VIDEO SURVAILLANCE SYSTEMS

Video Surveillance Systems allow you to view activities as they happen or from archived data. Such systems may be as simple as one camera and one monitor. With this type of setup, an individual must stay and observe the monitor at all times, or something will be missed. Most systems have some sort of recording device that records images from the camera(s) onto magnetic data.

(Digital Video Surveillance vs CCTV - Closed Circuit TV)

CCTV was Closed Circuit = All viewing and recording stays in one plac

Older systems used Video Tape Recorders for this purpose. Care and operation of these older recorders became a time-consuming and expensive task. Tapes had to be changed daily and kept for at least a month. Tapes were only good for 10 - 12 passes, and thus 31 new tapes had to be purchased every year. To insure that the tape heads operated smoothly, a tape cleaner had to be used at least once per week, and the whole unit needed professional cleaning and lubrication once every year.

Today's systems use Digital Video Recorders - computerized recorders - that record on hard disk drives, instead of tapes. Thus the ownership and care just became simple. Hard drives may be cascaded, and data may be stored for months (or even years) at a time.

Digital Video Surveillance = Video is recorded digitally on computer hard drives

Remote viewing possibilities (LAN, WAN, Internet, Cellular)

Digital Video Recorders (DVR's) handle multiple cameras (4 - 8 - 16 - 32 - 48 - beyond) and none, any or all may be recording at any given time. For most systems, recording is perfomed by motion detection. What this means is if there is no motion within a set area, no (drive) space is wasted. While live video is displayed on the main monitor all the time, video is recorded only when motion occurs. When motion does occur, the recorder is set to record for a a set number of seconds before the activity, during the activity, and for a set number of seconds following it. DVR's may be equipped with multiplehard drives for storage, and it is not unusual to have a month or more of storage capacity.

When the recording is reviewed, the many hours wasted watching long periods of inactivity is eliminated, as only the motion-recorded activity displays. Suspicious activity or evidence may be loaded onto a CD, printed on paper, or emailed for future refence or use.

Cash Register Interfaces are available so all activity entered by a clerk on the register is recorded on the same channel as the camera watching the cash register. Thus the clerk may be observed as to how change is made and where the money goes. Some of our cameras can distinguish the denomination of the bills handled.

DVR's may be connected to the Internet for viewing of live or archived video from virtually anywhere in the world. Business owners may keep an eye on their investments from home, the office, or on vacation. Mothers may watch their homes and children from work. Day care centers may allowparents to "tune in" on their children's activities while working.

So, if you are currently using antiquated TAPE RECORDERS for your video security, CALL SWAT - 866-446-SWAT (7928) today and Update. Then you may throw away the old.

How one Transportation Customer uses SWAT's Expertise:

One transportation company with several offices had us set up systems in each. Each system may be viewed locally via their LAN, or from other offices via their WAN. Their Indianapolis office has four complete DVR systems, all linked to their Intranet. The dispatcher can view, talk to drivers, and control remote gates from his office. The shipping manager watches his loading docks from all angles, while the Vice President watches the yard, gates, offices, dispatcher, and all property.

In the Southern Indiana Home office the operations manager observes all of the garages, lots, fueling, and wash areas without leaving his office.

In the Bloomington office, all activities in the yard, garage, fuel area, and parking lot are recorded and reveiwed as needed.