A video surveillance system is only useful if its images make it possible to act: identify a person, read a number plate, verify an alarm, understand an incident. Six criteria help size an installation correctly.
1. Define the purpose of each camera
Observing an area, detecting a presence, recognising or identifying a person do not require the same image density. The purpose set for each location determines the type of camera, the lens and the mounting distance.
2. Choose the right locations
Entrances, vehicle gates, storage areas, tills, perimeter: each location is chosen according to risks and security procedures, avoiding backlight and blind spots.
3. Match resolution and lens
High resolution does not make up for a poorly chosen focal length. For a large area, a motorised zoom camera (PTZ) or several fixed cameras can be more effective than a single very high-definition camera.
4. Account for lighting and environment
Night vision, strong sunlight, dust and heat: outdoor cameras must be chosen for the real conditions of the site, including their ingress protection rating and operating temperature range.
5. Calculate storage
The capacity required depends on the number of cameras, resolution, frame rate, compression and the retention period required. Motion-triggered recording greatly reduces the space used.
6. Organise operation
Who watches the images, from where and with what rights? Monitoring station, secure mobile access, alarm management and a procedure for exporting recordings are part of the project from the design stage. The installation must also comply with applicable personal data protection regulations.
In short
A well-sized system relies on a site survey, suitable equipment and organised operation. That is the approach we apply to every video surveillance project.