1. Security Industry Standards
It is always a good idea to go for a company that provides the service to the appropriate security industry standards as they do the basic health checks for you and help you confirm a company’s credibility as far their in-house policies and procedures are concerned.2. Own 24/7 Control Room
Service providers that have their own control room, remote monitoring or alarm receiving centre will not only respond a lot quicker in the event of an incident but will also eliminate all the red-tape associated with engaging with a third party when resolving any issues.3. Key Holding Services
Most service providers that offer remote monitoring solutions will also offer key holding services so that they are able to access a site as quickly as possible if deemed necessary without any client intervention in the event of an incident or emergency.4. Fully Redundant Systems
A service provider needs to have a contingency plan to ensure that a site remains protected when system failures occur. Some providers usually deploy a guard in the event of a systems failure while others may have back-up systems that kick in when the primary one fails.5. Emergency Response Services
You will rest assured knowing that your service provider will deploy a private unit to your site within minutes in the event of an emergency. In many cases, control rooms usually engage their local police who are not guaranteed to attend site in the event of an incident.6. Trusted Supply Partners
Service providers usually deploy third party vendor systems for their remote monitoring solutions but only a few of these are reliable and trustworthy. It is therefore a good idea to go with those that partner with well-known video surveillance brands.
1. Detector-Activated Systems
CCTV systems that will pro-actively detect and prevent, deter or delay potential intrusions are usually designed with electronic sensors to instantly transmit triggered alarm signals back to a monitoring station in the event of an intrusion. An effective remotely monitored CCTV system should therefore have at least one sensor alongside a visual aid or camera at every pre-defined hot spot on site so that any triggered alarms can be analysed well before intruders cause any significant damage.2. Audio Challenge Capabilities
Remotely monitored CCTV systems are usually deployed with audio warning or challenge equipment which enable control officers in a remote monitoring centre or central management station to issue real-time verbal warnings to potential intruders. An effective remotely monitored CCTV system should therefore have at least a set of strategically located amplified audio speakers on site that can be used to broadcast affirmative messages well before the intruders get to any of the site hot spots.3. External Weather Resistant Systems
CCTV systems that are usually deployed on construction sites will in most cases be designed for outdoor use and most will survive adverse weather conditions for long periods of time especially if they are regularly checked and kept in good working order. It is therefore essential to crosscheck with your service provider if any of the outdoor systems like cameras, sensors, audio speakers and any related cabling carry a minimum IP66 rating to be able to guard against dust and water.4. Long Range Night Vision Capabilities
CCTV systems are usually used to monitor construction sites out of normal working hours and most especially in the night when there is little or no visibility, and some use cameras that rely on ample external lighting provided by the construction sites to capture clear footage or images. It is therefore advisable to opt for purpose-built cameras that use long range (>30m) infra-red technology to capture clear high-resolution images in ultra-low-light conditions or in the absence of external lighting.5. Flexible Video Storage Systems
There are many options that CCTV systems can use to securely record and store vital video footage, and a lot of those deployed on construction sites use hard disk drives encased in a local digital or network video recorder to record, store and playback video footage as and when it is required. There are however some options that allow video footage to be stored in the cloud or away from site via the internet which can help prevent loss of vital footage in the event of theft of or damage to equipment.6. Vandal Resistant Systems
CCTV cameras, sensors and speakers are usually deployed along construction site perimeter boundaries so that they can monitor both private and public areas and this makes them susceptible to vandalism or tampering especially just before or during unauthorised intrusions. Most systems now take care of this problem by having in-built vandal or tamper proof technology which is programmed to send an alarm signal back to the remote monitoring centre in the event of a breach.7. High Quality Video Footage
CCTV footage is usually recorded and played back at predetermined speeds or frames per second that influence the video quality, with higher speeds producing higher quality images while lower speeds produce lower quality images. It is therefore important to note that footage recorded at a minimum 24 frames per second will produce high resolution (1080p) images that can be used to easily monitor, detect, observe, recognise and identify unauthorised intrusions.8. Integrated IP Technology
Construction site CCTV systems have traditionally used analogue cameras to capture and send images over COAX (RG59) cabling back to a networked digital video recorder (DVR) which can be locally or remotely accessed via the internet using specialised software to play video footage back in real time. Some service providers now use the more scalable and flexible IP cameras which not only produce higher quality images but are also easier to deploy, operate and decommission.
9 Key Differences between IP and Analogue CCTV Systems
- April 18, 2018
IP-based CCTV systems use cameras that encode the video signals they capture into IP packets which are then transmitted over a data network or Local Area Network (LAN) infrastructure to a Network Video Recorder (NVR) which records and stores the video data.
Analogue-based CCTV systems on the other hand use cameras that encode the video data they capture into an analogue (electrical) signal which is transmitted over a coaxial cabling infrastructure to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) which records and stores the video data.
Analogue-based CCTV systems on the other hand use cameras that encode the video data they capture into an analogue (electrical) signal which is transmitted over a coaxial cabling infrastructure to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) which records and stores the video data.
1. Image Quality
IP camera systems record and store video footage in higher quality images than analogue systems making them the systems of choice in judicial circumstances where high quality images are used for facial recognition in prosecuting offenders caught on camera.2. Area Coverage
IP camera systems offer more ground coverage with longer and wider range options which can be zoomed in or out without losing video clarity making them a more cost-effective option for projects with larger surveillance grounds since fewer cameras are needed.3. Power Supply
IP camera systems can be powered by the same cable that is used for video transmission back to the NVR which makes them not only easier to deploy but also flexible in positioning them around hot spots that may not necessarily have any power supply lines nearby.5. Cabling Distance
IP camera systems can transmit video and data back to an NVR over an unlimited distance when the NVR and cameras are connected over an IP network with switches and routers in between, making them extremely suitable for very large construction site projects.5. Wireless Transmission
Both IP and analogue systems can transmit video wirelessly, however, IP cameras tend to retain picture quality since the video is digitised. Analogue systems on the other hand are subject to external interference during transmission which degrades picture quality.6. Data Security
Some good quality IP camera systems have built-in mechanisms that encrypt and compress data before transporting it over the internet making them very hard to intercept or tap into unlike analogue systems which only rely on an unencrypted closed circuit for security.7. Video Analytics
P camera systems tend to offer better in-built features like intelligent video analytics, SMS and email alarm notifications, mobile broadband support and data card storage capabilities which makes them a favourable option in more versatile safety and security environments.8. Light Sensitivity
Both IP and analogue camera systems take advantage of infra-red technology to work well in ultra-low-light conditions, however, a well-planned construction site lighting system will go a long way in helping cameras monitor, detect, identify and recognise intruders.9. Systems Deployment
IP camera systems are much easier and faster to deploy as they require less cabling to run and operate. They can run power, video and control data transmission on a single cable unlike their analogue counterparts which need separate cables for each.
Intrusion alarms are usually received within seconds of an electronic notification and the virtual guards then have the benefit of visually verifying any suspicious activity on site in real-time using strategically placed high-quality ultra-low-light outdoor cameras.
A verbal warning will be issued to any potential intruders through a set of amplified audio speakers also strategically placed on site and, if the intruders persist, the virtual guards will then go on to engage and notify the police to try and mitigate any risk associated with the intrusion.
Some security solutions providers have their own mobile patrol or key holding units on stand-by to attend to any genuine alarms and will in most cases also be deployed by the virtual guards in the event of an emergency to liaise with and grant site access to the police.
A control room is therefore an essential part of any good site security solution and here’s why.
Virtual security guards can instantly respond to potential threats using specialised technology and will engage the police in real-time to prevent any further damage, if at all any, from being done.
Control rooms are normally operated on a 24-7 basis and any electronic alarms triggered by potential threats can be picked up, assessed and prioritised at any time of the day or night.
Having virtual guards located away from the site eliminates any life-threatening risks to them especially in highly volatile situations or incidents that they may not be equipped to deal with.
Intruders can be easily monitored, recorded and identified on footage that can be played back in real-time for visual verification in analysing the potential risk to the site.
The progress and actual location of potential intruders can also be tracked and communicated to the police or mobile patrol units in real-time to help them better manage the situation. Virtual security guards back at the control room usually have a bird’s eye view of a properly secured site which allows them to eliminate any security blind spots during surveillance.
It is therefore always best to consider a provider who has a well-managed control room at their disposal, or better still owns one, when choosing a remotely monitored solution to secure your site.
A verbal warning will be issued to any potential intruders through a set of amplified audio speakers also strategically placed on site and, if the intruders persist, the virtual guards will then go on to engage and notify the police to try and mitigate any risk associated with the intrusion.
Some security solutions providers have their own mobile patrol or key holding units on stand-by to attend to any genuine alarms and will in most cases also be deployed by the virtual guards in the event of an emergency to liaise with and grant site access to the police.
A control room is therefore an essential part of any good site security solution and here’s why.
Virtual security guards can instantly respond to potential threats using specialised technology and will engage the police in real-time to prevent any further damage, if at all any, from being done.
Control rooms are normally operated on a 24-7 basis and any electronic alarms triggered by potential threats can be picked up, assessed and prioritised at any time of the day or night.
Having virtual guards located away from the site eliminates any life-threatening risks to them especially in highly volatile situations or incidents that they may not be equipped to deal with.
Intruders can be easily monitored, recorded and identified on footage that can be played back in real-time for visual verification in analysing the potential risk to the site.
The progress and actual location of potential intruders can also be tracked and communicated to the police or mobile patrol units in real-time to help them better manage the situation. Virtual security guards back at the control room usually have a bird’s eye view of a properly secured site which allows them to eliminate any security blind spots during surveillance.
It is therefore always best to consider a provider who has a well-managed control room at their disposal, or better still owns one, when choosing a remotely monitored solution to secure your site.
Many individuals, communities and businesses now have the choice to opt for advanced remotely monitored video surveillance or cctv systems to protect their homes and assets at a fraction of the cost of the traditional manned guarding solutions.The decision therefore to go along with video surveillance systems or to stick with the manned services now depends on how effective one will be over the other in securing and pro-actively preventing crimes or intrusions before they happen.
A mainstream shift in the video surveillance technology from analogue to IP has since seen a remarkable improvement.
Many contractors within the construction industry in the recent years have also opted for the much cheaper video surveillance systems in a bid to reduce overheads and still have some security measures in place to protect their sites out of normal working hours.These cctv systems however proved to be unreliable at the beginning of the revolution due to their inability to accurately detect and prevent genuine site intrusions. The systems also faced an uphill battle to eliminate false alarms from moving objects like leaves and animals.
As a result, a number of contractors began to lose their confidence in the systems as most reverted back to traditional manned services alongside the cctv systems while others eliminated the idea of cctv completely especially where the stakes were high. A mainstream shift in the video surveillance technology from analogue to IP has since seen a remarkable improvement in the functionality of most cameras where a variety of high-end intrusion detection and crime prevention features have been bolted on to them.
These cameras also have deep learning mechanisms which allow them to identify humans and vehicles as genuine alarms while discarding other movements like wind-driven leaves and foxes as false alarms to help improve the productivity of monitoring centres.
Even after all of that, the question still remains as to whether cctv or video surveillance technology systems are a worthwhile alternative to manned guarding services, and the answer will probably be around what you intend to secure and how long for.
In our experience over the last few years as remotely monitored cctv or video surveillance solutions providers, we have seen that a typical construction project may require one or both of these services at any one point in time during an entire project’s lifecycle.
Video surveillance systems that have been installed to industry standard will not only tick the insurance requirement box but will also proactively protect your site from the stray public, petty thieves and trespassing children who could potentially be injured while on site. It is highly likely that the cctv system will detect and identify an intruder up to 50 metres away even in the night as they cross a virtually marked perimeter along the hoarding into the site at which point an audio challenge is issued from the monitoring platform to warn the trespassers off.
The virtual guards also have the ability to pretty much engage the local authorities or alarm response units to attend to persistent intruders within minutes if the warnings fall on hard ground which makes the system more interactive and proactive in preventing potential crimes.
we have a fully manned control room or remote monitoring centre which works on a shift basis and supports all our video surveillance and intrusion detection services 24 hours a day 7 days a week
At Optiwatch, we tend to also install at least one PTZ camera where necessary to not only track and trace intruders within the site but to also monitor vulnerable areas or targeted assets like toolbox containers, cranes, diesel tanks and site offices for added peace of mind. We place as many cameras as possible in and around the site especially along the perimeter in a sequential order to eliminate any blind spots that an intruder can use to get into site undetected, which gives us a broader coverage of the whole site at any point in time than a single security guard.
We have a fully manned control room or remote monitoring centre which works on a shift basis and supports all our video surveillance and intrusion detection services 24 hours a day 7 days a week, so no alarms go unattended at any point in time of the day or night. We do advise however to place a temporary guard on site during critical periods in a project’s lifecycle like snowy winter shutdown periods where the visibility of cameras and response times of local authorities could be delayed or hampered by adverse weather conditions.
Otherwise a well designed and deployed video surveillance system is not only cheaper to run but a much better security system overall to implement given the risks that may be involved in challenging aggressive or heavy-handed intruders that could cause bodily harm to the security guard. For more information or advice regarding our remotely monitored video surveillance services, please do not hesitate to contact us on +44 (0) 20 8 443 0077 or email us at marketing@optiwatchgroup.com. In the meantime, you can visit us at www.optiwatchgroup.com for more information about us and our other services.
Several aspects of physical security like perimeter fencing, lockable gates, security lighting, static guarding, mobile patrols, access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection and fire, gas or flood prevention can be considered depending on the nature of the project.
Project managers have previously sought the help of internally or externally sourced static guards along with fencing, gates, lighting and mobile patrols to protect their developments as and when needed after starting out on site.
Many construction site security and safety services can now be effectively remotely monitored at the fraction of the cost of traditional guarding services.
However, recent technology advances within the security and safety industry have paved the way for the deployment of more dynamic alternatives like video surveillance or cctv, access control, intrusion detection and fire prevention systems which have proved to be more dynamic, efficient and cost effective for many contractors.
These systems which can also be remotely monitored from anywhere in the world can also be easily deployed on site even before any vital project utilities, equipment or materials like hoarding, lighting and electricity are put in place.
It has therefore become easier for project planners, contractors and managers to factor these electronic security solutions into their budgetary considerations even as early as the tendering stage for that added peace of mind that the progress of their development will not be hindered by any preventable security or safety concerns.
It is also important to note which solutions will be the preferred choice at any stage during the lifecycle of any construction site project in order to maximise value at the least possible cost and this is where an experienced security solutions provider with the ability to provide any of these solutions directly or through any of their trusted partners will need to be carefully selected and sought as a one-stop-shop option to quickly deploy, administratively manage and effectively maintain most if not all the security and safety aspects of the project on the contractor’s behalf.
Battery operated, mobile enabled and wireless transmission intrusion detection systems with remote monitoring capabilities are usually deployed very early on in the development stages of a project before any power or hard fencing has been deployed.
These systems are usually very easy to deploy and have a simplified alarm notification and verification mechanism that allows any remote management station to quickly receive arc, email or app based alarms in either text, image or video formats. Mobile patrol units may also be deployed at this stage for added peace of mind.
More permanent video surveillance systems and access control are usually deployed when fixed hoarding is placed around the site for effective perimeter protection and site access control. These systems are usually more sophisticated in nature and usually have advanced intelligent analytic features like that allow any site to save valuable time detecting, assessing and mitigating risk.
The latest systems do not usually require any lighting to be on site for them to be as effective as they should be and they can also be integrated with most construction site based remotely monitored fire and medical safety alert systems which are usually deployed as staff begin to permanently occupy the site.
Alarm response services are usually offered as part of a package that goes with any remotely monitored systems which may need a physical response on site to help local enforcement authorities with any investigations following a verified intrusion.
Key holding services are also usually offered by providers with a remote monitoring centre that may be able to remotely operate a gate or provide a temporary key for a visitor to access the site out of normal working hours.
An experienced provider will be able to engage with any potential contractor even as early on as the tendering stage to help determine the best possible solution for any project.
Traditional key holding services that require a physical presence to unlock and access a site on behalf of their client for any other reasons other than responding to an alarm may also be provided.
Static guards and gatemen may be deployed in the event of a remotely monitored system failure that occurs out of hours and cannot be fixed in time enough to secure the site appropriately.
They may also be deployed alongside any electronic systems for that added peace of mind if the site has high value materials that could easily be targeted by theft or vandalism, or even during holiday seasons where there may be extended periods of in occupancy that could attract unwanted attention.