Top Three Considerations in Getting the Most Out of Your IP Surveillance Camera System

IP surveillance camera systems are here to stay. You know it. We know it. Criminals know it. The Police know it. As we mentioned in our last post, surveillance video can be supremely valuable to the police--- or it can be totally worthless. To summon more of the former, and less of the latter, police department after police department has taken to giving advice and offering assistance to citizens wishing to install cameras.  They all cite the same three factors that can make or break a video's forensic value.

• line of sight
• lighting
• maintenance

Line of sight

This morning I watched a news story of an escaped convict. Unfortunately he had been caught on surveillance video. No, I didn't mean fortunately. My use of the word unfortunately was intentional, because all I saw was a large floppy hat that reminded me of a scarecrow. How about it. How many times have we seen news accounts of an assault or robbery that includes video from a security camera and the anchorman pleads" if you've seen this person call the police." We look and all we see is a Yankees cap or a hood?

This is the reason we need a camera system, with every camera having its own place and its own purpose. Yes, the high-mounted or wide angle camera is a must in any bank, convenience store, or lobby since it covers a lot of geography, and allows for surveying the scene and observing a crime as it takes place, and perhaps an escape route or extenuating detail that can be of forensic value to the police.

However, as evidenced in those top-of-the-head shots, every security camera system also should include at least one camera mounted in a prime location to provide a close-up facial view.
As a rule of thumb, mounting a camera at  a 10 - 15 degree angle gives the best line of sight for facial identification. In a convenience store or bank this could be right behind the cash register or teller, or at the door to catch a fleeing shop-lifter. An added value of a low mounted camera is that it can deter crime just by its obviousness.

Lighting 

Quite often surveillance video will be too dark to be of much use. Sometimes it's because the camera was installed during the day when the business was open and well-lit, without giving much thought to the fact that burglaries and break-ins most often take place at night. Bright lighting should be employed at all times. Better yet, if the business can afford it, the best step to take is to install low light performance cameras that perform well in dark situations.

When using outdoor cameras, one should always consider the various light changes that occur in  the course of a day. Direct sunlight will "blind" the camera and reduce image sensor performance. The best position for mounting a camera, if possible, is with the sun shining from behind a slightly downward-angled camera.

Back-lighting can also an issue. Problems occur when the object of focus is in front of a window or brightly lit door. The camera will focus on the well-lit background while whatever is going on on front of the door or window will be dark and hard to identify. In the case of a window, curtains, plants, or posters will help, as will the most obvious, re-positioning the camera. Adding a camera with wide dynamic range to the system is  the best solution if one can afford to spend a little more.

Maintenance

Obviously maintenance involves making sure each and every camera is functioning at its best. This involves not only cleaning them but keeping then up to date with all the current software updates.
In the case of outdoor cameras, care should be taken that surrounding trees and bushes haven't grown to the extent that they are blocking the camera.

Indoor camera sites should be checked to make sure all lights are functioning and that the addition of any new equipment isn't blocking the light. Any changes since the camera was installed, such as a new paint color or the addition of floor tiles, can also make a room darker and require extra lighting.

If all this sounds familiar, it's because these are the same three points  Kintronics, has been hammering home in our newsletters and blogs for years and years. If you have questions about setting up your IP camera or anything IP  give us a call and speak to one of our sales engineers. 914-944-3425 or, if you prefer,  fill out an information request form