All too often customers think that upgrading their video surveillance system means a complete overhaul of their system, but a “rip and replace” is not necessarily a foregone conclusion. A security system integrator, like CM3, who works with multiple manufacturers can typically leverage your existing infrastructure, while giving it enhanced features.
For many CM3 customers, security system enhancements typically fall into five, affordable, relatively-easy-to-implement buckets:
Expansion of Physical Coverage
Adding on cameras to an existing system or upgrading the cameras you do have can typically be conducted with minimal disruption to the existing system. Both analog and cloud-based cameras can be added and integrated. Popular examples include:
- 5 Megapixel Cameras – For areas where distance is not a concern, legacy cameras are acceptable. However, for locations where distance from camera is a factor, consider upgrading to today’s 5 megapixel cameras for better quality at long distances.
- Fisheye Cameras – provide 180 and 360 degree views of large areas from a single vantage point, bringing superior situational awareness without any blind spots.
- Corner Cameras – deliver a wide field of view to reduce blindspots and are typically vandal-resistant.
- Multihead cameras – a cost-effective, easy-to-install solution providing 270 degree coverage with a single cable pull
- PTZ cameras – provide superior zooming capability, for areas where a forensic zoom is insufficient
Artificial Intelligence
Most new cameras already come with some level of analytics built-in, but additional enhancements to the video management system are also available:
- Appearance search
- Facial recognition
- Focus of attention (Specific to the Avigilon line of product, this innovation maps the topography of your cameras and uses color to flag areas for further investigation)
- License plate recognition
- Unusual motion detection
- Unusual activity detection
- Mask detection
- Occupancy monitoring
- Social distancing monitoring
Remote Access and Notification
Moving to a cloud-based VMS (video management software) enables users to control the system from anywhere, at any time. Operators can view live and recorded video remotely and can receive and view push notifications of system alarms. They also have the ability to monitor the health status of servers and cameras to efficiently detect, verify and respond to events at any site in the system.
Audio Coverage
Some situations or locations may warrant upgrading your camera to one with one or two-way audio, where operators can both hear what is happening within the camera’s audio range and provide audio feedback to whomever is in the camera’s field of vision.
Video Intercom
Bringing access control and video under one product, customers can add a camera with intercom which enables site managers to quickly and easily identify and speak with a visitor before remotely granting access.