By Guy Mizrahi, President, Megasystems Security
Technology evolves at a rapid pace, so what was leading edge today becomes passé’ tomorrow. Surveillance cameras have been gaining more intelligence, more functionality, and more flexibility in the past few years. As a result, sales are rising: Worldwide revenue for surveillance cameras was $42.94 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $144.85 billion in 2027, according to Allied Market Research. So what features should an SMB look for when they need such a solution?
Resolution is Key to Clarity
This item is simple to understand: the higher the resolution, the clearer the picture. If someone is breaking into your facility, they will try to conceal their identity. A Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera with a high resolution will have identifier details, so you have a better chance of catching the perpetrator.
Camera resolution is measured in pixels, the number of dots per square inch. To determine it, multiply the number of pixels in the width and in the height. A 2MP system has 1920 in width and 1080 in height = 2,073,600, which is the total number of pixels contained in the image. High end systems go to 8MP but the increased granularity means paying higher prices as well.
Gain Focusing Flexibility
Not everything in a picture frame interests you, just those items that seem suspicious. A Pan–Tilt–Zoom camera (PTZ camera) is capable of remote directional and zoom in and zoom out functions. These systems are becoming intelligent and automated. A Virtual Pan-Tilt-Zoom (VPTZ) camera focuses on portions of an image, without requiring that a person adjust it. When the pixels in a frame change due to movement, the camera automatically zooms in on that area, so, you get a close up of any suspicious behavior. These systems are becoming quite sophisticated. Hikvision’s AcuSense cameras even distinguish between human and vehicle movement versus non-human objects, such as rain, animals and leaves, significantly reducing the number of false alarms generated.
Did You Get the License Plate Number?
License Plate Capture (LPC) cameras, also called License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras, are specialized solutions that have built in software that identify and record license plates on still or moving vehicles. Artificial Intelligence is incorporated into these cameras, so they compensate for items, like speed, weather, and headlight glare. However, these devices are not magical. To be effective, they must be placed strategically, so they capture the plate numbers.
Increase Clarity When in the Darkness
One traditional challenge has been gaining clear pictures at night when there is little to no light. Recent advances in camera lens and more sophisticated imaging and lighting software have made it possible to capture crystal clear pictures during nighttime. For instance, Hikvision’s ColorVu imaging technology provides vivid, full-color, full-motion images and video even in zero-light environments.
CCTV cameras improve, seemingly on a daily basis. Vendors offers a wide range of solutions that vary in capabilities and price points. Rather than sift through all the options on your own, turn to an expert for advice. Megasystems Security has been helping Houston companies deploy surveillance cameras for more than two decades. The company has the experience and personal touch needed to match your needs to the numerous devices available on the market, so you deploy the solution that best meets your needs.
