Optimum PDM is helping VideoIQ introduce their iCVR CCTV cameras into the UK market. VideoIQ manufactures the revolutionary new iCVR CCTV cameras which contain built-in intelligence and digital video recording. The cameras are easy to install, offer effective remote monitoring and save significant security system costs.
Optimum PDM is providing VideoIQ with the following services:
• PR and copy writing.
• Digital marketing - e-newsletters.
-- iCVR D1 dome
-- Fife case study
• Security Buyer Direct.
• Digital Datasheets.
• Case studies and expert columns - Scroll down to see an example.
• Advertising - below.
VideoIQ advert
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Expert article
Why intelligent storage in cameras will transform IP Video Surveillance
The White Paper entitled, “Why intelligent storage in cameras will transform IP Video Surveillance”, by Doug Marman, CTO and co-founder of VideoIQ, outlines how the addition of detection intelligence and recording in security cameras will change network CCTV systems forever. We asked Gary Mercer, UK sales director for VideoIQ, to substantiate this claim and explain just how the CCTV industry will be transformed.
Networked CCTV systems have adopted the same “data centre” IT infrastructure used by commercial and business applications around the world. Data from PCs or other networked equipment, such as CCTV cameras, is transmitted across the network to a central server for recording and management. The most common causes of IT system failure are the breakdown of the hard disc drive (HDD) used for recording in the central server and network “jamming”, damage, breakage or disconnection. Networked CCTV systems are currently being designed to record images from many cameras, simultaneously, onto a single, central HDD. The images will only be recorded after they have been transmitted over the network. This means, at concept level, networked CCTV systems are being designed to rely on known weak areas of the existing IT infrastructure!
In addition to the risk of data loss, CCTV applications are restricted by the data carrying capacity of a network – its bandwidth. The read/write ratio for network IT systems is 50:50. Data flow is intermittent and the amount of data per application is relatively small. By comparison, network CCTV systems have a read/write ratio nearer 1:99, where 99% of the data flow is for the recording of large amounts of video images, “streamed” continuously to the server (DVR). The remaining 1% of data flow is for the retrieval of images for viewing and analysis. Streamed video images are huge data files. A typical network will struggle to handle the data from only two cameras recording simultaneously at D1, high resolution, let alone the CCTV many cameras used at most sites.
Lowering the recording resolution of each camera and reducing the number of images recorded per second, saves bandwidth. Unfortunately, this will also reduce image quality and significantly compromise a CCTV system’s effectiveness to provide evidence. Using a separate network for site security applications helps, but does not address the fundamental problem, namely, that streaming video data across a network quickly uses up all available bandwidth.
The “data centre” infrastructure also assumes that HDD storage is cheap. However, failure of one HDD could risk data loss from numerous cameras at once, so RAID back-up storage and “extra reliable”, server duty (or better) HDDs are used - of which 3 to 5 years of continuous use is considered good! RAID back-ups and server duty HDDs are not a cheap solution. Their running costs, including housing them in a server; servicing, managing and cooling them, make the actual costs of storage rise to around 25% of a typical business’s total IT budget. In addition, the nature of the streamed video data means that the HDDs will probably run continuously, wearing out rapidly and exposing the security system to yet more risk of failure.
Intelligent detection and storage in cameras address many of the issues we have mentioned. Most significantly, video data is recorded in the camera before being transmitted across a network - sometimes termed “recording at the edge”. This means video images no longer have to be streamed continuously. The iCVR from VideoIQ, for example, will send CCTV data as video clips – a similar concept to sending a text or email, where the data is sent as a package. Even if data transmission is interrupted due to network problems, the entire data package will eventually get through, and can even be sent to a mobile phone. A second benefit to recording within the camera is that the resolution of the video images does not need to be reduced to save bandwidth. Subsequently, every camera on the system can record at the highest quality setting, providing better evidence. The VideoIQ iCVR cameras will also, initially, record onto an internal flash drive, before transferring data onto the integral HDD. This means the HDD is only operating for around 10% of the time, not continuously, extending its life and increasing system reliability yet again.
Intelligent CCTV cameras ensure that only relevant site incidents are recorded. They will automatically alert security operators to an incident and disregard superfluous information. If only 1% of the data recorded is ever retrieved, an intelligent camera should be able to filter out a lot of the superfluous 99% of data most other CCTV systems gather, significantly reducing the amount of data on the network in the first place. By comparison, the more common approach of using intelligent, centralised, DVRs, means video data is still streamed across the network before analysis and recording, so although recording volume may be reduced, network bandwidth usage is not.
Intelligent storage cameras can be so efficient that existing commercial IT networks can realistically be used for CCTV applications, instead of security-specific networks. This can represent a large potential cost-saving for any business.
For system upgrades and expansion, adding intelligent storage cameras to a network is simple. The system can be upgraded, one camera at a time, with the storage capacity scaled up proportionally. The risk of data loss is also dramatically reduced with storage dispersed across a site, instead of at a central position, reducing the potential effects of terrorist assault or deliberate sabotage.
In summary, the design, operation and management of networked CCTV and security systems requires an IT infrastructure developed specifically for security applications. Most of the data recorded at security applications is unnecessary. It is presented as streamed video, quickly exceeding the bandwidth of a network, especially if many cameras are operating at once. The server HDDs must run continuously to record the data, wearing out quickly, and posing the risk of data loss. The advent of HD security products and the increase in remote monitoring are placing even more demands on server reliability, recording capacity and available network bandwidth. Not only do intelligent storage cameras help to address many of the existing issues associated with networked CCTV system operation, management and reliability, but they also open up the possibility of remotely monitoring site cameras directly. No central DVR or security management system would be required. This is a totally new approach to security management and an opportunity yet to be grasped by security integrators.
The White Paper entitled, “Why intelligent storage in cameras will transform IP Video Surveillance”, by Doug Marman, CTO and co-founder of VideoIQ, outlines how the addition of detection intelligence and recording in security cameras will change network CCTV systems forever. We asked Gary Mercer, UK sales director for VideoIQ, to substantiate this claim and explain just how the CCTV industry will be transformed.
Networked CCTV systems have adopted the same “data centre” IT infrastructure used by commercial and business applications around the world. Data from PCs or other networked equipment, such as CCTV cameras, is transmitted across the network to a central server for recording and management. The most common causes of IT system failure are the breakdown of the hard disc drive (HDD) used for recording in the central server and network “jamming”, damage, breakage or disconnection. Networked CCTV systems are currently being designed to record images from many cameras, simultaneously, onto a single, central HDD. The images will only be recorded after they have been transmitted over the network. This means, at concept level, networked CCTV systems are being designed to rely on known weak areas of the existing IT infrastructure!
In addition to the risk of data loss, CCTV applications are restricted by the data carrying capacity of a network – its bandwidth. The read/write ratio for network IT systems is 50:50. Data flow is intermittent and the amount of data per application is relatively small. By comparison, network CCTV systems have a read/write ratio nearer 1:99, where 99% of the data flow is for the recording of large amounts of video images, “streamed” continuously to the server (DVR). The remaining 1% of data flow is for the retrieval of images for viewing and analysis. Streamed video images are huge data files. A typical network will struggle to handle the data from only two cameras recording simultaneously at D1, high resolution, let alone the CCTV many cameras used at most sites.
Lowering the recording resolution of each camera and reducing the number of images recorded per second, saves bandwidth. Unfortunately, this will also reduce image quality and significantly compromise a CCTV system’s effectiveness to provide evidence. Using a separate network for site security applications helps, but does not address the fundamental problem, namely, that streaming video data across a network quickly uses up all available bandwidth.
The “data centre” infrastructure also assumes that HDD storage is cheap. However, failure of one HDD could risk data loss from numerous cameras at once, so RAID back-up storage and “extra reliable”, server duty (or better) HDDs are used - of which 3 to 5 years of continuous use is considered good! RAID back-ups and server duty HDDs are not a cheap solution. Their running costs, including housing them in a server; servicing, managing and cooling them, make the actual costs of storage rise to around 25% of a typical business’s total IT budget. In addition, the nature of the streamed video data means that the HDDs will probably run continuously, wearing out rapidly and exposing the security system to yet more risk of failure.
Intelligent detection and storage in cameras address many of the issues we have mentioned. Most significantly, video data is recorded in the camera before being transmitted across a network - sometimes termed “recording at the edge”. This means video images no longer have to be streamed continuously. The iCVR from VideoIQ, for example, will send CCTV data as video clips – a similar concept to sending a text or email, where the data is sent as a package. Even if data transmission is interrupted due to network problems, the entire data package will eventually get through, and can even be sent to a mobile phone. A second benefit to recording within the camera is that the resolution of the video images does not need to be reduced to save bandwidth. Subsequently, every camera on the system can record at the highest quality setting, providing better evidence. The VideoIQ iCVR cameras will also, initially, record onto an internal flash drive, before transferring data onto the integral HDD. This means the HDD is only operating for around 10% of the time, not continuously, extending its life and increasing system reliability yet again.
Intelligent CCTV cameras ensure that only relevant site incidents are recorded. They will automatically alert security operators to an incident and disregard superfluous information. If only 1% of the data recorded is ever retrieved, an intelligent camera should be able to filter out a lot of the superfluous 99% of data most other CCTV systems gather, significantly reducing the amount of data on the network in the first place. By comparison, the more common approach of using intelligent, centralised, DVRs, means video data is still streamed across the network before analysis and recording, so although recording volume may be reduced, network bandwidth usage is not.
Intelligent storage cameras can be so efficient that existing commercial IT networks can realistically be used for CCTV applications, instead of security-specific networks. This can represent a large potential cost-saving for any business.
For system upgrades and expansion, adding intelligent storage cameras to a network is simple. The system can be upgraded, one camera at a time, with the storage capacity scaled up proportionally. The risk of data loss is also dramatically reduced with storage dispersed across a site, instead of at a central position, reducing the potential effects of terrorist assault or deliberate sabotage.
In summary, the design, operation and management of networked CCTV and security systems requires an IT infrastructure developed specifically for security applications. Most of the data recorded at security applications is unnecessary. It is presented as streamed video, quickly exceeding the bandwidth of a network, especially if many cameras are operating at once. The server HDDs must run continuously to record the data, wearing out quickly, and posing the risk of data loss. The advent of HD security products and the increase in remote monitoring are placing even more demands on server reliability, recording capacity and available network bandwidth. Not only do intelligent storage cameras help to address many of the existing issues associated with networked CCTV system operation, management and reliability, but they also open up the possibility of remotely monitoring site cameras directly. No central DVR or security management system would be required. This is a totally new approach to security management and an opportunity yet to be grasped by security integrators.
The intelligent storage camera from VideoIQ - changing how networked CCTV systems are designed