How to Choose a Video Surveillance System

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Choosing a Video Surveillance System

Choosing the right Video Surveillance System for your company can present some challenges. Many companies will invest in the wrong technology only to find out years later when they truly need it.

It is easy to get over sold or under protected when shopping for a video surveillance system.  This guide will provide valuable insight and save you time and money when it comes to choosing and implementing a video surveillance system that is right for you.

Let’s get started!

Video Surveillance System – Step 1:

First, you need to ask yourself why you need a video surveillance system.  This first step will help pave the way for defining what the ultimate solution will look like and how it will perform.  Here are some good reasons to consider when choosing a video surveillance system:

Good Reasons:

  • Increase Productivity
    • Generally, warehouse staff will be more productive when they know they are being watched
  • Work Place Safety
    • Video surveillance systems allow you to spot unsafe behavior and correct it immediately. This can be done in real time or by viewing recorded footage for any given time.
  • Tracking Activities in your facility
    • Because these video surveillance systems have the ability to trigger recordings based on motion or sensors, you can easily record traffic coming in and out a door.  Cameras can be configured to trigger recording based on input from a door sensor.
  • Security
    • Monitor activities on the perimeter of your facility 24 hours a day.  It’s like having a security guard that constantly patrols the premises. Built-In infra-red technology can identify people or vehicles in the darkest of environments.
  • Ability to view past events
    • The ability to review past footage is like time travel.  You can easily look back at footage and use the information to your benefit.
  • Keep my employees honest
    • There is nothing like a video surveillance system camera mounted in a visible location to deter people from doing something inappropriate or illegal.

If you already have a video surveillance system, then the question should be more like “What is wrong with the video surveillance system that you have?”  The answer in almost every case is that the video surveillance system does not provide the features your business needs today.  Maybe 10 years ago it was sufficient but unfortunately it falls behind in supporting what’s important now.  In either case, step two is the next logical path forward.

Video Surveillance System – Step 2:

The second step in the process is to build a detailed check list of requirements that your video surveillance system must support.  Make sure you include requirements for both short term and long term plans.  If you are replacing an existing video surveillance system, this process should be easier as you probably learned some lessons along the way.

Here are a few questions or requirements you may come up with:

  • Video surveillance system camera must be able to properly identify a person in low light or dark conditions at 50 feet.
  • Equipment needs to hold up to the lowest and highest temperature ranges in my city.
  • I need to read a parked vehicle’s license plate within 100 yards of my building.
  • I need the system to record 24/7/365.
  • I would like to keep at least 30 days of recorded footage.
  • I would like the video surveillance system to record when it senses motion at its highest resolution.
  • I need to view the video management system remotely from a PC or Smartphone.

Video Surveillance System – Step 3:

Now that you have your requirements well defined and documented, it is time to look at the available technologies and reach out to a good partner.  The biggest risk involved in any project is what you don’t know.  This is where a good integration partner like West Coast Cable can help you.  We will conduct a site survey and ask the tough questions you might not know to ask.  With 40+ years of combined experience, our team will design a video surveillance system to meet your present needs and account for future plans.

A video surveillance system is comprised of three main components; 1.) CCTV Cameras.  2.) NVR – Network Video Recorder.  3.) VMS – Video Management Software.

Let’s start with the camera technology.  In the interest of saving time, we are not going to discuss the older analog camera technology.  This technology is still available but just doesn’t make sense for use in a business setting.  There are currently five main types of Cameras available on the open market.

1.)  CCTV Cameras

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Bullet cameras are similar to traditional box cameras and are considered the more modern version.  These IP PoE cameras serve as a visible deterrent and they come in a variety of resolutions ranging from 2MP to 5MP and most incorporate built-in Infra-Red illumination for low light/no light situations.  For monitoring flexibility, many bullet camera models come with variable focal length zoom lenses.  These cameras can be used indoors or outdoors and are vandal resistant.

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Dome cameras, like most bullet cameras, are available in a variety of resolutions ranging from 2MP to 5MP and most incorporate built-in Infra-Red illumination for low light/no light situations.  These too are available in IP PoE technology and are a popular choice.  Dome cameras are generally much less obtrusive than box cameras and are most commonly used in indoor office environment installations as they are more aesthetically pleasing.

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Panoramic 360 degree “Fish-Eye” Cameras are similar to a Dome camera.  The main feature of a “Fish-Eye” camera is that with its 6MP lens it provides the ability to produce a 360 degree panoramic FOV while allowing the selections of multiple individual areas to be defined within the VMS.  This technology is most effective when you need to view an overall area but also view specific areas with the 360 degree FOV such as a workstation, desktop, door, etc.   This unit can be mounted in a ceiling or on a wall.

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PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras offer more monitoring options as they are mechanical devices.  They can tilt up and down and pan side to side, making it easy to cover a wider area and offer 360 degree viewing capability with only one camera.  PTZ cameras are controlled by either a Joy-Stick controller or through the VMS.  This camera is typically used outdoors in large areas that require the ability to pan around and zoom in on an image.

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2.)  NVR – Network Video Recorder

The next component in a surveillance system is the recording device.  If you have an older system, you probably know them more as DVRs.  This term is more common in home based systems or older analog systems.  The new methods for video capture and storage are referred to as Network Video Recorder (NVR).  NVRs can take the shape of an appliance that is mounted on a computer rack or one that is standalone.  It can also be a Windows PC or server computer that has been configured to handle this task.

The size of the NVR’s storage capability is determined by the amount of recording you are capturing and the resolution you are recording at.  If you’re only recording based on motion and the company only works one shift, then the amount of storage you need is reasonable.  However, if you are running three shifts in a high traffic environment, chances are you’ll need terabytes of storage.

3.) VMS – Video Management Software

The final component in this system is the Video Management Software (VMS).  The VMS is the user interface for controlling, viewing & configuring your system & devices.  It features a scalable Architecture for Client/Server Centralized Management, manual, Event-driven, and Scheduled Recording Mode, electronic Maps (Optional), streaming Media Management (Optional), multi-lingual User Interface, and remote PTZ Camera Control.

Video Surveillance System – Step 4:

The last and final step of this process is to choose a partner that will guide you through this entire process.  This partner must have the experience and capability to design your system, install it, and support it for as long as you need them to.  Here are a few things to think about when choosing a partner:

CAPABILITIES

To start, examine the capabilities of the provider you are considering.

  • A reliable provider offers a wide range of solutions and services for your business.
  • Selecting a vendor with limited capabilities could prove to be a costly decision when the needs of your project exceed the priorities or expertise of your supplier.
  • Having to recruit multiple suppliers, especially for smaller projects, will delay your schedule, cost more in the long term, and is likely to create scheduling difficulties.
  • At the very least, find a supplier who is able and willing to offer customized solution if necessary.
  • One last capability worth holding out for is the availability of comprehensive engineering services and technical support.

QUALITY

Obviously, quality is extremely important to the success of any project.  But how exactly can you determine the quality of work and products offered by a vendor before they complete a job.  There are two ways to go about this process.  First, consider what industry, precision, and operational standards your perspective video surveillance  partner is certified in.  Companies with little to no certifications have not taken the time nor invested the money required to ensure their staff is well trained and can consistently produce quality work.  Second, consider the documentation provided by your perspective supplier.   The Scope of Work provided by a legitimate quality supplier is highly detailed, references industry standards in the work to be performed, and is clear on what deliverables are included.  A detailed scope of work can be used to grade the quality of work performed with no gray areas left to dispute or challenge.

COST

After quality, cost is the next crucial factor to consider when choosing a cabling and infrastructure partner. Naturally, your project cost should be affordable and accessible for your budget but it also needs to make sense.  The old adage, “If it is too good to be true, it’s probably not,” is something to consider.   A vendor that significantly underbids a project not only endangers your success but at times will be forced to compromise the quality of their work, which ultimately puts you and your project at great risk.

TURN-KEY SUPPLIER

The last, and quite possibly most important, characteristic to seek out in a video surveillance partner is the ability to deliver a turnkey solution.  There are hundreds of people that will sell you a camera system but not offer services that accompany a system.  Services like installation, cabling, electrical, and technical support.  It cannot be emphasized enough that whatever the size, complexity, or specialty of your project, it is absolutely necessary to choose a supplier that has all of the ability that you need now as well as what you might need for future projects.  This way, your video surveillance requirements can be centralized around one source, simplifying administration, saving on costs, and making your timetable more compact.

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