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Additional resources

Video Surveillance Systems:

What's new in video surveillance systems infrastructure?

Although traditional analog cameras are often used in security systems, the trend today is towards digital cameras in video surveillance systems--in part because they are better able to operate in diverse lighting conditions, and produce high-quality images requiring less storage space than videotapes. Also, digital camera users typically have more control setting options, plus DVRs (digital video recorders) enable users of video surveillance systems to quickly sort through the recorded images in search of a particular incident or time period.

Two types of security cameras are currently available for video surveillance systems: Fixed and pan-tiltzoom (PTZ). Fixed cameras are used for focusing on stationary, high-risk areas, such as entrances, exits, and cash registers. PTZ cameras are used for scanning an area of activity--a walkway or a gaming table, for example--and zooming in on a particular person or transaction if the situation requires.

What's new in cabling options for fixed and PTZ camera applications?

An increasingly popular choice today are high-performance composite cables with a unique design (see photo) that affixes the individual cables to a center spline, eliminating the need for an outer, overall jacket. These cables typically include an RG-59 coax for video, one-pair 8-AWG for power, and UTP or STP cables for control. The jacketless, all-in-one design speeds up and simplifies installation, eliminating multiple cable pulls. Installers need only to "peel" the individual cable away from the spline to be ready for termination.

There is also a trend towards using unshielded twisted pair (UTP) composite as a cost-saving alternative to coax for fixed or PTZ security camera applications (video, power and control). The UTP cables are smaller in size than coaxial cables, making cabling density less of a concern, and they are available in round and Siamese constructions and riser and plenum versions. The UTP cables are also easier to pull than coaxes, which speeds up installation. However, UTP cables generally require baluns to convert their signal impedance from 100 to 75 Ohms, so this additional cost and installation factor should be weighed. In considering the UTP option, be sure to look for cables that are Category 5e tested and verified.

What's new in cabling for secure access control?

Composite cables allow more cost-effective security installations, because they offer the installers of access control devices--including card readers, retina scanners and hand-scanning devices--a host of labor-saving features. In general, composite cables will decrease labor costs because they are easier and quicker to install than bundling and pulling individual cables.

The latest in access control composite cables feature the unique jacketless design referenced above, which offers an extra measure of installation ease and convenience. Without the overall jacket, each individual cable component is instantly identifiable and simply needs to be "peeled" away from the center spline to be ready for termination. With these cables, breakout versatility is assured since the individual cables can be connected to the junction box or they can be re-routed to the application site. To ensure that the correct cable can be identified for termination, look for color coding and printing of the application designation, such as lock power, card reader, door contact, and request exit (rex/spare).

Why is cable selection so important when installing video surveillance systems and access control systems?

In any kind of integrated communication system--whether it is a video surveillance system, computer networking, fire and life safety, commercial or residential security, or home automation--the long-term performance and reliability of the system is wholly reliant upon the infrastructure that supports it. Whether the installation is large or small, a well-engineered cabling system will deliver dividends to you and your customers by proving capable of supporting their applications and being resistant to downtime, data loss and system failure.

Customers who decide to implement mission-critical video surveillance systems and access control security systems deserve to receive a robust cabling infrastructure that will protect their investment and support their goal of providing security for people and assets. That's why selecting the right cabling is such an important part of the video surveillance systems and security system implementation process.--

Video Surveillance Systems with motion detection:

Success stories in video motion detection: video motion detectionin video surveillance systems can have a dramatic impact on a client's surveillance capabilities, as evidenced by these systems integrators' stories

One of the most widely used capabilities added to video surveillance systems in recent years is internal motion detection. A video surveillance system equipped with this feature can be programmed to trigger various activities when it senses a change in scene, indicating that an unauthorized individual may have entered a protected area. In response, the video surveillance systems may begin recording onto a digital video recorder or recording at a higher frame rate--or an alarm may be signaled at the monitoring station. In this article, we profile four video surveillance systems that have benefited from motion detection capability.

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM HELPS WAREHOUSE REDUCE SHRINKAGE BY 90 PERCENT

When a client's revenue relies heavily on merchandise shipped into or out of a warehouse, controlling theft by employees and suppliers who have access to that warehouse is critical. BCI Technologies of Grand Prairie, Texas, helped one of its retail clients reduce shrinkage by 90 percent in just over a year by upgrading its video surveillance system from one based on a VCR to a DVR-based system with motion detection capability.

"The client also has eliminated countless hours of reviewing video tapes looking for an incident," says BCI director of sales, Stewart Wessell.

The video surveillance system installation now has 64 cameras, including one very critical camera at the loading dock. Most of the video surveillance system cameras do not record unless motion is detected, in which case they record at seven frames per second. But the camera at the loading dock records continuously at one frame per second--and when motion is sensed, recording kicks up to the maximum rate of 30 frames per second. "Whenever the dock door goes up, it increases the frame rate," Wessell says.

The video surveillance system also records 30 seconds prior to when the motion is sensed at the full frame rate. The previous 30 seconds are saved in a buffer prior to being recorded.

BCI's client generally has about half an hour to an hour of footage from the loading dock to review each day. If any particular merchandise is missing, management can click on an image of the merchandise when it was still present and the video surveillance system's smart search function will locate any changes of scene involving that image, helping management discover when and how the merchandise disappeared.

Not long after the new video surveillance system was installed, the client dismissed some employees who were found pilfering. Since then, there have been no problems. "The video surveillance system acts as a deterrent," Wessell says. If the client ever did have to prosecute, however, the 30-frame-per-second images could be excellent evidence.

VIDEO MOTION DETECTION HELPS CARE STAFF MONITOR ELDERLY RESIDENTS

Retirement communities sometimes find themselves with residents who require an extra level of supervision. Residents with certain physical or mental conditions, for example, may try to leave the premises unauthorized and may not be well equipped to take care of themselves.

By using a video surveillance system with motion detection, Allied Security of Spokane, Wash., was able to help one of its retirement community clients balance the need to protect residents from unauthorized departure with the requirement to also provide for emergency exit.

As with many video surveillance systems, the system has multiple cameras, which can be viewed from a monitoring screen located at the administration desk. In normal operation, the monitoring screen at the retirement community operates in a split screen fashion, showing small images from multiple cameras simultaneously. But when motion is sensed on the camera at the exit door, the image from that camera immediately fills the screen and a buzzer sounds.

"Someone has to respond to the alarm," says Dan Murphy, security consultant for Allied Security.

To silence the buzzer, a staff member must walk over to the monitor and press a button. The set-up helps ensure that the staff member looks at the image on the monitor and can take immediate action in the event that a resident is making an unauthorized departure.

CLIENT BENEFITS FROM BETTER PICTURE QUALITY, MORE ARCHIVES

The reason some clients prefer video surveillance systems with motion detection is purely a matter of image quality. For example, a corporate client of E. Norman Security of Naperville, Ill., was delighted when it upgraded from a 32-camera system that recorded continuously onto two VCRs. The new video surveillance system uses two DVRs for archiving, recording only when motion is detected.

"The client is very happy because the picture quality on the DVR is much better," says E. Norman president, Paul Gulczynski. Because the VCRs in the old video surveillance system were recording continuously, it was difficult for the client to keep the heads clean, and picture quality often suffered, Gulczynski says, adding, "The digital quality is 10 times better."

Recorded images from the new video surveillance system are also less choppy. When motion is sensed, the new video surveillance system records at three frames or more per second. In contrast, the old video surveillance system, which continuously recorded the output from a 16-channel multiplexer to each VCR, captured fewer than two frames per second.

A final benefit of the new video surveillance system is the length of time archived. Despite the higher image quality, the DVR-based video surveillance system is able to record about 40 days of archives before it fills up and begins recording over the oldest material. With the old video surveillance system, each VCR filled a tape each day. The company maintained a 31-day tape library for each VCR, enabling it to keep only one month of archives.

Reviewing archives is also much easier for the client now. In the past, management would periodically review a 24-hour period of tape, which required about two hours. Now that the video surveillance system only records when motion is detected, that task can be accomplished in much less time.

"The client can also quickly locate any incidents that happen," Gulczynski says. When a truck driver backed into the client's building, causing substantial damage, then fled the scene, management was able to use remote viewing software to quickly identify the license plate number through recorded images of the event. Because the video surveillance system only records when it sees motion or a change of scene, those images were retrieved quickly.

SECURING A DIFFICULT AREA

A client of Video Master in New Lenox, Ill., faced a problem similar to that of the retirement community. The client was a railroad that wanted to secure one of its yards, but also needed to provide access to the yard to authorized individuals during certain hours.

"They leave the gate open during certain hours," says David Meeks, vice president for Video Master.

The solution was to begin recording and to sound an alarm at a guard booth when the client's video surveillance system sensed motion from the camera installed at the yard. "It beeps at the guard when motion is detected," Meeks says.

Meeks notes that because the camera is installed outdoors, it is sometimes tripped by wind blowing. But the guard can determine whether any action needs to be taken by surveying the scene, aided by the pan/tilt/zoom capability of the camera.

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