and across the suburbs.....they where followed by raids about 2 weeks later.

 

when i finally get my op up and running now that im about 600 k south i'll be very concious about ventilation and ducting.

 

just scored myself a sweet cooltube.....love it, even after running an 12 hour test it was just warm to the touch a good fan for the attached ducting is a must.

Edited April 22, 2009 by Stokes

[luciddreaming]

Oh we have the council fly over too, but they just take pictures of the houses, no IR (afaik ). Are you sure the raids weren't just outdoors?

[Stokes]

Nah mate they where indoors and outdoors, 5 mates got done. It was a very sad time for me as my mates didnt sell they just gave it to our circle. And we donated for nutes and such. 1 poor bugger got some jail time for repeat offences.Plus our local mc club (black uhlans) got hit very hard...ahhh memories from free smoke back payin.

 

After just a year of this typa action our local cop shop went from 25 or so fuzz to just over 300 of em, they built a damn "training centre" there. And since i worked in contruction back then i worked on their new cop shop...2.5 million dollers worth...even had a sweet padded cell.

 

Just imagine it for a bit hundreds of new recruits with brand new badges with power trips that would come down on ya for spiting in some dirt on a job site.

oh btw the towns called gladstone....and thank fuck i left that hole.

Edited April 24, 2009 by Stokes