Using CCTV Design Tools for CCTV Design
Installing a video surveillance system, you need to understand what it is that the system is intended for. That may seem obvious but there are 4 core definitions of camera application
1. Observe the what is happening in an area
2. Detect the presence of people in a scene
3. Recognise a person you know
4. Detect the presence of people in a scene
Often you may actually want a couple of of the above in the same location and might be thinking that a single camera will be able to cover your requirements. Around 90% of applications you will require at least 2 surveillance cameras unless you plan to be some of those pictures you see in the news of a pixilated person, that you have zero hope of recognizing.
Designing first with a 3D CAD helps to test the scene to determine the right camera resolution, lens and location to give the desired results. This will save you relocating or replacing cameras later on.
The following video shows us how to import a site map into the 3D CAD and then place cameras on it. Even before we have created any 3D walls it is going to give an indication of the camera coverage.
Part 2 below shows how to determine the above 4 criteria based on the colored regions in the lens view area. So for ID quality of an unknown person we need to work in the reddish area. Inside the blue region you would only be able to detect the position of a person in your scene but not really know who they are along with what they are doing. It also shows how we create the three dimensional images of walls along with other structures.
The final part takes us through the comparing of different megapixel camera resolutions and what happens to the picture when you digitally zoom in. It isn’t going to be what you see on CSI shows but rather divide the resoultion by 4 every time you double the zoom.
For anyone readers who really want to understand much more about how to design a CCTV system that gives great images, take a look at CCTVdesign.com.au, where you will also find a large amount of data about licensing, installation tips and legislations.
Tim offers excellent suggestions about selecting a CCTV design tool. He has been in the security industry since 1988. This article, Using CCTV Design Tools for CCTV Design is released under a creative commons attribution license.