Compared to conventional analogue CCTV surveillance systems that have been existed in the market for a long time, IP-based CCTV surveillance systems may provide major benefits such as enhanced remote access, greater integration with other systems, higher picture quality, as well as scalability and scalability. However, for end-users to reap the full advantages of the solution, the design and execution of the solution must be meticulously planned and carried out from start to finish. This will guarantee that the system is adaptable to fast-changing technology in near future and that it is suitable for the particular requirements of the client.
This article is intended for designers and installers who are familiar with analogue surveillance systems but who do not have prior experience or specialised training in IP-based video systems. It explains the fundamental design concepts and critical considerations that are critical to implementing a successful network system.
When you come to TSE with your floor plan or master plan, or even without any blueprint, we still can help you with our expertise and CCTV software to complete the designing stage. We provide six crucial steps include guidance on choosing the most appropriate equipment, an assessment of the available technology, and assistance with the decisions that must be made along the process. In addition to bandwidth and network transmission, there are design concerns for IP CCTV that include storage, applications, and how the system will interact with video management software.
SERVICE SUMMARY
A balance must be struck between the wide range of equipment available and the fast speed of technological advancement when developing an IP-based video surveillance system to guarantee that the optimum solution is provided to the client.
The fundamental principles of developing IP-based systems are:
Selecting the right cameras
Selecting the suitable functions/features/technologies (AI, Smart AI, Vari-focal, Motorised, etc)
Assessing deeper requirements and warning possible issues (such as position, illumination, the field of view, etc)
A new architecture is used by the IP system after that, since the video is spread over a network for transmission, administration, and storage, among other functions. In addition, we regularly connect with manufacturers to ensure the community’s ideas (such as information from ONVIF) are listened to and researched, so the security industry can develop wonderfully.
This means that our system designers and our customers (installers, electricians, security enterprises, councils, etc) will need to learn new skills and look at applications from a different perspective if they are to take advantage of the technical advantages offered by the new technologies currently available on the market and maximise the return on investment for their clients.
By splitting down the decision-making process into seven separate, but interconnected steps, all potential situations are addressed and addressed.
STEP 1 – WE HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT NETWORK CAMERA SHAPES FOR YOUR FLOORPLAN/MASTERPLAN
Compared to their analogue counterparts, network cameras provide several advantages in a variety of applications. These include improved footage quality, flexibility, environment adaptability, Power Over Ethernet, analytics, and other specialised applications.
Although certain initial concerns regarding specification are different when choosing a network camera than when selecting an analogue camera, others are the same when selecting a network camera. Location, the field of view, range of vision, internal or exterior deployment, fixed or zoom lens capability, ambient illumination, as well as the many kinds of brackets and mountings (for installation), are all important considerations to make.
When choosing a camera, it is critical to have a thorough understanding of the installation location as well as the camera's intended use in order to guarantee that appropriate pictures are sent to the video management system. There are many different kinds of network cameras to select from, as well as there are many different types of analogue cameras with similar functionalities, and most manufacturers offer some models to meet a variety of requirements.
Generally speaking, there are 3 different popular questions of network cameras that we help you to answer:
Which shapes of network cameras should you choose and where to best locate them? - Fixed shaped network cameras have a fixed viewing direction and may be equipped with a fixed, varifocal, or zoom lens to provide a clear image. Most of the time, they are in the "eyeball", “glass dome”, "bullet" or “turret” style. Fixed dome cameras are small and compact, and they are housed in dome housing. In comparison to a conventional fixed camera, they are smaller and more discrete, and it is simple to determine which direction the camera is pointed. They also come with a lens that is either fixed lens, varifocal or motorised zoom.
360-degree cameras, often known as panoramic cameras or fisheye cameras, capture images with a field of view that extends around the whole camera. They are particularly well suited for retail applications in which a large area must be covered in a single view. Additionally, the cameras may be connected to point-of-sale terminals and utilised to monitor the movement of customers. PTZ dome network cameras also belong to this group, which has the ability to pan, tilt, and zoom, allowing them to cover a larger area while maintaining a high level of picture quality at close range.
Depending on the requirement and changes of the security demands, manufacturers have their R&D department keep researching and upgrading their products, including the designs of the product. So, TSE encourages you to always seek the latest technology and product information from us to ensure the product shape you choose fits the areas perfectly.
STEP 2 – WE HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT NETWORK CAMERA TYPES FOR YOUR FLOORPLAN/MASTERPLAN
Following the selection of the camera shapes, the options are narrowed down to the specific capabilities needed by each camera.
These include but not limited to:
Thermal network cameras - Pictures of an item, vehicle, or person are created depending on the heat emitted by the object, vehicle, or person. It is less sensitive to issues caused by light conditions, such as shadows, backlight, and darkness. A thermal camera is capable of delivering pictures at any time of day or night.
Required field of view – How big/far will your area/space/location need to be protected?
Lens – It depends on the homeowners/landlords/building stakeholders’ requirements of tracking targets.
Resolution – We have a wide range of cameras from 2MP/4MP/5MP/6MP/8MP/12MP with some fancy names like 2K/3K/4K or HD 1080P or 4K Ultra HD. Various elements affect the resolution of a CCTV camera, and the rule “the higher, the clearer” is not always right, which means it is essential for you to seek experts’ advice.
Indoor/outdoor/vandal resistant/Ruggedized – The upgraded AI range of security devise these days will help you easier to choose suitable cameras for each area, all you need is an expert with you on each feature to make sure you don’t overspend.
Housing/IP rating (IP55/IP66/IP67) – TSE experts will also prepare for you the best installation accessories options to protect you and your system.
Built-in infrared/day and night capabilities – Although these features are trending, we suggest you look for professional advice due to the difficult configuration
Wired/Wireless – We will help you to identify the condition of a hard-wired or wireless system, which provide you convenience and ease.
Power over Ethernet – We help you check whether your devices need the PoE capability, or you can be alright without it.
Audio compatibility – We know that although having a mic inside the camera so there are selected audio voices is a popular trend, there are some homeowners who don’t like this function, so TSE’s experts are here to serve you the best ones.
Integration with the VMS software provided – We will ensure all your devices are compatible with manufacturers’ software and the latest updates, which show our commitment to providing genuine products.
Any additional features that may be necessary (WDR, Video analytics, onboard storage) – As we mentioned, there are always updated technologies, so we will read, calculate and help you choose the best features with affordable prices for your budget.
As we mentioned above, the analogue system has been appearing in the security industry for a long time. And now, since network IP CCTV system is a hot trend, which we acquire lots of requests from customers of the system, we are proud to emphasize our competitive advantages of network IP system with our experienced networking engineers, who are ready to prevent all possible issues for you beforehand. That is why we introduce the next step, which more focuses on the complex floor plan/ master plan.
STEP 3 – WE HELP YOU CHECK AND OPTIMISE NETWORK TRANSMISSION
When building a networked-based IP security system, image transmission is a critical factor to take into account.
Ethernet switches, video recorders, fiber optics and wireless transmission are just a few of the transmission options that may be used to obtain the required outcomes depending on the application.
In order to keep up with technological advancements, we are witnessing the development of very efficient wireless IP based systems that provide a variety of advantages such as:
Up to 750 Mbps across a distance of 10 kilometres with extremely high dependability and ease of installation. Depending on the brand and type, a single wireless system may transmit up to four high-definition cameras at 25 frames per second.
Build bridges between buildings and establish data or security networks that connect them to and from distant places.
Low operating expenses and maintenance costs.
Besides that, you should be aware that wireless networks may be classified into three types:
Point-to-point (the most common form)
Point to multipoint, and
Mesh networks.
Video latency and bandwidth may be influenced by the distance between the device and the access point, and there can be a sensitivity to interference from other wireless technologies and systems, among other things. Before submitting a quote for video over wireless technology, it is usually advisable to do a thorough site inspection to ensure that the working environment is suitable for the technology.
STEP 4 – WE HELP YOU CHECK THE PLAN TO ENSURE SUITABLE NETWORK BANDWIDTH AND LIST ALL POSSIBLE ISSUES
A component of analogue-based systems is the transmission medium, which may be fibre, UTP, or COAX and is developed as a component of the CCTV system. IP systems transmit video data via a network-based infrastructure, as opposed to traditional systems.
Whilst it is uncommon for the security system designer to design a corporate network, it is becoming typical for end-users/landlords/homeowners/building owners to ask CCTV designers to collaborate with the IT team (if any) that the security system transitions seamlessly on the network. In many instances, this will be a specialised local area network (LAN). Fortunately, at TSE, we have internal teams of networking engineers and IT professionals, who are always ready for any cooperation requirement.
Each network design will be customised to meet the specific requirements of the users and the installation that has been specified. Aspects of network security design to consider include IP addressing and transport protocols as well as bandwidth utilisation, scalability, and network security.
It is critical to examine how bandwidth will be distributed throughout a system since this may have a significant effect on the throughput of end-user network traffic across the whole organisation. To some extent, it is reasonable to argue that the use of bandwidth has historically been a significant issue in delaying the widespread adoption of IP-based systems.
For example, if you have a smaller system with less than 10 cameras, a basic 100Mbit network switch may be utilised without causing too much of a disruption to the system's capacity. This is because a typical camera capable of providing high-quality pictures at fast frame rates will only use about 2 – 3 Mbit/s of the available network bandwidth.
Large systems may benefit from the use of a switch linked to either a gigabit backbone or an additional LAN to alleviate bandwidth problems. Other options include virtual private networks (VLANs) on a switched network, Quality of Service features provided by the switch, and event-based recording.
It is critical to ensure that network video may only be seen by authorised people when putting up an IP surveillance system that will perform well for you. Inherently sensitive information is included inside most applications; thus, choosing the proper security solutions (firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), and password protection) can alleviate worries about how an IP CCTV system could be hacked. Our experts will always remind you about the importance of this information whenever you come to us, regardless of your need for a CCTV system or technical support only.
STEP 5 – WE HELP YOU CALCULATE ENOUGH STORAGE AND SERVES FOR ANY RECORDING LENGTH REQUIREMENTS (BY SPECIFIC SOFTWARE/TOOLS)
When designing a network solution, it is crucial to decide the storage needs, the accessibility and retrieval of pictures and associated information as well as scalability, redundancy, and speed.
One of the most significant advantages of IP surveillance is the ability to utilise open storage solutions, and there are two primary methods for doing this. The most popular way is to have the storage device connected to the computer hosting the programme, such as in a Network Video Recorder (NVR). Network-attached storage (NAS) and storage area networks, on the other hand, are storage solutions in which the storage is independent of the server executing the application, as opposed to a traditional storage solution (SANs). Storage area networks (SANs) allow the designer to incorporate redundancy into the storage devices, allowing video data to be saved in multiple locations at the same time.
This setup may incorporate a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) set up which also enables failover when two servers operate with the same storage device (clustering issue) to minimise system downtime. When this issue happens, it may cause the failure of the whole system, which is difficult to troubleshoot later on.
Fortunately, most manufacturers provide system design tools that allow the system designer to select the appropriate amount of storage for the specific application being designed. This information is often analysed by software or tools to provide you with the exact numbers.
There are two types of recording: video and audio (continuous or event-based)
If the system is event-based, how many hours of events/movements are there each day?
The number of frames per second
Video resolution required
Video compression type
Image complexity
How long data must be stored and archived
STEP 6 – WE HELP YOU MANAGE VIDEO QUALITY AND INFORMATION
The video management system (VMS) is one of the most important components of IP surveillance systems since it is the component that the end-user client will interact with the most directly. There is a considerable difference between analogue and IP-based systems when it comes to the handling of video pictures and associated information. As a result of network-based systems, the user can obtain and view pictures in real-time.
The system, in addition to passively collecting and presenting pictures, also analyses circumstances and generates alerts, allowing security personnel to take the right action when necessary.
In addition to providing interaction with other systems, video management software (VMS) is feature-rich and controls video for live monitoring and recording as well as recording and archiving. In most cases, solutions vary from a single PC to sophisticated client/server-based software that manages hundreds of cameras.
This is an important feature since it enables users to handle video and other building controls, such as access control and badging systems, from a single application that is easily integrated with access control devices and other systems.
It is necessary to consider some variables when selecting a video management system, including the compatibility of the cameras that will be installed, available bandwidth, storage capacity, scalability, frame-rate control, and integration needs.
STEP 7 – WE ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LATEST GUIDANCE AND GUARANTEE YOU THE MOST SUITABLE DESIGN
Any discussion about IP CCTV would be incomplete if it did not include the ONVIF. ONVIF is an open industry forum that provides and promotes standardized interfaces for effective interoperability of IP-based physical security products. ONVIF was developed to serve as an open standard for manufacturers to use. It was developed to make it simpler to integrate video management software with third-party cameras and third-party software by eliminating the need for proprietary standards. Because it is a single protocol for everything, there is no need for the creation of special APIs to support it. Since it is an open standard, the end-user is not tied to a certain camera manufacturer.
During the design and planning stages of an IP CCTV system, our system designer must make certain that the equipment he selects is compatible with the ONVIF standard to guarantee compatibility between cameras and network recording devices.
There are many levels of compatibility with ONVIF, each of which dictates which functions may be incorporated into a system. Occasionally, a camera may provide a video feed while being unable to perform more sophisticated functions, such as video analytics, due to technical limitations. For complete functioning with your NVR or VMS, the only way to be sure is to verify with TSE professionals, who can ensure compatibility with the equipment we sell.
