Q: How are CCTV installations for vehicles different from those used in normal premises?
A: In principle, they’re quite similar. However CCTV equipment for use on a vehicle must operate from the low-voltage vehicle supply and it must be able to withstand high levels of vibration. Finally, it must be capable of operating over a wide temperature range – vehicle interiors can be close to freezing on a winter morning, and 40 degrees C or more in the summer sun.
Q: What type of equipment is used in vehicle installations?
A: All modern installations use digital recorders, although many still use analogue cameras. Vandal resistant dome cameras are a popular choice. One important factor is limited data storage capacity – there’s usually not enough room to fit a large multi-disk storage system. As a result, low frame rates in the range 4 to 8 fps are usually used, with high compression levels.
Q: How about resolution?
A: 2CIF is really the minimum that’s useful, and there is a move toward higher resolutions with megapixel cameras. The possibilities are further enhanced by the spread of H.264 compression, which is highly efficient and reduces the amount of data storage needed for high-resolution images. Megapixel cameras are increasingly used with IP based solutions.
Q: What happens to the images recorded on the vehicle?
A: Usually data is manually removed and archived in line with a pre-determined schedule. However, if there’s an incident that requires investigation, the images are most often transferred to an off-vehicle installation immediately for further analysis. This is easy to do if the vehicle has a removable recorder or disk caddy, but other methods are possible, such as downloading via fire-wire or USB2 link. Many bus companies are now looking at wireless data transfer, which is performed automatically when a bus pulls up at a pre-determined location.
Q: Is the equipment best hidden, or mounted to be obvious?
A: The conundrum here is the same as with static security systems – should these be covert or overt? Transport companies are obliged to let the public know if they are being recorded, but I believe that the cameras need to be as discrete as possible as they are often targeted by vandals.
* Jon Hill is Video Systems Specialist at Siemens Building Technologies, Security Products Limited. The company is a leading supplier of innovative security products and systems, encompassing access control, CCTV, intruder and integrated security management systems.
Siemens Security Products serves the UK and Republic of Ireland for pre-qualification, supply, training and after sales support for all security products bearing the Bewator and Siemens brands
* Contact 0871 386 0835 or visit: www.buildingtechnologies.siemens.co.uk/securityproducts
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