CCTV Design
CCTV Camera Layout
Start with a plan!
It’s very beneficial to start with a floor pan of the areas you wish to provide your business or home CCTV coverage as this will help identify and outline the basic design requirements for your CCTV System and form as a useful record of your systems equipment.
‘Failing to Plan is Planing to Fail’
CCTV Camera Selection
The Purpose of Video Image?
There are many important factors to consider when selecting the right CCTV camera for the job, many inexperienced providers will make the mistake of selecting security cameras purely on price or resolution but this is a dangerous hole to fall into.
Now you have a basic plan of your CCTV Camera layout you need to confirm the purpose you require the recorded video image for as follows:
– Identification
– Recognition
– Observation
– Detection/Crowd Control
– Number Plate Recognition
CCTV Camera Location
Mounting Type & Location of CCTV Cameras
It’s important to consider features such as mounting and camera housings to ensure you have a suitable unit for the environment you are installing it in.
Security Cameras installed in trouble spots may require a vandal resistant housing with Tamper Alarms and anti-theft protection.
In extremely cold environments, a security camera with a durable design and inbuilt heater will have the ability to start up and operate despite the temperature.
Some indoor applications like industrial workshops, commercial kitchens or bars may need an IP rated housing to withstand damage from dust, moisture, vapours or physical knocks.
In mobile applications it’s also important to select equipment specifically designed to work in harsh environments and where there may be a high level of vibration.
– Wall/Ceiling/Pole Mount & Indoor/Outdoor housing IP Rating?
CCTV Camera Lens
Security Camera viewing area (Fixed/Variable Focus /PTZ)?
The size of the area you want to view and the use of the images will determine the lens you require.
An indoor office area with a general viewing requirement with a Full HD (1080p) camera you could utilise a wide angle lens of 2.8mm to provide good general coverage of this whole area.
NOTE: You must remember the wider the lens angel the smaller everything will appear in the image.
An entry area where a doorway that needs detailed images for identification purposes with a Full HD (1080p) camera with a Super Wide Dynamic Range feature could utilise a narrow 12mm lens providing a good close up view of anything appearing in the doorway.
CCTV Day/Night Operation
Starlight/IR Day-Night
Engineered with Milesight’s industry-leading Starlight Premium Technology, the newly-launched 2MP/3MP network security cameras can function in minimal light conditions reaching 0.002Lux(Color) or 0.001Lux(B/W), delivering clear videos in low illumination and near infrared light environments without any supplementary lighting. The Starlight Premium series aims to offer best-in-class light sensitivity, providing reliable round-the-clock video surveillance regardless of the lighting conditions and making darkness visible.
Up to 60m IR distance (Applicable for 7-22mm Lens only)
Equipped with powerful IR LEDs of latest generation, the Starlight Premium series can reach up to 60 meters long range IR distance with 7-22mm motorized lens which will greatly facilitate the nighttime surveillance for outdoor areas.
CCTV Unbalanced Lighting Conditions
140dB Wide Dynamic Range
Milesight never ends its efforts in optimizing the WDR effect for brightly lit or high contrast environments. Starlight Premium is the first line that incorporates Milesight’s latest 140dB WDR technology which is far more enhancement than the conventional 120dB WDR. This super WDR technology allows the security camera to record greater scene details with true color reproduction even where the intensity of illumination varies considerably, which is perfectly developed for extreme backlight and high contrast applications.
CCTV Advanced Image Requirements
HLC Highlight Compensation
Featured with HLC (Highlight Compensation), Starlight Premium series is capable to produce clearer image in a scene with strong light sources. HLC detects strong light spots such as car headlights and flashlights in the dark, then compensates for the area as needed to make it possible to see details that would normally be hidden.
CCTV Camera Image Sensor
Image Resolution
One of the most important questions is what image resolution is actually being captured and recorded.
Ultimately this is the size of the image or amount of information being recorded so this will dictate what you can and cannot see when played back.
It is essential to ensure the resolution captured meets with your requirements. We have established our own minimum recording resolution of Full HD (1080p) and Display resolution of UHD (4K) to ensure a very high image standard.
CCTV Camera Capacity
Will you need to add more cameras as time goes on?
Having a flexible and scalable surveillance system is important. The problem with traditional CCTV systems is that they are a closed circuit meaning that everything is hard-wired and difficult to scale.
Therefore it’s important to choose IP cameras which will connect over a wireless or hardwired IP network allowing you to easily grow and scale any installation as you need. Adding IP cameras to a network works in much the same way as adding a phone to a VOIP network – it’s simple and easy and there’s no wiring to change or update.
CCTV Remote Viewing
Accessibility of Live & Recorded Images?
Accessing and managing your CCTV system has never been easier, thanks to the advancements in Networking and Broadband technology.
You can easily have local access to your CCTV system over a Local Area Network using a combination of hardwired and WiFi solutions.
You can have remote access anywhere using a Wide Area Network or the internet utilising a number of different applications including Smartphone Apps, Web viewer or Video Management Software.
CCTV User Access
Who should have access to what?
A professional CCTV system is not a toy and shouldn’t be played with so you need to ensure only those that truly require access are provided it.
There are options for restricted access that would allow some users to view live images only and/or recorded images only but be restricted any access to change or control the system.
Considerable thought should go into this process to ensure the persons that require access have the access they require.
NOTE: All network access is username and password protected.
Digital CCTV Standards
Onvif Compliance
Onvif is an industry standard for IP based CCTV solutions to ensure a minimum standard of compatibility between products allowing you the flexibility to pick and choose optimal products for your needs without being locked in to a specific brand.
An ONVIF conformant video management software, for instance, will allow you to integrate ONVIF conformant devices from different hardware manufacturers.
Having ONVIF conforming products is like having an insurance policy that future-proofs your system for a more secure investment.
CCTV Recording Capacity
How long do you require recorded images to be stored?
In some commercial applications there are contractual and even statutory requirements dictating how long recorded information must be kept.
The minimum recommended by MSE is 30 days recording which is most often 60 with the option to upgrade to 90 or 120 days.
Fortunately the cost of storage has reduced dramatically over the years because of the increase in HDD, motion activated recording and improved compression formats. We utilise only the latest high performing H265 and H265+ compression codecs to ensure max storage form you HDDs.
When calculating storage you have to consider all of the above in conjunction with compression codec, Image rates, resolution and activity in the coverage area.
Recording Video or Audio
When is it an offence to use a surveillance device?
The Surveillance Devices Act 2016 restricts the installation, use and maintenance of surveillance devices and the communication of information or material from devices including; listening, optical, tracking and data surveillance devices. The Act prohibits the installation, use or maintenance of a listening device to overhear, record, monitor or listen to a private conversation. More About the Surveillance Devices Act 2016
Licensing
Who needs to be licensed?
If you wish, for fee or reward, to contract for the security work listed below, you must hold a Security Agents Licence with Consumer and Business Services.
All security systems work
Providing advice on security alarm or surveillance systems; and Hiring out or otherwise supplying security alarm or surveillance systems; and Installing or maintaining security alarm or surveillance systems.
Security systems work limited to providing sales and advice only
Providing advice on security alarm or surveillance systems; and Hiring out or otherwise supplying security alarm or surveillance systems.
