In days gone by CCTV was of such poor quality that trying to identify intruders from a wobbly black and white fuzzy image on a small CRT monitor was challenging. However, today the quality of CCTV equipment and the images that can be recorded has improved dramatically and over the last ten years digital technology has invaded all aspects of life, from Smartphones, intelligent vehicles and fully automated houses. We never anticipated the day when we would refer to a kitchen appliance as a “Smart Fridge”.
The world of CCTV has benefited enormously from this advance in technology, which has happened over a surprisingly short period of time.
High definition images of the sort of quality that we have come to expect on domestic digital TV are the standard in modern CCTV systems. Years ago we struggled with frame rates of between 1 and 4 FPS (frames per second) largely because the storage of images was very limited, often using VHS tape recorders. We ended up with very poor record rates followed by even worse playback quality, no wonder we were unable to identify the “dark fuzzy blob” breaking into our premises!
Now we can have “real-time” recording at 25 FPS on even the cheapest of systems. Storage is now done on multiple hard drives, measured in TBs (terabytes). It is now possible to store huge amounts of CCTV securely, from many cameras over several weeks.
We have moved from analogue through HD-SDI, AHD to IP cameras in little more than a decade. Cabling infrastructure has largely moved away from typically, RG59 co-axial to CAT5E or CAT6. The processing and management software is now truly amazing in that it can identify items appearing and disappearing from an image. For example, traffic monitoring systems can identify whether a vehicle is in the wrong lane at a junction, this is often called “Analytics”.
CCTV can be a highly effective and invaluable security and surveillance tool, be it a simple recorded arrangement which offers “retrospective” evidence to a live monitored system, managed by a dedicated security team. Whatever your application and budget we will design a system to meet your precise requirements.
Typically, it would include colour high definition cameras, capable of providing images in complete darkness, static or fully functional, visible or covert, sited both internal or external. There is a huge range of technology available for us to ensure that we can develop a system that protects and deters.
We can even offer Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, and again these have dramatically evolved. Only a few years ago ANPR could only record vehicle numberplate but the latest generation of ANPR records numberplates, images of the vehicle in its entirety as well as distinguish colours and in some cases, make and model of vehicle.
These cameras can then be linked to our Access Control Systems from Paxton or Hikvision and a action response provided, such as a barrier opening for vehicle registered on the system. This means CCTV, ANPR and Access control can be use to control access to your site.
We also provide facial recognition cameras which offer the same kind of systems for pedestrian entry.
Our latest project is to provide time stamped CCTV imagery in conjunction with a pedestrian based access control system so that evidence quality CCTV can be recorded of each person entering or exiting the site.
To find out more about how our CCTV services can benefit you business please call us 01625 266883 or complete the contact form below.
