The market’s long-established dependence upon analogue systems has added to a view that switching is just too difficult says Paul Taggar, pictured, Country Manager, UK and Ireland, at Arecont Vision.
Misconceptions can be one of the biggest ‘fear factors’ to systems integrators and users when it comes to the application of IP-based video systems and megapixel video cameras. There is widespread concern that IP-based and/or megapixel video surveillance systems are expensive – but that doesn’t take into consideration the return on investment (RoI) and performance benefits they deliver. Infrastructure and cabling are another concern, complicated by the perceived challenges of installing systems in landmark buildings or historical sites as commonly encountered in the European market.
The fact is that IP systems, especially those that leverage the benefits of megapixel imaging, are cost-competitive with analogue systems. In many cases, systems can actually cost less while providing better image quality, performance and functionality. These systems also require less cabling and infrastructure, and can sometimes be deployed on existing networks. The immediate task at hand is to address and eliminate common misconceptions about IP megapixel systems so security professionals will more readily embrace the benefits of networked systems.
Numbers
Megapixel cameras provide real value and measurable cost-efficiencies for both end users and integrators. The most evident value is in the superior images produced by multi-megapixel cameras. Since the infancy of video surveillance, users have continually asked for better image quality. Now that quality is available with cameras that employ up to 40MP image sensors. By standard definition, conventional IP and analogue cameras produce about 400,000 pixels versus 1.3 million to ten million pixels for megapixel cameras, and the difference in image definition is clearly visible. With megapixel cameras, zooming in after event provides forensic capabilities not possible with standard definition cameras. Other benefits of video systems with megapixel cameras include:
Fewer cameras
Because megapixel cameras can cover a much wider field of view, fewer cameras are typically required. Fewer cameras also significantly reduce overall system and installation costs. Networked infrastructure uses fewer cables than analogue systems by eliminating the need to run separate cables from each camera to a DVR. Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) also supplies camera power over the same cable that connects to the network, eliminating the need for local power supplies and further simplifying installation costs.
High-definition megapixel cameras provide better forensic video
Highly detailed images recorded from megapixel cameras can be easily and quickly viewed, analysed and used by law enforcement/security authorities for investigation and prosecution. The HD quality images captured by megapixel cameras can aid in prosecutions, convictions, or even prove innocence. Conventional IP and analogue cameras simply cannot deliver the same level of image definition.
Better camera resolution can help reduce manpower costs
Megapixel cameras can sometimes replace the need for manned security services. In some cases, the overall cost of a system was roughly equivalent to the money spent on guards over the course of a year. So, the system was almost free!
Digital PTZ
The use of ‘digital’ pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) allows users far better coverage of facilities. Whether viewing a parking lot or a casino floor, a mechanical PTZ camera can only watch one of ten fields-of-view it surveys at a time. That leaves nine fields-of-view without coverage. Covering those additional fields with additional cameras increases the overall costs. Megapixel single sensor and panoramic (multi-imager) cameras capture the entire scene, all the time, and users can zoom in on any area of the image, live or on recorded video. Having operators manually position PTZ cameras is not an efficient solution and is very costly.
Better images
The benefits of H.264 in terms of bandwidth use per given video quality and the related reduction of disk storage are obvious, the incremental costs are low, and there are no ‘hidden’ installation costs. It is safe to predict that H.264 will become the de facto compression standard for the security and surveillance market, especially for megapixel IP cameras where the benefits are even further multiplied. In fact, H.264 could be viewed as the silver bullet that has removed the earlier obstacles to mass penetration of megapixel IP cameras into the marketplace. H.264 is the game changer.
Megapixel imaging is the new benchmark in image quality and functionality for video surveillance systems, now and in the future. Obstacles related to bandwidth and storage have been eliminated with H.264 compression. Price issues have also been addressed relative to the higher performance of megapixel cameras and their overall improved return on investment versus conventional IP and analogue cameras.
