CCTV
CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) is a visual surveillance technology designed for monitoring a variety of environments and activities. CCTV systems typically involve a fixed (or "dedicated") communications link between cameras and monitors.
We are sure that you would wish to avoid having to catch those who are perpetrating crime against your organisation. Generally, once a camera system is installed, it will only be the foolhardy who attempt to perpetrate offences within its field of view. Perpetrators are often caught but for the majority of the time it will provide a very high level of deterrence. The steps that are taken when designing your CCTV system are:
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Careful examination of the issues that have prompted you to consider the purchase of CCTV.
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Discussion of the different types of equipment (recording by hard disk recorder or VCR, static or pan tilt and zoom cameras, stand-alone CCTV or a system on your computer network, etc.) so that you can make an intelligent choice as to what best suits your needs.
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Ensure you are aware of the limitations of CCTV.
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Conduct a complete survey of the areas you wish to protect.
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Produce a complete specification and costs.
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Our security systems are tailored to meet the needs of your individual business.
Benefits of CCTV
CCTV security system technology and CCTV equipment can be used in both internal and external environments to watch over and protect people, property, vehicles and valuables. CCTV is considered to be the most effective method of reducing crime (British Chambers of Commerce Business Crime Survey)
Digital Recording
With Digital CCTV technology there is no need to replay hours of tape to search for an incident. CCTV footage can be searched by simply entering a date and time or applying a mouse pointer to a timeline on a monitor screen.
If the incident time is not known, a search can be made by marking an area on the image and asking the system to search for activity in that area, a list of events will then be offered for review. During all these operations, normal recording continues uninterrupted.
Digital recorders offer significant benefits over VCRs. These include:
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Low maintenance
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Never stops recording
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Superior image quality
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Instant playback
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Fast image search & retrieval
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Easy alarm management
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Superior archiving capabilities
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Simultaneous playback, record & archive
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No tapes required (unless archiving)
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Remote transmission & networking
BDI Security Solutions offer a comprehensive range of DVRs ranging from standard 80Gb single channel units to multiple 16 channel 3TB units.
With the ever increasing improvements in technology, the CCTV Digital Recording market is constantly changing with new machines being produced offering real time recoding solutions.
Pan Tilt Zoom Cameras
Allow an operator to direct the camera to the area of interest. Powerful zoom capabilities and fast movement allow targets and patterns of operation to be programmed.
Various mounting options are available for internal or external use.
Each component is individually selected to dependent of camera requirements:
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Camera type
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Zoom lens (field of view required, presets)
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Pan and tilt unit (heavy duty or medium to light duty use, internal or external, presets)
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Telemetry receiver board (dependent on site control system, presets)
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Housing (internal or external, wiper unit)
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Infra red units (dependent on lighting conditions)
Dome Cameras
The dome camera has become the most versatile and popular type of camera used in modern CCTV installations. It is more adaptable than traditional static cameras and the plethora of housings, finishes, coatings, casings and uses is astounding. They can be mounted in a semi-covert manner and blend well into industrial, commercial, retail, leisure or other user environments.
There are basically two types of Dome camera, fixed or fully functional - commonly referred to as 'speed domes'.
Fixed Domes
A static dome camera does exactly what it says - it monitors an area from a single static fixed point. Most modern fixed domes include a 'gimble' and have three-axis flexibility, which allows domes to be mounted on a variety of surfaces and at almost any angle.
There are many choices of internal housings for fixed domes or mini domes with a model to suit most applications, performance criteria and budget.
The internal static mini-dome is the most recognisable, these vary in diameter from 80mm to 120mm dependent on the size and specification of camera it houses; again they come in a selection of colours - black and white being the most common. In recent years the greatest change has been the growth in use and the variants available of vandal proof or vandal resistant static domes, although in essence no unit is truly 100% vandal proof.
Nearly all domes contain a PCB Camera, available in monochrome, colour or colour/mono with or without IR sensitivity. Lenses can be either fixed or varifocal in many different focal lengths and F stops.
Fully Functional Domes
Fully functional dome cameras are also sited at fixed points but unlike static domes they are motorised and controllable, either manually or automatically, to monitor large areas.
These cameras are capable of 360 degree high-speed pan and tilt rotation, panning horizontally and tilting vertically and equipped with integral zoom lenses with automatic focus. The latest versions incorporate intelligent functions such as auto image stabiliser, scene change detection, and auto tracking, delivering outstanding reliability for outdoor surveillance applications.
A fully functional dome consists of two basic parts, the 'head' and the 'housing'.The 'housing' is the most visible part and is the casing or jacket into which the head is located.It has a clear or coated polycarbonate cover and contains the electrical connections and wiring looms for power, video, data, alarms, heaters etc.
The 'head' is the workhorse component of a fully functional dome; containing the camera module, usually colour or colour mono, and the motors and control logic necessary for the domes' specification.
Camera modules can have a variety of features, including an integral lens with an optical range up to 30 x zoom.
As with static versions, fully functional domes can include additional features to enhance image quality in varying light conditions, proportional zoom, allowing the camera to remain focused during movement.
Using a keyboard controller, the communication protocols enable the dome to be remotely controlled and also programmed to automatically undertake a series of pre-determined positions called presets. The operator is also able to program a tour, which is a series of timed presets, or pattern tour where the keyboard is used to guide the camera through a sequence of movements using the joystick.
Although keyboard controllers are the most common method of dome control they can also be controlled via a matrix or PC. The keyboard joystick is used to control the dome by moving it to the left/right for pan, up/down for tilt and a twist for zoom.
The head may include alarm monitoring which are usually assigned to a preset position so that if the device is triggered the dome travels immediately to that position.
Fixed Cameras
Colour/Mono Cameras
These cameras have all the benefits of colour, combined with the superior night-time performance of monochrome cameras and infra-red lighting
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High quality 1/3� or �� colour and monochrome cameras for day and night operation
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Available in standard and high resolution versions to suit most applications
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Advanced CCD technology ensures increased reliability in demanding conditions
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Automatic white balance in colour cameras maintains a realistic colour balance in varying light conditions
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Back light compensation automatically adjusts contrast levels, providing consistently high quality images
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Compact, robust construction makes these cameras ideal for all types of surveillance both internal and external
Colour Cameras
Generally the accepted standard for most installations where good lighting is available, the move towards colour cameras is enhancing the identification capabilities of CCTV and adding greatly to the amount of information that can be derived from the picture.
High resolution fixed colour cameras are suitable for most internal applications and some external applications (dependent on light conditions). There are a large number of fixed colour cameras available, which can be installed within various applications.
Most of the cameras we use at BDI Security Solutions Ltd use advanced CCD (charge coupled device) technology which offers a high degree of reliability with consequent need for very little maintenance.
Inherent in CCD technology is the 'electronic iris' facility, which automatically adjusts the sensitivity using the camera's electronics. This feature can offer financial savings in internal applications by enabling ordinary manual iris lenses to be used. At the same time, the lack of moving parts increases reliability and saves on maintenance costs.
Automatic white balance is also provided, ensuring that realistic colour balance is maintained under a variety of lighting conditions.
Monochrome Cameras
Provide good images in low light conditions with infra-red lighting.
Monochrome cameras are designed to work in low light levels making them ideal for internal or external use where lighting is poor. In extreme circumstances where the lighting level is very low the camera can be used in conjunction with infra-red support lighting.
Lenses
Lens selection is especially critical since the choice directly affects the size, and quality of the image. Various options are available to meet the most demanding of requirements.
There are 3 main types of lenses: manual, auto iris and direct drive (DC iris).
Manual:
This type of lens has an iris which is manually adjustable by hand and can only be used in areas where the light level is fairly good and constant and there is little effect from changing light levels e.g. sunlight through windows.
Auto:
This type of lens is needed when using cameras outdoors or in areas where the light level is changing or where affected by external sources e.g. sunlight. The lens contains an amplifier which converts the video signal from the camera into a voltage that drives the iris motors on the lens to open or close.
Direct Drive:
These lenses work in much the same way as auto iris lenses but they do not contain an amplifier. These lenses utilise amplifiers that are built into the camera on which it is to be used. This tends to make them slightly cheaper than auto iris lenses.
Covert Cameras
CCTV is going underground more than ever before many installations require the circumspect use of camouflaged cameras.
Covert surveillance can be a very useful tool to protect your business interests when used in the right circumstances. At BDI Security Solutions Ltd we offer a bespoke design and out of out of hours installation service for all covert security applications.
Our miniature covert video cameras come hidden inside clocks, smoke detectors, monitors, radios, etc.
Also available are covert wireless hidden camera systems, which can be moved from room to room.
Specialist Cameras
At BDI Security Solutions Ltd we have designed and installed a large number of specialist camera systems, not necessarily directly related to security.
We have installed cameras to monitor drains, press machines, operating machines, cutting machines, production lines, people counting, traffic flow etc, etc... applications are endless.
Matrix Systems
Large CCTV systems, employing many cameras and monitors, will require a means of distributing the footage to the selected monitors and recording devices. This can be achieved with a Matrix Switcher. With multiple keyboards, several operators are able to control the system at the same time.
Remote Monitoring
CCTV on its own can be a useful deterrent to crime. CCTV combined with a professionally delivered remote monitoring service, however, takes the effectiveness of CCTV to a new level, as well as reducing costs.
Remote monitoring comprises of two key elements:
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CCTV
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An off-site monitoring centre or Head Office
The CCTV system can be linked to the remote monitoring centre by standard ISDN telephone lines broadband connection. Irrespective of the distance involved, the monitoring centre can watch over the remote site or sites, at a fraction of the cost of traditional security measures such as manned guards.
How does Remote video monitoring work?
When an alarm linked to the CCTV is triggered (by any number of detection devices), pictures are automatically transmitted down a telephone line and received at the monitoring station. Here an operator reviews the images, assesses what is happening, and determines what action to take. This may involve alerting a nearby mobile patrol or the police, or simply warning off the intruders by a two-way audio system the result: the intruders leave the site.
Typical Applications
Remote video monitoring can be used in a wide range of situations:
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Storage centres with perimeter fencing
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Large sites with gatehouses
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Vehicle storage compounds
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Goods yards
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Unmanned high-risk sites - e.g. utilities
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Road hauliers
Bespoke Systems
We design and provide CCTV systems to fit all applications: small corner shops, office blocks, colleges, hospitals, distribution Centres, multiple sites, manufacturing plants etc.
We can work with you to identify your security needs and objectives, and develop a system to answer them. BDI Security Solutions Ltd will also help ensure you meet your legal obligations.
BDI Security Solutions Ltd is a total, entrance-to-exit, supplier of security systems, from cameras and lenses, to matrix systems, digital recorders, monitors and network interface units. Incorporating the latest advances in digital technology, our array of security products is both a certain and rapid response to the needs of our times and a resource which answers the needs of security systems users. We have achieved a distinguished standard within our industry with a highly skilled and experienced workforce and a diverse range of quality products and services that provide a 'one-stop-shop' for all your security requirements.
IP- CCTV
IP based CCTV solutions are progressively transforming the shape of the security industry. Whilst IP CCTV video monitoring has been available for some time, its use has been restricted by the speed, cost and management limitations imposed by transmission of video images over internal networks, dial up telephone lines and ISDN lines.
The success of an IP-CCTV system depends on the ability of the network to guarantee the timely, fast and affordable delivery of high volume, robust and accurate images, the capture of evidential quality images depends on this. With improvements in compression technologies bandwidth requirements for CCTV images are decreasing.
What is IP CCTV?
IP CCTV can operate on existing wired and wireless TCP/IP computer networks or stand dedicated infill-structures.
As the CCTV system operates over a network the cameras can be accessed by anyone on the same network (with authorisation).
For standalone applications, cameras can be connected into a dedicated network disc recorder which can be accessed remotely if required. These new network HDD recorders are designed specifically for surveillance purposes.
These units provide crisp reproduction of images, versatile recording functions including multi-recording, scheduled recording, emergency recording, external timer recording and event recording functions, providing unrivalled flexible recording options.
Key Features of IP Alarm
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Motion detection
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Video recording
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Email notification
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Remote camera operation for wide/detailed views
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Pan/tilt/zoom control