Video-surveillanceAre you planning in advance for
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Your choices of Video Surveillance systems, will determine, among other things, the amount of footage of video recordings and the time needed to play it back for home surveillance, when live monitoring is not possible or advisable.
What can be done and how can one manage and process the amount of Video-surveillance information that is produced?
As far as Home Surveillance equipment and installation are concerned the most economic solution might well be that using time proven VCR (Video Cassette Recorders) either run at normal speed or at a reduced frame rate for saving the amount of tape used and reducing the cassette change frequency.
See Video Recording
But as far as the Video-surveillance reviewer is concerned it may make a huge difference if only selected parts of the recordings have to be examined, vs. the alternative. Do you imagine how long will it take to play back all the long hours of video cassette tape, especially if multiple cameras are installed?
It is true that some Video-surveillance time may be gained by running the review at "fast-forward" speed but it is still quite considerable a commitment. Or one might decide to run only a cursory examination of the records if no signs of burglary or other attacks are detected in the protected space.
But this policy might overlook premonitory signs, like those of somebody just looking around, with no clear purpose. This aspect is worth some thought.
As we have presented elsewhere in this Website, there are two main processes for recovering the Video-surveillance information captured by cameras and for transmitting it as electronic signals to monitors or recorders. It all stems from the technology of signal processing adopted.
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One is the classic analog system that feeds monitors and videotape recorders. If this is employed, one can save the full length of footage, or one may record at a reduced frame-per-second rate, trading some less relevant information for increased tape cassette exploitation.
One can thus change cassette at longer intervals, and reviewing (play-back) time will also be reduced accordingly.
Videotapes, to be examined, have first to be rewound, and then to be played back from beginning to end. They can be run at higher than viewing speed (Fast-forward), when scanning for clues to interesting images. The time required is anyhow substantial.
Traditional Video-surveillance systems offer analog recording methods (by videotape), perfectly responding to customers' requirements, except that picture quality may suffer somewhat because of difficulties in keeping the heads clean. However in home surveillance systems, image quality may not be the first priority.
Additionally, in time, it may become increasingly difficult to find spare parts and adequate maintenance, because of inevitable obsolescence.
We recommend to consider this option for its merits, essentially the reduced cost and the user friendly simplified technology. It can be seen as an easier and more natural, progressive way to be introduced to Video-surveillance.
One may learn at one's pace, without being overwhelmed by too many technical difficulties all at once. By starting with do-it-yourself older technology one will be prepared in a shorter time to consider advanced and more complex solutions.
It is a fact, however, that the present trend for Video-surveillance leans towards digital image processing by computer.
For Video-surveillance even digital still cameras that take acceptable resolution images of the camera scene can be used, for recording on computer either on a time lapse or on motion detection basis. This may be a relatively inexpensive solution if suitable for certain situations.
The following advantages (vs. analog tape recording) can be listed for digital technology Video-surveillance:
- Higher quality images
- Controls with increased setting options available.
- Easier adjustment for compensating improper lighting conditions
- Recorded frame frequency can be increased upon movement detection
- Suitable for file compression resulting in reduced storage requirements
- Immediate accessibility per time range or per occurrence
- Reduced reviewing time
- Archiving capability with Digital Video Recording on writable compact disks
- Assured maintenance and spare parts for longer time.
The limitations, already hinted at above, are:
- More expensive components and systems
- Deeper technological understanding required
Conclusion
Before selecting the type of Video-surveillance system best suited to one's needs, one should imagine and take into account also the implications of technology upon the time required for playing back and reviewing the recordings.
It would be an unpleasant waste of resources to invest in a fine home security system and then simply ignore the collected information for lack of time.
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Video-surveillance needs planning at the design stage to be comfortable with the time required for playback review, reduced to acceptable proportions. See how...