Design Stages of CCTV System

It’s unfortunate that many of the CCTV systems in use, are so badly designed, configured and installed, to render them only marginally better than a complete waste of money

The truth is that most CCTV cameras are just not properly set up for their intended purpose, and that’s the main reason to understand the Operational Objectives, before planning the system.

In the context of Security, there are essentially four main steps of achieving an efficient approach when applying a design; but it is still worth remembering that in most situations, the general effectiveness of CCTV increases when it is used as part of an overall strategy, involving various other complimentary techniques in the likes of Lighting, Access Control, Intrusion detection and properly configured analytics

What are the four main stages?

1. The Crime Audit -  previous incidents helps to ascertain the Patten
2. The Risk Assessment – what are the vantage points/blind spots
3. Developing a CCTV System Profile – which camera and why, recording parameters
4. Developing a CCTV / IP Video System Design – Increase efficiency of your security system

What is NVR (Network Video Recorder)?

As digital video recording capabilities improve, the systems that control cameras and store video have lagged behind. Fortunately, new hardware solutions designed specifically for the latest generation of powerful IP cameras help organizations stream, store, manage, control, search and archive video. They’re called Network Video Recorders or NVRs. These systems are designed to connect dozens of cameras while providing centralized access and management both locally and via the Internet.

New, user-friendly software interfaces make the systems easy to install, configure and operate with a simple Web browser. Now users can centrally and/or remotely monitor and record from cameras that reside in locations all over the world. Live video streams and stored video are accessible via desktop, PDA or mobile phone. This White paper describes the new opportunities available to organizations that look forward to deploy NVRs, the technology involved, and the features typical in modern NVR solutions and the key differences between the NVR and the DVR.

What is an NVR?

A Network Video Recorder (NVR) is a centralized, networked recorder solution that connects multiple IP cameras simultaneously. It’s essentially a networked server and storage solution that’s designed specifically for network video applications and IP cameras (although analog cameras can be included). The technology uses open IP standards, so connectivity, compatibility and flexibility are easy. These are IP-connected devices that aggregate IP cameras. NVR’s allow you to view, control, and record video from all your cameras via one centralized interface. The interface is Web connected, so you can view, manipulate and manage the video from any IP connected device, including desktops, wireless PDAs, cell phones and so forth.

What will I do after 10 years?

I am still not sure what should I do after 10 years.  But I am interested in farming and I believe I should look at this option.  In this case, Vertical Farming will be a good idea!

The concept of city based vertical farms, with hydroponically-fed food being grown in multi-storey buildings. These offer the potential to dramatically increase farm yield and reduce environmental degradation.

For this I will be requiring expertise in a range of scientific disciplines, engineering and commerce.

Any of you have better suggestion for me?

How Will IP Camera Standards Impact Video Surveillance?

Recently I found an interesting article by John Voinovich and thought of putting it here is a good idea.

Over the next 6 months, more than a dozen manufacturers are likely to announce production support for ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum; http://www.onvif.org ) or PSIA (Physical Security Interoperability Alliance; http://www.psialliance.org ) IP camera specifications. While the practical impact will take longer, this is the first stage of interoperability specifications being used in practice.

This impending shift raises an important question: How will IP Camera Standards Impact Video Surveillance?

As interoperability increases, end users of video surveillance will definitely benefit from decreased lock-in, lower support problems and lower cost product options (though how much and how soon still needs to be seen).

There are also some more controversial changes that may occur:

• Expansion of low cost IP cameras
• Lowering of IP video software prices
• Weakening of manufacturers who sell packages of cameras and recorders
• Diminishing competitive advantage of IT integrators over security integrators decrease
• Weakening of Analog products

[Note: These points are not my conclusion or projections. These are potential developments that are offered for discussion.]

Lower Priced IP Cameras

Today, it is difficult for IP camera manufacturers to gain support from many IP video software providers. This provides pricing power for the largest IP camera manufacturers (e.g., Axis, Sony, Panasonic) who are broadly supported. Expansion of IP camera standards would reduce and potentially eliminate this advantage.

Lower Priced IP Video Software

The larger IP video software providers (e.g., Milestone, OnSSI, Genetec) benefit from significantly higher IP camera support than smaller providers. For the smaller software companies, adding in dozens of IP cameras can be cost prohibitive. Camera standards could allow smaller providers to catch up on IP camera support. Moreover, it could allow some software providers to offer very cheap or free support for IP cameras that use the IP camera ’standards’.

Manufacturers Selling Packages Weaken

Many manufacturers sell bundles of their own cameras and video management systems. Package manufacturers emphasize that their package work better than the proprietary integrations of third party IP cameras and software. IP camera standards would diminish that advantage as greater interoperability and higher assurance of compatibility would exist for non-packaged providers.

IT Integrators Lose Advantage over Security Integrators

The complexity of integrating and troubleshooting proprietary IP camera – IP video software interfaces requires higher IT skills. This has made many traditional security integrators reluctant or disadvantaged at deploying IP video systems. IP camera interoperability could help reduce the need for IT expertise as systems become more ‘plug n play’.

Analog Products Become Less Attractive

As prices decrease for IP products and become simpler to deploy, the resulting impact could reduce the motivation to stay with and use traditional analog systems.

Chaperone service for women on visits

Chaperone service for women on visits

Loveday Morris *

Last Updated: July 12. 2009 9:19PM UAE / July 12. 2009 5:19PM GMT

A new chaperone service, the first of its kind in the region, will enable women visiting the country to book a female “friend” to accompany them on a shopping trip or to dinner. May Russell, a former British police officer, and Shaik Hamdan, an Abu Dhabi-based businessman, plan to launch the company Exclusively Yours, run “by women for women”, at the end of September. Ms Russell, who runs a similar service in the UK, sees the Emirates as an ideal market for the chaperone service, with an increasing number of women travelling to the country either alone, or with their spouse on a business trip. “When you travel you often see single women in hotel lounges or by the pool buried in a book,” she said. “These may be confident women but they might not like the idea of going out to dinner or shopping alone.” The service will target businesswomen, those accompanying their husbands on business, tourists and newly arrived expatriates, providing them with a “companion” familiar with the city, Ms Russell said. “I want the woman to feel like she’s going out with a friend. “It’s such a shame if women visit the UAE and don’t see much past their hotel.” The company has signed-up about 30 women to work full- or part-time, as “chaperones”. The women speak several languages including Arabic, English, Hindi and Russian. “We will tailor the service to whatever the particular client requires,” said Mr Hamdan, the co-founder of the company. He said the service had already attracted interest from several clients. However, the service, which will initially be available in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will not come cheap: prices are still being finalised, but are likely to be at least US$200 (Dh730) a day.

lmorris@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090713/NATIONAL/707129894/1010

Advantage of IP based CCTV System

Here are some reasons why….

IP-based system offers a lower total cost of ownership than a traditional analogue-based surveillance system. The IP-based video surveillance system will cost less in particular with a number of cameras in a network greater than 16. Factors such as system maintenance, video recording and playback, cameras, installation, configuration, training and cable infrastructure will save up to 30 to 40% in cost & time. The cost to acquire, install and operate an IP-based system is between 10 and 50 per cent lower than a legacy system (depending on the individual parameters) consisting of analogue cameras and DVR-based recording. Overall, an installation with 32 cameras is the break-even point for IP-based systems versus analogue systems.

An IP-based system will cost less than an analogue system if the installation includes at least 32 cameras. With any installation between 16 and 32 cameras, the cost of IP versus analogue is similar although slightly lower for analogue systems. Where an existing IT infrastructure, IP-based surveillance systems would always be lower cost, i.e. even for systems consisting of 1 to 32 cameras. There is an overwhelming lack of knowledge about the total cost of ownership when it comes to analogue versus IP-based systems. It is well known to us that the costs and the values of an IP system are still misconceived by most of the public.

Network cameras provide superior scalability, greater flexibility and image quality, also mega pixel functionality and offer video compression based on H.264 standard, which produces better image quality streams for a given bit rate when compared to MPEG4 based video compression. This allows you to save up to 50% of bandwidth for remote monitoring via Internet. In addition, IP systems typically include better maintenance and service agreements for the equipment, plus they can be remotely serviced over the network for easier maintenance. IP systems clearly make the most sense both from an economic and technological standpoint.

Last but not least, the IP technology represents the future and any existing legacy system will therefore phase out sooner or later into an IP-based system.

Future Proofing

By deploying an IP CCTV solution future proofing can be achieved by enabling integration and support for new technologies and applications such  HD,  proximity access control and identification indexing, Video Analytics, Facial Recognition and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

Integration with the above technologies enables CCTV to be extended to provide an additional level of security for traffic monitoring, parking, and access control applications.

Linking CCTV with Access Control technology can deliver real benefits. For example in a school a single card could be used for students and staff for access to secure areas, library card, identification, time and attendance records and cashless vending. CCTV images can be linked to Access Control records so that in the event of crimes such as vandalism, pilfering or identity theft rather than simply having a database you have a visual image to quickly identify if the access records are correct and also avoid any rebuttal from potential suspects.

Remote Accessibility

Secure remote access enables an IP based solution to be monitored from anywhere not just in a central control room. Using the integrated intelligence of IP based solutions automated audio response and alarm escalation out of hours can also be achieved as well as incorporation of help points and streaming video to mobile phones.

Analytic

Below are the features that can be integrated in an IP CCTV environment at any time without disturbing or replacing any hardware.

• License Plate Recognition
• Container Plate Recognition
• Face Capture and Recognition
• Multi-Zone Motion Detection
• Body Tracking
• Object Tracking
• Left Baggage Detection
• People Counting
• Traffic Monitoring
• Video and transaction synchronization indexing

Surround yourself with positive people

Make friends with people who will encourage you on the path to your goals, and always find ways to spend more time with them. Share your goals only with people who will support you, not those who will respond with cynicism or indifference. If you want to lose weight, for instance, get yourself into a gym, and start befriending those who are already in great shape. You’ll find that their attitudes become infectious, and you’ll start believing that you can do it too. Meeting people who’ve lost one hundred pounds or more can be extremely motivating. If you want to start a new business, join the local chamber of commerce or a trade association. Do whatever it takes to make new friends who will help you keep your commitment.

Although this can be difficult for some people, you also need to fire the negative people from your life. I once read that you can see your future just by looking at the six people with whom you spend the most time. If you don’t like what you see, then change those people. There’s no honor in remaining loyal to people who expect you to fail. One of the reasons people fail to start their own businesses, for instance, is that they spend most of their time associating with other employees. The way out of this trap is to start spending a lot more time associating with business owners, such as by joining a trade association, Networking groups etc. Mindsets are contagious. So spend your time with people whose mindsets are worth catching.

Speech on Late Sitting in Office – A need or habit ?

Many a times I wonder whether sitting late in office is a need or a habit? This article answers it well. Hope that many of us start leaving early for home after reading this…

Infosys’ Chairman and Chief Mentor Officer (CMO) – Mr. Narayana Murthy’s Speech on Late Sitting in Office:

I know people who work 12hours a day, six days a week, or more. Some people do so because of a work emergency where the long hours are only temporary. Other people I know have put in these hours for years.

I don’t know if they are working all these hours, but I do know they are in the office this long. Others put in long office hours because they are addicted to the workplace. Whatever the reason for putting in overtime, working long hours over the long term is harmful to the person and to the organization.

There are things managers can do to change this for everyone’s benefit. Being in the office long hours, over long periods of time, makes way for potential errors. My colleagues who are in the office long hours frequently make mistakes caused by fatigue.

Correcting these mistakes requires their time as well as the time and energy of others. I have seen people work Tuesday through Friday to correct mistakes made after 5PM on Monday.

Another problem is that people who are in the office for long hours are not pleasant company. They often complain about other people (who aren’t! working as hard); they are irritable, or cranky, or even angry. Other people avoid them. Such behavior poses problems, where work goes much better when people work together instead of avoiding one another.

As Managers, there are things we can do to help people leave the office.

First and foremost is to set the example and go home ourselves. I work with a manager who chides people for working long hours. His words quickly lose their meaning when he sends these chiding group e-mails with a time-stamp of 2AM, Sunday.

Second is to encourage people to put some balance in their lives. For instance, here is a guideline I find helpful:

1) Wake up, eat a good breakfast, and go to work.
2) Work hard and smart for eight or nine hours.
3) Go home.
4) Read the comics, watch a funny movie, dig in the dirt, play with your kids, etc.
5) Eat well and sleep well.

This is called recreating. Doing steps 1, 3, 4, and 5 enable step 2. Working regular hours and recreating daily are simple concepts. They are hard for some of us because that requires personal change. They are possible since we all have the power to choose to do them.

In considering the issue of overtime, I am reminded of my eldest son. When he was a toddler, If people were visiting the apartment, he would not fall asleep no matter how long the visit, and no matter what time of day it was.! He would fight off sleep until the visitors left. It was as if he was afraid that he would miss something. Once our visitors’ left, he would go to sleep. By this time, however, he was over tired and would scream through half the night with nightmares.

He, my wife and I, all paid the price for his fear of missing out. Perhaps some people put in such long hours because they don’t want to miss anything when they leave the office. The trouble with this is that events will never stop happening. That is life! Things happen 24hours a day.

Allowing for little rest is not ultimately practical. So, take a nap. Things will happen while you’re asleep, but you will have the energy to catch up when you wake.

Hence ” LOVE YOUR JOB BUT NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR COMPANY (Because you never know when it stops loving you)” – Narayana Murthy

Competition – A key element for growth .

For survival & growth of any organization, decision makers should look at the 2 C’s – Customer & Competitor !

I need not explain importance of the first C – Customers, but let’s look at the often misunderstood role of the second C- Competitor.

Expands the market for your products/services:
It may sound strange but competitors influence the customers and help grow the market for your products and services. Presence of a competitor can also influence customers in ways that help you win more sales, and do it more efficiently, over time. Competitors help (& force) you to identify new applications & industry sectors you may never have thought of.

Provide a basis for comparison:
Competitor forces you to be more efficient & creative in seeking differentiation. Availability of an alternative helps purchase decision, & company whose unique mix of product & (or) service features is competitive can win sales often enough to succeed in the market.

Help identify right market sector:
Let them lead while you learn. When you identify new offerings or markets where your assessment suggests caution, a competitor may do you the favor of entering into market first. The case for letting a competitor move first into a new market can be stronger, when you are up against a very strong competitor. If you are a dominant player, you too can gain from competitors.

So welcome competition in its truest sense.
Be extremely cautious if you have no competitors!

CIRCUMSTANCES

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people
who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.”

SMILE:
Smile…. It confuses people