IP CCTV Design

Eng Nader Elmansi

IP CCTV Design
1. INTRODUCTION
• CCTV systems provide surveillance
capabilities used in the protection of
people, assets, and systems.
• CCTV systems are often used to
support comprehensive security
systems by incorporating video
coverage and security alarms for
barriers, intrusion detection, and access
control.
• A CCTV system links a camera to a
video monitor using a direct
transmission system. This differs from
broadcast television where the signal is
transmitted over the air and viewed with
a television.
• CCTV systems have many components
with a variety of functions, features, and
specifications. Key components include
cameras, lenses, data distribution,
power, and lighting, among others.
• CCTV technologies continuously
undergo feature refinements to improve
performance in areas such as digital
equipment options, data storage,
component miniaturization, wireless
communications, and automated image
analysis.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

• Following design process enables

organizations to make purchasing
decisions that result in the procurement
and installation of a CCTV system that
meets functional and operational
requirements.
• As CCTV is part of a multi-layered
security approach, a system design
should begin with a comprehensive
needs assessment to ensure security
risks and mitigation plans are identified.
• Clear requirements, a comprehensive
site survey, and proper equipment
selection and installation must all be
considered when designing a CCTV
system.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.1 Defining System Requirements

•In order for an organization to properly
implement a CCTV system, site-specific
characteristics need to be assessed by a
knowledgeable multidisciplinary team of
personnel.
•This team is critical to identifying key
functional and operational requirements.
•Functional requirements consist of
determining the area of surveillance, such
as a perimeter area or an access point.
•Operational requirements define what
information a CCTV system will be
expected to provide given the existing
operating conditions.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.1 Defining System Requirements

2.1.1 Multidisciplinary System Design

Team
•Organizations should begin by establishing a
team of people with relevant knowledge to
help guide the CCTV system design process.
•The system design team should be involved
in all phases of the project to include: needs
assessment, requirements development,
system design and layout, procurement,
installation, and final check-out of the system.
• Personnel should be included from varied
internal disciplines such as security, facility
maintenance and management, and those
who work directly with assets on-site or in
controlled monitoring environments.
• The team may opt to consult with external
subject matter experts, such as electricians,
systems engineers, and information
technology (IT) professionals.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.1 Defining System Requirements

2.1.2 Needs Assessment
•Organizations can enhance the security of facilities
and critical infrastructure most effectively by defining
their overall goals and objectives for CCTV systems in
terms of the requirements
•A needs assessment gathers and analyzes four sets
of requirements: functional, operational,
infrastructure, and video retention.
•Functional requirements–Define camera coverage
needs such as surveillance of perimeters, parking
lots, and storage areas; surveillance of approaches
to, and spaces within, buildings or other structures;
and surveillance of waterfronts;
•Operational requirements–day and night
operations, lighting, weather conditions, and
temperature changes. Infrastructure requirements–
Define needs for installing or accessing fiber or hard-
wire cables, wireless networks, and power sources
•Video retention requirements–Define the
organization’s video retention and storage needs..
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.1 Defining System Requirements

2.1.3 CCTV Site Survey
•A CCTV system’s effectiveness can be enhanced when
integrated with access control, intrusion detection, or
duress systems.
• Successful integration requires a comprehensive site
survey which supports the development of detailed
equipment specifications, installation design, and
ultimately a thorough system test.
•A site survey should address all aspects of specifying and
building a CCTV system and it is an integral part of
defining the requirements for discrete tasks and the role of
each piece of equipment.
•Whenever possible, CCTV systems should be included in
the planning and design stage of any new asset to ensure
all necessary infrastructure requirements are adequately
incorporated into the overall facility or asset design.
•The result of a comprehensive survey of the area in which
a CCTV system is to be installed or upgraded provides
input to the requirements and design process.
• Considerations inherent in a site survey include the
number of operators, local and remote operator consoles,
layout, light levels, camera and lens selection and
location, and power and data transmission.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.1 Defining System Requirements

2.1.4 System Layout Considerations
•satellite photographs, local government files, privately
contracted aerial photography services, and a host of
free web-based mapping applications.
•Aerial photographs can provide information regarding
on-site distances and blind areas where outdoor video
coverage may be needed.
•Interior surveys are similar to exterior surveys.
•Aerial photographs can be replaced with scaled
computer aided drawings or blueprints of the facility
being surveyed.
•These can be used to mark potential camera site
locations to identify the necessary coverage of access
points, critical assets, and desired fields of view.
•A camcorder is often used to determine camera
positions and evaluate video images from proposed
camera locations.
•An important factor in the design and layout of a CCTV
system is the location of its transmission hubs.
•Transmission routes channeled through a primary
transmission hub could lead to a single point of failure in
which an outage of one transmitter could disable the
transmission of data from other camera sites.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.2 CCTV System Design

Considerations
•System design considerations include
factors such as lighting, power,
transmission, and cost.
•These factors are important in the
design and layout of a CCTV system.
• In addition to these factors, camera
types, lenses, monitors, multiplexers,
•Selection of the CCTV components is
an iterative process that takes place in
conjunction with the design phase.
•more details on common component
features and specifications that should
be considered when selecting
equipment for a CCTV system.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.2 CCTV System Design Considerations

2.2.1 Lighting
•Lighting strategies, camera selection, and camera
location should be considered together in the design
of a CCTV system
•Light (or illumination) levels, natural and artificial,
affect system requirements at different times of the
day for exterior systems.
• Exterior cameras often require lenses with automatic
apertures to compensate for changes in light levels.
• Interior cameras may require internal software to
compensate for backlight, which is the contrast
between low interior light levels and high exterior
daytime light levels.
• For example, backlight compensation allows security
personnel to see details of a person moving in front of
a brightly lit window.
• Artificial lighting can affect the appearance of the
image as well as the operation of the CCTV system.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.2 CCTV System Design Considerations

2.2.2 Power Distribution

•it is advisable to locate power sources close to

CCTV equipment
•Placing low-voltage power components near
high-voltage lines can induce currents in the low-
voltage system, presenting a hazard to
personnel and equipment of radiated heat.
•placing a power source too far away can cause
drive the installation costs up due to the larger
conductor sizes needed to reduce voltage drop
over long distances
•uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are
beneficial in protecting equipment and
conditioning the power
•Voltage spikes and lightning are common
phenomena affecting CCTV systems. Lightning,
a common cause of voltage spikes, may cause
failures and disable major pieces of equipment in
buildings.
•all pieces of electronic equipment should have
sufficient lightning suppression to help reduce
damage and failures
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN
2.2 CCTV System Design Considerations
2.2.3 Video Transmission
•Selecting the appropriate video
transmission media, such as coaxial cable ,
unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or Wireless
is one of the most important aspects of
designing a quality CCTV system.
•if the video signal is not transmitted by the
proper media, performance could be
degraded.
•Many common problems with video image
quality can be avoided by selecting the
appropriate transmission media .
•As CCTV technology has evolved, video
transmission has progressed from analog
to digital transmission.
•New cameras with Internet protocol (IP)
capability transmit compressed video as
digital data.
• A drawback of IP transmissions is that
video places a high demand on a network’s
bandwidth, and the tradeoff may be image
quality.
•One potential solution for this issue is to
separate the video stream from the primary
network.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.2 CCTV System Design Considerations

2.2.4 Scalability
•Scalability of CCTV systems refers to the ability of the system to accommodate additional components such
as cameras, increased video storage, and additional monitors.
• Large facilities often implement CCTV systems in stages due to budget limitations or in order to verify system
performance.
•The ability to easily incorporate hardware and software updates should be a consideration of a CCTV system
design.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN
2.1 Defining System Requirements
2.2.5 Cost
•Cost estimates for a CCTV system should cover all aspects of the system’s life cycle including planning,
design, installation, operation, maintenance, and personnel costs.
•In addition, long-term personnel costs, such as initial and refresher training programs should be included.
•Hardware and software upgrades should also be a cost consideration.
•Using existing CCTV infrastructure such as cameras, camera mounts, and cable runs may reduce costs.
•replacing old equipment and infrastructure may improve system performance and be a more cost-effective
solution.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN
2.1 Defining System Requirements
2.2.6 Infrastructure
When planning a CCTV installation,
there are four important
considerations:
•To what extent can the system use
existing infrastructure?
•To what extent can the new CCTV
system integrate with existing
enterprise systems?
•To what extent can the new CCTV
system integrate with or complement
other existing or planned intrusion
detection and access control
systems?
•To what extent can the new system
operate in parallel with existing
systems and which system will
influence operational procedures and
response?
•For example, old coaxial cable
systems can be converted to IP
systems by running Ethernet over
coaxial cable with a converter
module. Analog video and Ethernet
can also be run over telephone
lines.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.1 Defining System Requirements

2.2.7 Reliability and Maintainability
perform the required functions over time and operate,
maintain, and upgrade the system.
techniques used to improve user confidence in a new
installation, including:
•Conferring with security and management personnel at
other facilities that have implemented similar systems or
used the same vendor;
•Requesting competing vendors to run trial programs on-
site or bench test equipment prior to installation;
•Installing new equipment on a small scale in order to verify
that performance meets the organization’s needs.
•Vendor warranty terms may require that all technicians
working on equipment be certified.
• Some vendors may require a maintenance contract to
ensure they have staff available to respond within a specific
period of time.
• The support requirements should be understood prior to
purchase and installation of equipment.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN

2.1 Defining System Requirements

2.2.8 Annunciation, Assessment, and
Response
•The role of many CCTV systems in a
comprehensive security program is to aid
security personnel.
•For instance, when a security alarm
occurs at a location not currently
displayed on a monitor; the system can
alert the operator by automatically
switching the display to the location of
the security alarm.
•The operator can then assess the
security alarm visually and dispatch
appropriate response forces.
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN
2.1 Defining System Requirements
2.2.9 Requirements and Design Worksheets
Basic Questions for Addressing CCTV System Requirements
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN
2.1 Defining System Requirements
2.2.9 Requirements and Design Worksheets
Basic Questions for Addressing CCTV System Requirements
IP CCTV Design
2. CCTV SYSTEM DESIGN
2.1 Defining System Requirements
2.2.9 Requirements and Design Worksheets
Basic Questions for Addressing CCTV System Requirements
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras

Eng Nader Elmansi

IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
CCTV systems operated by
professional security personnel are
comprised of a number of
components falling into several basic
categories:
•Cameras;
•Lenses;
•Housings and mounts;
•Monitors;
•Switchers and multiplexers
•Video recorders.
The most complex CCTV systems
may incorporate hundreds of
cameras and sensors integrated into
one overall security network.
Most new CCTV systems maximize
the advantages of digital
technologies by utilizing electronic
databases, compact components,
and wireless transmission techniques
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
All CCTV cameras include three basic
elements:
•Image sensor–Converts light (photons) into
electronic signals;
•Lens–Gathers light reflected from a subject
and focuses the light on the image sensor;
•Image processing circuitry–Organizes,
optimizes, and transmits video signals.
The answers to the following questions
may help determine the best camera type:
•What is the desired image quality?
•What size is the desired field of view (FOV)?
•How much lighting is available?
•Will the camera be installed indoors or
outdoors?
•Will the video be monitored on a full time
basis?
•How will the video be transmitted?
•Will the camera be exposed to extreme
conditions?
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.1 Fixed Cameras
•Fixed cameras are mounted in a stationary
position
•focused on a single FOV, typically one
particular area of interest.
• These cameras can be used indoors or
outdoors
•installed overtly or covertly.
•Fixed cameras vary in size and can be
mounted in a wide range of locations (e.g.,
inside cabinets or control panels, or on
poles, fence lines, or roofs).
•Fixed cameras can be integrated with an
electronic security system (ESS) and used
to assess ESS alarms.
• For example, a fixed camera can surveil a
secured gate but only record data when the
gate opens, triggering an alarm.
• Fixed cameras are usually less expensive
than PTZ cameras and require less
maintenance as they have fewer moving
parts
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.1 Fixed Cameras
•Fixed cameras are mounted in a stationary
position
•focused on a single FOV, typically one
particular area of interest.
• These cameras can be used indoors or
outdoors
•installed overtly or covertly.
•Fixed cameras vary in size and can be
mounted in a wide range of locations (e.g.,
inside cabinets or control panels, or on
poles, fence lines, or roofs).
•Fixed cameras can be integrated with an
electronic security system (ESS) and used
to assess ESS alarms.
• For example, a fixed camera can surveil a
secured gate but only record data when the
gate opens, triggering an alarm.
• Fixed cameras are usually less expensive
than PTZ cameras and require less
maintenance as they have fewer moving
parts
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.2 PTZ Cameras
•PTZ cameras come in a variety of sizes and
shapes for interior and exterior uses.
•PTZ camera can be turned and tilted on two
axes to provide pan and tilt capabilities
•the focal length of the lens can be varied to
change the FOV.
•PTZ cameras can be operated manually or
in an automatic scan mode.
•In manual mode, the operator can control
the direction of the camera depending on
situational needs and zoom in on an object
(e.g., a suspicious bag, a person’s facial
features, or a license plate).
•automatically scan back and forth over a
wide area that cannot be covered by a single
fixed camera.
•PTZ camera could be programmed to
change its view every 10 seconds to capture
different areas of interest within the
camera’s overall surveillance area.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.3 Connectivity Type
CCTV cameras may employ one of two types of data transmission:
•Network Cameras–Network cameras connect to IP-based networks, including the Internet, and provide remote
viewing and recording. available in high definition (HD) which can provide greater image detail.
•Analog Cameras–market for analog cameras still exists Analog cameras have options for high resolution.
These cameras also have some cyber security advantages because the coaxial cable they are connected with
would require physical access to breach.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.4 Day/Night Cameras
•Day/night cameras offer flexibility by automatically
adjusting to current lighting conditions.
•These cameras capture color images in daylight and
switch to black-and-white to improve image quality at
night.
•The camera relies on an analysis of the current
image or a photoelectric sensor to determine when to
automatically remove the infrared-cut filter and switch
to monochrome settings.
•Night vision cameras used in CCTV systems
typically consist of near-infrared (NIR) and IR
cameras with built-in IR illuminators.
•Cameras used to capture images in dark
environments are either low-light or night vision
cameras.
•They are designed to allow the operator to view night
scenes.
•The distance from which a CCTV camera can detect
objects at night depends on the capability of the
camera components, such as the lens and sensor, as
well as on the intensity of the IR illuminator used.
•The IR light emitted from these illuminators can be
at wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.5 Low-Light Cameras

•Low-light cameras are designed to perform in some level of ambient lighting, such as indoor
restaurant lighting, street lamps, or a full moon; they are not intended for use in complete
darkness.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.6 Thermal Imaging Cameras
•Some operational environments may require a
thermal imaging camera to detect through
obstructions such as fog or smoke.
• Thermal imaging cameras detect infrared or heat
radiation that is invisible to the human eye.
•Currently these cameras are sensitive to a
temperature difference of one tenth of a degree
Fahrenheit.
•Thermal imagers cannot detect through glass or
water, but can provide an image through limited
density fog or smoke.
•Many thermal imaging cameras have built-in image
processing to create images with improved contrast.
•Thermal cameras are often mounted in gyro-
stabilized, pan-and-tilt devices as well as on boats and
helicopters for night surveillance in poorly lit areas.
•They are also available as small handheld units with
built-in displays, which can be used in safety, security,
and emergency responder applications.
•The image sensors in thermal cameras can degrade,
so it is important to consult with the camera
manufacturer to determine performance
characteristics over time and to budget for the cost of
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.1 Cameras
3.1.7 Miniature or Covert Cameras
•Special applications may exist that require the installation of small, hidden cameras as part of a CCTV
system.
•These cameras are not usually weather resistant, so they may require an external housing if they are to
be used outdoors.
•These cameras are typically battery operated and may use built-in transmitters to provide a compact
wireless solution.
•Organizations can choose from many types of miniature and covert cameras depending on their
requirements.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.8 Optional Camera Features
CCTV cameras can include a variety of optional
features to meet the specific needs of the operational
environment. Some of these common features are
described below.

Auto Scan
Some PTZ cameras can be programmed to perform
automated functions. Auto scan is the term used to
describe a constant cycle of sweeping through the
surveillance area.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.8 Optional Camera Features
Preset–
•A preset is a programmed orientation and lens setting, which a PTZ camera moves to either periodically or when
a certain type of event occurs.
•For example, during an intrusion alarm, a camera can be preset to display the high-value assets in the
surveillance area or to focus on the access point where the alarm was triggered.
•The PTZ controls allow you to set up to 16 preset locations for each PTZ camera that the system is controlling.
•The preset locations allow an operator to quickly adjust the camera lens view to the locations that you define.
•These setup instructions cover how define PTZ preset locations and how to browse to those locations after they
are set up.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.8 Optional Camera Features
Privacy Masking–
•A camera with privacy masking capability can
selectively block portions of the video image for the
purpose of protecting privacy.
•For example, PTZ cameras may be used to monitor a
parking lot adjacent to an apartment building with the
images of the windows in the building masked.
• This is a feature of the system configuration
(software or hardware) and can be complex and
costly.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.8 Optional Camera Features
Slip Ring
A slip ring is an electrical connection that allows a PTZ
camera to turn without twisting the signal/control
cable. Slip rings can use light beams to optically
transmit the image, or use a sliding brush contact on a
base ring to create an electrical path. Slip rings tend to
be sensitive to contamination and temperature
changes
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.8 Optional Camera Features
•support remote viewing from PC and Mac computers
using Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, and Chrome
web browsers.
•Internet Explorer access from Windows PC supports
the most feature rich user experience of all the web
browser implementations, however, the Safari, Firefox,
and Chrome support allows Mac users to also login to
view cameras remotely over the Internet.
•Feature related to Camera or DVR
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.9 Types of Image Sensors
CCTV cameras commonly use charge-
coupled device (CCD) or complementary
metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image
sensor technology. The smallest part of an
image produced on a solid-state chip is the
picture element, or pixel. Regardless of the
sensor type, pixels are engineered in
number, size, and filtration to provide
different resolutions, light sensitivity, and
spectral responses
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.9 Types of Image Sensors
3.1.9.1 Charge-Coupled Device Sensors
•Cameras that use CCD image sensors entered the CCTV industry in the mid-1980s and now dominate the
market for daylight and low-light, or NIR cameras.
•CCD technology has many advantages over the tubes used in the earliest video cameras.
•CCD image sensors are smaller, generate less heat, and their captured images are less susceptible to
“blooming.” Blooming occurs when the image sensor is overwhelmed by a high-intensity light source in the FOV
and eliminates details in other parts of the image.
•The life expectancy of a CCD camera ranges from 5 to 25 years.
•CCDs consist of a three-dimensional array of pixels, each of which generates an electrical signal proportional to
the quantity of light it receives.
•This analog electrical signal is transferred to another chip where it is converted to digital information.
•This digital information is processed within the camera and then transmitted to other components of the CCTV
system.
•Some cameras convert the processed signal to analog video prior to transmission.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.9 Types of Image Sensors
3.1.9.1 Charge-Coupled Device Sensors
•manufacturers offer CCDs with a lens capability for sensor elements to gather more light and increase
sensitivity.
•A sensor’s spectral response is a function of the chemistry of some components and can be further
manipulated with filtering technologies. Filters designed to reduce or eliminate IR light, known as “infrared-cut
filters,” can be used in front of the sensors to improve a color camera’s image.
•In order to increase the resolution, some cameras use three CCDs.
•In this configuration, a prism splits the white light passing through the lens into red, green, and blue. Then,
three monochrome CCDs, each filtered to receive one color, calculate and combine the vector output to create
a high-resolution image. The same principles can be applied to cameras utilizing three CMOS sensors.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.1 Cameras
3.1.9 Types of Image Sensors
3.1.9.2 CMOS Sensors
•Applications requiring high-quality images tend to rely on
CCD sensors, but CMOS sensors are commonly used in
applications such as network cameras, PC peripherals,
and smartphones.
•This is a result of CMOS sensors using less power than
CCDs and being less expensive to manufacture.
•Unlike CCD sensors, CMOS sensors address each pixel
individually.
•They process the charge from each pixel on the sensor
and transmit a digital bit of information.
•This technique reduces the need for additional
processing along the transmission pathway.
•CMOS sensors use less power than CCDs because a
larger area of the chip is devoted to processing circuits.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses

Eng Nader Elmansi

IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.2 Lenses
•The lens on a CCTV camera is the first
element in the imaging chain, which consists of
the lens, camera, transmission system, image
management and analysis software, and
monitor.
• The lens focuses light or IR energy onto the
imaging sensor.
•A lens’s role is to deliver an undistorted, evenly
focused, accurate image to the imaging sensor.
Systems that require superior quality images
start with lenses engineered to produce a high-
quality image for the imaging sensor.
•Variables to consider when selecting a lens
include the distance required to clearly focus on
objects, FOV, size of the camera’s image
sensor, and lighting conditions.
•Lenses are identified by their focal length,
usually stated in millimeters; largest aperture,
usually stated as an f-number; and the size of
the image sensor for which it was designed.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.2 Lenses
3.2.1 Types of Lenses
Lenses are available in three basic types:
•fixed focal length
•varifocal (variable focal length),
• zoom.
The focal length of a lens is the distance between the optical center of the lens and the image plane. The lens
focal length and the image sensor size determine the camera’s FOV.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.2 Lenses
3.2.1 Types of Lenses
3.2.1.1 Fixed Focal Length Lenses
•Fixed focal length lenses are built with one set, unchangeable, focal length.
• Such lenses are useful in situations where the camera remains in a fixed position and the requirements to
observe an area do not change
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.1 Types of Lenses
3.2.1.2 Varifocal Lenses
•The focal length of varifocal lenses can be changed within a
specific range
• each time the focal length is changed, the iris and focus may also
need adjustment.
•offer the flexibility of varying the scene content and are relatively
inexpensive when compared to conventional zoom lenses.
• Once the focal length and iris are set, the camera will maintain the
FOV.
•identified by the focal length range, aperture range, and size of the
image sensor the lens is designed for.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.1 Types of Lenses
3.2.1.3 Zoom Lenses
•Unlike the varifocal lens, the zoom lens is designed to
maintain the focus setting throughout the focal length
range.
• Zoom lenses in the CCTV industry are often built
with integral motors to enable changing the focal
length from a remote location.
•They are used on cameras that monitor different
parts of a scene or can pan and tilt to monitor different
locations.
•Zoom lenses are identified by their focal length range,
aperture range, and the size of the imaging sensor the
lens is designed for.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.1 Types of Lenses
3.2.1.4 Optical Versus Digital Zoom Ranges
•The focal length ranges for varifocal and zoom lenses denote optical focal length ranges, which are a
function of the components of the lens.
•The zoom range is referred to both as a specific range of focal lengths, such as 6 to 24 mm.
•focal length range of 6 to 24 mm, the zoom factor is 4x (6 x 4 = 24).
•It should be noted that zoom factor is not an indication of image magnification; zoom factor is only indicative
of the focal length range.
•Image magnification is a function of the image sensor size and the lens focal length.
• Zoom lenses are often chosen so that security personnel can use the longer focal lengths to zoom in and
enlarge a specific potion of the image to see more detail or make identification.
•A digital or electronic zoom refers to the capability of the camera, or the CCTV system’s processing
software, to select and enlarge portions of the full image.
•In this case, only the selected pixels are magnified.
•Unlike optical zoom, digital zoom does not enhance the detail of an image, it reduces it.
•Digital zoom ranges are often denoted by magnification factors of 2x, 6x, etc.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
A lens has certain components and characteristics that further
determine its capabilities. These include
•the focal length,
•type of aperture
• focus control,
wavelength of light or energy the lens is optimized to transmit,
and image sensor size the lens is designed for. Additionally, a
camera’s resolution and the impact of noise on the image being
captured are critical to the overall performance of a CCTV
system.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.1 Focal Length and Sensor Zise

•Focal Length (mm) of a lens determines

how far the camera can see.
•the bigger the focal length, the farther away
it can focus.
•The smaller the focal length, the wider the
field of view.
•focal length and size of image sensor
determine the angle from which the lens
accepts light to focus on the image sensor.
•Different lenses of the same focal length are
designed to create a focused image on
sensors of different sizes.
• For example, surveillance cameras are built
with image sensor formats of ¼, ⅓, ½, ⅔, or
1 inch. These measures refer to the
approximate diagonal measurement of the
image sensor.
•Image sensor formats are denoted in
inches, while lens focal lengths are
measured in millimeters.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.1 Focal Length and Sensor size
•The camera’s FOV is a function of the lens’s
focal length and the size of the image
sensor.
A 12-millimeter lens can be designed for
the following:
•½-inch image format camera and will
produce a standard image;
•⅓-inch image format camera and will
produce a telephoto-like image;
•⅔-inch image format camera and will
produce a wide-angle image.
It is best to use a lens designed for the size
of the image sensor in the camera.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.2 Field of View
•The image sensor size and the focal length can be
used to determine the FOV.
•FOV is the area seen by the camera and lens. This
area is commonly calculated by a tool known as a
lens calculator.
•Table shows how to calculate the horizontal width
and vertical height of the FOV.
•The FOV is calculated using camera imager size,
the distance to the object of interest and the lens
focal length.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.2 Field of View
•A common tool in the CCTV industry is the
handheld, wheel-style lens calculator.
•It is an easy and convenient method for
determining dimensions of a scene.
•Wheel-style lens calculators are widely available
from CCTV vendors, generally at no cost.
•there are many online lens calculators, as well as
software lens calculators.
•https://www.jvsg.com/cctv-design-tool/
•https://www.axis.com/nz/en/tools/lens-calculator
•https://www.ptgrey.com/lens-calculator
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.3 Iris and Aperture
•The aperture is the opening in the lens which allows
light to flow through the lens.
•Lenses with adjustable aperture settings have a multi-
leaved device, called an iris diaphragm, or iris, inside
the lens.
• The iris diameter changes with the aperture setting.
•The iris diameter regulates the quantity of light flowing
through the lens and subsequently onto the image
sensor.
•The iris ensures the optimum amount of light reaches
the image sensor through the aperture, providing the
best image possible.
• This is critical to optimal image viewing.
• If too much light hits the image sensor, the image will
appear washed out.
• Too little light will result in a dark image in which only
the brightest objects in the FOV are visible.
•f-number indicates a lens’s aperture setting is the ratio
of the lens’s focal length to the diameter of the aperture
•f–number = focal length /effective aperture
•For instance, an f-number of f/2 indicates that the
lens’s focal length is twice (2x) the diameter of the
aperture opening.
 IP CCTV Design
3.2 Lenses 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.3 Iris and Aperture
•Iris is fixed or variable with manual or automatic adjustments.
•Fixed aperture lenses useful where the lighting is constant.
•manually adjustable apertures useful in static viewing situations with controlled lighting.
•automatic adjustable apertures are called auto-iris.
•A large aperture is an indication of the lens’s ability to transmit light in dim conditions and is commonly
expressed as an f-stop.
•The smaller the f-stop number, the wider the aperture.
•Common f-stop values for manual lenses include 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, and 22.
•A setting of f/4 lets twice the light pass through the aperture as compared to a setting of f/5.6.
•Lenses large apertures, as f/1.0, f/1.2, and f/1.4, are “fast” lenses, they allow more light to reach the sensor
than higher f-stop numbers, such as f/8.0 or f/11.
• Lenses higher f-stop numbers are described as “slow.”
•aperture affect the depth of field, which is the area in front of and behind the object appears to be in focus.
• Higher f-stop numbers will provide greater depths of field.
 IP CCTV Design
3.2 Lenses 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.4 Back Focus
•image transmitted through a lens should be focused on the sensor.
•This camera adjustment is called back focusing.
• Cameras differ in their method to vary the distance between the imager surface and the lens’s mounting
surface.
•Most cameras have a method of moving the image sensor forward and backward.
•Back focus is primarily an issue with zoom lenses.
•A zoom lens is properly back focused when the image of a fixed object remains sharp throughout the entire
zoom range.
•The focus ring on the lens should not have to be touched during this zoom operation.
•To properly back focus a zoom or fixed lens, the lens aperture is set at the largest opening and for a zoom lens
the focal length is adjusted to the longest setting.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.5 Image Quality and CCTV Lenses
•A number of factors affect how light moves through the lens and forms an image on the sensor, one of
these factors is distortion.
•There are two main types of distortion associated with image quality: barrel and pincushion.
• Barrel lens distortion is related to wide-angle lenses and, in particular, a wide-angle lens that zooms.
causes the edges of images to appear curved, as though they are wrapped around a curved surface.
•Pincushion distortion is an effect most often associated with zoom telephotos that causes images to
appear pinched in the center. This distortion increases with the distance the object is from the optical
axis of the lens. Pincushion distortion is the opposite effect to barrel lens distortion.
•Distortion affects the image of all objects in the FOV and the apparent relationships among objects in
space. Low distortion is important to preserve correct impressions of space and objects. High-quality
CCTV lenses have low distortion values, although distortion is not the only criterion of quality.
 IP CCTV Design
3.2 Lenses 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.6 Resolution
•The resolution of a camera is an indicator of its ability to
resolve detail in an image.
TVL (Television Line)
•Used for an analog camera's or monitors's horizontal
resolution power.
•alternatively known as Lines of Horizontal Resolution
(LoHR) or lines of resolution.
•TVL is the maximum number of alternating light and dark
vertical lines can be resolved per picture height
•A resolution of 400 TVL means that 200 distinct dark
vertical lines and 200 distinct white vertical lines.
•EX 420 TVL, 480 TVL, 540 TVL, 600 TVL, 700 TVL, 1000
TVL
Mega Pixel
•In digital imaging, a pixel, dots, is smallest controllable
element of a picture represented on the screen.
•Each pixel is a sample of an original image; more samples
typically provide more accurate representations of the
original.
• The intensity of each pixel is variable. In color imaging
systems, a color is typically represented by three or four
component intensities such as red, green, and blue, or
cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.7 Signal-to-Noise Ratio
•All circuits produce some degree of electronic
noise.
• The amount of noise in a circuit, referred to as the
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),
• is especially important whenever a signal requires
amplification or processing because amplifiers and
processing components can magnify the existing
errors in the signal as well as introduce new errors.
•Noise in a video signal is viewed as graininess or
snow on the screen.
• Video noise often becomes apparent when a
camera is operating at the edge of its design
parameters; for example, using a daylight color
camera at dusk or in low-light conditions often
produces a noisy image.
•SNR values are usually given in decibels, with
higher values more desirable than lower values.
• Noise can also originate outside the camera or
system. Once electronic noise is present in a video
system, it is expensive and difficult to remove
effectively.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2 Lenses
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.8 Color Corrected and Monochrome
Lenses
•Lenses should be paired correctly with the camera
selected.
• Color corrected lenses are designed to focus the
various colors of light onto the same image plane
and create good images using color and daylight
monochrome cameras.
•Most lenses sold today are color corrected lenses.
•Monochrome lenses are inexpensive and capable
of providing an adequate image on inexpensive
monochrome cameras; however, they should not be
used on color cameras.
•High-end monochrome cameras, which process
reflected infrared light, should be used with lenses
designed to perform well in that portion of the
spectrum.
 IP CCTV Design
3.2 Lenses 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.9 Lenses with Aspherical Elements
•The glass or plastic elements used in a lens design have
spherical surfaces.
•Computerized lens production technologies have made the
manufacture of surfaces easier and cheaper, thereby
providing lens designers greater leeway in correcting the
light transmittance through a lens.
•Aspherical lenses were created to eliminate spherical
aberration. Spherical aberration occurs when light from the
outside of a spherical optical element in the lens converges
at a different point than the light passing through the center
of the same optical element.
•The blurring can be removed by using a modified curved
lens with aspheric elements.
•Designers can also create CCTV lenses with wide apertures
that still produce useable images at the full aperture.
• Lenses with apertures of f/1.0 or faster, may be more
feasible with aspherical versus traditional designs.
• Zoom lenses with very large focal length ranges are very
difficult to design and engineer for high image quality and
thus may incorporate aspherical elements. Also, aspherical
lenses can be designed using fewer elements or smaller
lenses while still maintaining performance similar to lenses
with spherical elements
 IP CCTV Design
3.2 Lenses 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.10 Filters

The most common types of filters used in

the CCTV industry are neutral density (ND),
polarizing, and IR-cut filters.
•Neutral density (ND) filters are used to
reduce the amount of all visible light passing
through the lens when the level of the scene is
too high for the camera’s image sensor. ND
filters are available in various densities to
tailor the light reduction. ND filters are typically
mounted to the front of a lens.
 IP CCTV Design
3.2 Lenses 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.10 Filters

The most common types of filters used in the

CCTV industry are neutral density (ND),
polarizing, and IR-cut filters.

•Polarizing filters orient light in a specific direction in

front of the lens. Such filters are specifically designed
to reduce or eliminate reflected light and glare from
shiny surfaces, such as water or glass. Polarizing
filters can be mounted on the front of a lens and then
rotated to filter out the undesired light to increase the
contrast of the image.
 IP CCTV Design
3.2 Lenses 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.2.2 Features of Lenses
3.2.2.10 Filters

The most common types of filters used in the CCTV

industry are neutral density (ND), polarizing, and IR-cut
filters.
•IR-cut filters are used to filter or block most of the NIR
light energy that would otherwise reach the image sensor.
Most image sensors have significant sensitivity to NIR light.
Without the filter, the IR light from many daytime sources,
including the sun, would cause the image sensor to produce
an image with unnatural, unpredictable colors and poor
contrast. In color day/night cameras, the IR-cut filters are
mounted in a rotating filter ring inside the camera to allow
the NIR light to reach the image sensor when needed.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts

Eng Nader Elmansi

 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
Part of designing and installing an effective CCTV system
includes selection of the camera housings and mounts
Selecting CCTV housing and mounting hardware is directly
related to the operational system requirements, which are
developed during the design and procurement phases of a
CCTV installation project.
In any application, the housing and mounting hardware is
selected on the basis of several criteria:
• Environmental conditions, which include operating
temperatures and weather conditions, such as humidity and
corrosion;
• Architectural considerations, which are important to the
aesthetics of the hardware and can affect the architectural
design or change the value of the property;
• Installation and other special considerations that match the
installed materials to the system’s intended use and planned
maintenance.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.1 Camera Housing
• Fixed or PTZ cameras may require special housings or enclosures to ensure cameras are protected from
elements such as extreme weather conditions and vandalism.
• Camera housings must be well-suited to the type of equipment installed.
• The housing will need to complement the CCTV system design and must not interfere with the desired FOV.
• System requirements, such as resistance to environmental conditions, tampering, and direct assaults, can
dictate the composition and style of the camera housing.
• The housings listed in this section provide enclosure protection capabilities for specialized applications.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.1 Camera Housing
Dome Enclosures
• Indoor and outdoor domes are
enclosures that protect CCTV
equipment, often PTZ cameras, from
the elements and provide discrete
video surveillance by helping to
conceal the direction the camera is
facing.
• Domes can come with built-in heaters
and fans as well as vandal-resistant
hardened shells.
• They are usually spherical in shape to
minimize wind load and vibration.
• Various styles and configurations are
available.
• The optical dome must be able to
withstand temperature extremes and
not become brittle or cloudy with
exposure to solar and ultraviolet
radiation.
• Materials that lose transparency with
age in sunlight are unsuitable for
outdoor camera use.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.1 Camera Housing
Sealed Housings
• Special housings are available for cameras that must be
placed in a hostile environment, or in areas where
electrical components must be sealed to prevent a
possible explosion.
• In these situations, sealed and/or pressurized camera
housings are available.
• A sealed housing uses gaskets to prevent contamination
from the outside environment. Pressurized housings
employ chemically inert nitrogen gas to replace the air
inside the housing.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.1 Camera Housing
Impact-Resistant Housings
• Impact-resistant, or anti-vandal, housings are often used in high crime areas or as components of military
sensor systems.
• Impact-resistant camera housing bodie are typically heavy-gauge steel, and the optical surfaces are thick
acrylic or polycarbonate plastic.
• Some versions have a wire cage over the acrylic dome to provide greater protection.
• Observation is not hindered because the minimum focusing distance is several feet outside the wire cage.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.1 Camera Housing
Tamper-Resistant Housings
• Tamper-resistant housings are hardened protective housings similar to impact-resistant housings, with
additional protection against the use of tools to vandalize the camera.
• A tamper-resistant housing is lockable and designed to withstand cutting, hammering, or prying.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.3 Housing and Mounts

3.3.1 Camera Housing
Bullet-Resistant Housings
• Bullet-resistant housings are made of impact-
resistant materials. The window consists of at
least one thick layer of a polycarbonate
material.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.2 Housing Features
• Camera housings offer an array of features
intended to extend the life as well as ensure the
operational effectiveness of a CCTV camera.
• Several of these features are described below.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.2 Housing Features
Wipers
• Some camera housings employ a wiper, similar to a
vehicle windshield wiper, to keep the optical window
of the housing clean.
• However, many experts dispute the effectiveness of
wipers and recommend simply waxing the optical
window periodically.
• The use of a wiper can cause debris to erode the
optical surface.
• Wipers also add to the maintenance requirements.
Rubber wiper blades must be replaced periodically,
and washer fluid reservoirs must be kept filled.
• Some systems use a durable film stretched over the
optical surface of the housing.
• The film can be advanced from a cartridge to
provide a clean optical path.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.2 Housing Features
Heaters and Ventilators
• Temperature differences between the interior and
exterior of the camera housing may cause fogging,
moisture problems, and icing.
• Therefore, certain camera housings may require
additional hardware or capabilities to ensure the
camera can operate under extreme conditions.
• Heaters and ventilators are often used to address
environmental issues with cameras, although the
need for additional electrical power increases the
operational costs.
• Regular cleaning and maintenance can prevent
problems with heated or ventilated camera
housings.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.3 Indoor Camera Mounts
• The wide variety of CCTV mounting hardware and support equipment enables a security professional to tailor
equipment capabilities to system performance requirements.
• Hardware options may become limited with an increase in specific requirements.
• A camera can be mounted to a physical structure such as a wall or ceiling but may require different hardware
for each application.
• Cameras come in many shapes and sizes and the mounting method can vary depending on the application
and performance requirements.
• For example, a lipstick camera, often used for covert surveillance, can be placed in objects such as toys,
clocks, or lights. In contrast, a nonfunctioning camera, often referred to as a “drone” or “dummy,” is simply
mounted in a conspicuous location to deter unwanted activity.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.3 Indoor Camera Mounts
Wall Mounts
• Wall mounts use a bracket to support the camera
similar to a shelf’s bracket. This mount often
provides a method for adjusting the camera’s view
or aim.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.3 Indoor Camera Mounts
Pendant Mounts
• Pendant mounts can be used to suspend the
camera or equipment from a ceiling.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.3 Indoor Camera Mounts
Corner Mounts
• Corner mounts are used to attach a camera at a
location where two walls meet at a right angle.
• There are two types of corner mounts: inner and
outer.
• Corner mounts are often located near the ceiling to
provide the best FOV.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.3 Indoor Camera Mounts
Indoor Dome Camera Mounts
• Dome mounts are sometimes mounted in highly visible areas.
• Domes can be partially recessed into a ceiling or mounted flush to a surface.
• Additionally, a dome unit can provide a platform for a PTZ camera or multiple fixed camera units.
• Finally, dome units should be located and installed with care to account for potential vibrations from nearby air
conditioning and other electromechanical equipment.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.3 Housing and Mounts

3.3.4 Outdoor Camera Mounts
• A variety of hardware is available to support and
protect sensitive CCTV equipment from weather
and the elements.
• Many of the same indoor mounting configurations
are used for outdoor applications.
• Special mounting hardware is often required to
match the styles and aesthetics of the exterior
structures’ existing trim elements.
• The mount/bracket should accommodate the weight
of the camera and housing.
• If using the camera outside, plastic fixtures should
be avoided because of their tendency to deteriorate
and become brittle when exposed to sunlight.
• In addition, brackets should be selected that allow
for easy repositioning either with knobs or
adjustable arms.
• This will allow for the flexibility to position and adjust
the camera to improve the FOV.
• Two outdoor mounting options are detailed in this
section.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.4 Outdoor Camera Mounts
Pole Mounts
• Pole mounts can be used to raise the elevation of cameras and provide an unobstructed FOV.
• Often, the stability of the camera on a pole mount is sacrificed for height. Wind-induced movement of the
mount may become more noticeable as the camera’s height increases.
• Poles should be heavy duty, galvanized metal and must be completely stable.
• Pole mounts typically have stainless steel spring clamps for fastening to a variety of poles.
• Placement of the camera needs to be high enough to prevent tampering, while positioned appropriately for
the intended FOV.
 IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.3 Housing and Mounts
3.3.4 Outdoor Camera Mounts
Corner Mounts
• Corner mounts can be used for fixed or PTZ cameras, but are particularly helpful for PTZ cameras that need
a large viewing angle as they pan through an area.
• Whenever mounts are located on or near the top of a building, the presence of adjacent air conditioning or
other vibrating equipment should be noted as a potential source of blurring.
• Corner mounting brackets not only need to be secure and provide support for the camera, they must also
comply with building codes.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors

Eng Nader Elmansi

IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors
•The function of monitors is to display video images for viewing.
•The selection of monitors is as important to the quality of the image as the selection of cameras,
lenses, and other components in the imaging chain.
•The video monitor market offers a number of choices, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and LED
displays, various sizes, and other features.
• The requirements of the system will determine the type of monitor for each application.
•This section details some of the many features and considerations for monitor selection.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors
3.4.1 Pixels
•The display resolution of a monitor is expressed by the number of pixels that can be displayed.
•To ensure the highest quality image, a monitor should be able to show at least as many pixels of
information as the cameras are capable of imaging.
•Image quality depends on specifications and adjustments, usually described as width by height using
the number of pixels.
• For example, an 800 x 600 pixel setting on a 17- to 19-inch monitor will provide a mid-range level of
video quality.
•A 16:9 aspect ratio (width of 16 units and height of 9) has become a standard high definition
television (HDTV) format for displaying wide screen images on televisions and computer monitors.
•CCTV systems using digital or IP network components exclusively may benefit from 16:9 monitors.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors
3.4.2 Size
•Size is an important consideration when
selecting a monitor and is always expressed
as a diagonal measurement.
•Typically, it is difficult to focus a camera
using a monitor with a screen smaller than 9
inches.
• A 9-inch monitor may be sufficient if the
operator is sitting directly in front of it;
however, a 15-inch monitor is the smallest
that should be used if multiple images will be
shown on it.
IP CCTV Design
3.4 Video Monitors 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.4 Video Monitors

3.4.3 Monitors
Televisions–HDTVs
•used to view video in certain circumstances such as viewing video for investigation purposes from a
secured office.
•Televisions can also offer a cost-effective alternative for dual purpose monitoring of both internal CCTV
feeds and network broadcasts.
•However, televisions do not have the same durability as monitors; therefore, it is not an advisable choice
for 24-hour monitoring requirements.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.4 Video Monitors

3.4.3 Monitors
PC Monitors–DVRs
•can be connected to a PC monitor. Inputs and
outputs between these devices need to be
matched using standard connectors, adapters,
or converters.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.4 Video Monitors

3.4.3 Monitors
Monochrome Monitors–
•Due to the differences in technologies, monochrome monitors have a greater potential to display detail than
color monitors.
• Although the difference in resolution of color and monochrome monitors is narrowing, the potential loss of
visual detail with a color monitor must be weighed against the cost and benefits of its display.
•Either type of monitor can display both monochrome and color video signals.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.4 Video Monitors

3.4.3 Monitors
CCTV Monitors–
•Monitors designed for CCTV systems are preferred if the system will include multiple monitors and cameras,
or if the monitor is always on.
• Monitor technologies include cathode ray tube (CRT), LCD, organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and
plasma.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.4 Video Monitors

3.4.3 Monitors
CRT Monitors
•The CRT analog monitor is a legacy CCTV monitoring technology.
• CRT monitors are available in a variety of sizes.
•CRT monitors should include electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection.
•EMI can distort the path of the electron beams and reduce the quality of the image.
•CRT monitors are bulky, they are no longer used in handheld viewing devices and are seldom used in other
configurations of portable equipment.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.4 Video Monitors

3.4.3 Monitors
LCD Monitors
•LCD monitors are available in many shapes,
sizes, and resolutions.
•They provide a sharper, brighter picture than
CRT monitors because they can process
CCTV signals at a higher resolution.
• LCD monitors are much thinner front-to-back
than CRT monitors of similar screen size so
they take up less space and they generate
less heat.
• Many are small and compact enough to be
portable.
• They are also available in large sizes for
multiple camera viewing. An important
advantage of LCD monitors over CRT
monitors is that LCD monitors do not suffer
from magnetic interference.
• LCD monitors are being incorporated into
many monitoring facilities in government,
industrial, and corporate installations and
provide more flexible viewing options than can
be achieved by using banks of CRT monitors.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors
3.4.3 Monitors
OLED Monitors
•LED/OLED monitors use OLEDs, which emit light directly without the need for a backlight.
•This means that each diode can be turned on and off depending on what needs to be displayed on the
monitor screen, unlike LCD displays, which require the backlight source to be covered to produce blacks.
•The OLED implementation results in better contrast as well as reduced power consumption compared to LCD
monitors.
•However, OLED display technology is more expensive, more difficult to produce, and has a shorter lifetime
than LCD monitors.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors
3.4.3 Monitors
OLED Monitors
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors
3.4.3 Monitors
Plasma Monitors
•Plasma monitors are much like LCD monitors in that they are flat panels and individually control every pixel.
• A plasma display has a specific gas inside every pixel.
•The pixel elements illuminate in response to received electrical signals.
•Plasma monitors are available in many different sizes, although most are manufactured in a wide-screen 16:9
aspect ratio.
•The main advantage of plasma over LCD monitors is the greater viewing capability from an off-axis angle.
•Plasma displays are rapidly becoming less popular in CCTV applications due to improvements in LCD display
capabilities.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors
3.4.4 Video Walls
•Monitoring facilities may be designed with a wall of screens placed in close proximity to each other to display
video, maps, facility diagrams, alarm points, access control, event logs, third party applications, and Internet
websites.
• If the monitoring center will be used for other purposes such as an emergency operations center or for training,
presentations, or video conferencing, it is important to make sure all requirements for use are clearly understood
and identified early in the selection process.
•Video walls may use rear-projection monitors, thin film transistor (TFT)-LCD monitors, front projection LED tiles,
or HD LCD displays.
• Video walls are controlled by a video wall processor, a type of video switcher, which accepts multiple inputs and
processes those inputs for display on multiple monitors simultaneously.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors
3.4.4 Video Walls
Rear Projection Monitors
•Two types of display technologies, CRT and micro-display, are used in rear-projection monitors:
•Micro-displays are segmented into digital light processors (DLPs), liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS), and LCD
driven displays.
•Rear-projection units can accept both analog and digital inputs with different image sizes.
•Projection technology requires lamps to create images and those lamps will burn out over time.
•Also, the lamps create heat and need to be cooled by fans, which require filtered air.
•For these reasons, it is important to factor in the maintenance and replacement costs for bulbs and filters.
•A comparison of monitor types is shown in Table
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.4 Video Monitors
3.4.4 Video Walls
Rear Projection Monitors
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.4 Video Monitors

3.4.4 Video Walls
Rear Projection Monitors
Front Projection Monitors:
•LED Tiles–Newer technology options include LED tiles to
produce a control room display
•LED tiles offer minimal gaps between panels and help
manage video images that span several screens with
displays that offer fine details.
• Options are available for tiles with or without borders,
depending on viewing needs.
•LED components have an extended life expectancy rated
up to 65,000 hours at half brightness, improving the
replacement frequency to 7 years or more.
•Generally speaking, LED technology is lighter, sharper,
brighter, more energy-efficient, and less expensive to
manufacture than TFT monitors.
•An integrated LED tile wall allows for greater flexibility by
enabling images from a single source to be wrapped across
multiple screens or to display separate image sources on
each tile.
• LED tile monitors are currently an expensive option but
usually require less maintenance than earlier types of
monitors.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.5 Switcher , Multiplexer , Recorder and Storage

Eng Nader Elmansi

IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.5 Switchers and Multiplexers
•switchers and multiplexers are used to route the video signal.
• Switchers are simpler in concept than multiplexers.
•They can be set manually or automatically to send analog or digital video to a monitor or a recorder.
•Multiplexers, invented in the 1980s, have capabilities not available in switchers.
•Multiplexers receive the analog video from several cameras and digitize the signal.
•Cameras covering alarmed areas in an integrated security system may be prioritized so that their images are
shown on a monitor and all frames recorded.
•Many multiplexers have imbedded motion detection and analysis software to support the recording or
displaying of an image only when the software detects movement or some other phenomenon.
•Many multiplexers can be used in networks controlled by computer systems.
•DVRs and NVRs not only perform the functions of multiplexers, but also include integral hard drive storage so
that video is recorded as compressed digital data.
•Fully digital video systems, using network cameras, do not use switchers or multiplexers.
•The cameras send compressed digital video data directly to DVRs, or to monitors, over an Ethernet or other
electronic data network.
•The primary advantage of using switchers and multiplexers in analog CCTV systems is the ability to route the
video signal to multiple output devices.
IP CCTV Design
3.5.1 Switchers 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
•Switchers are simpler in concept than multiplexers.
•They can be set manually or automatically to send analog
video or a TV signal to a monitor or a recorder.
•Some switchers can send images from several cameras to a
recorder in a sequential manner, recording an image from each
camera in sequence.
•Selecting the proper switcher largely depends on the number of
cameras and monitors used and how the monitors will display
the video.
•The simplest and most common devices used for small CCTV
systems are the manual and sequential switcher.
•Most switchers provide a means to expand the CCTV system
as new requirements are identified.
•As CCTV systems are built with greater numbers of cameras
and monitors, switchers have become more powerful and
versatile.
Microprocessor-based switchers have a host of features such
as:
•Camera and lens control;
•On-screen text;
•Password protection for programming;
•Partitioning of video for selected users;
•Interface capabilities with additional alarm and relay panels;
•Remote viewing and control over IP networks;
•Macro programming and event timers;
•Integrated color bar generators for setting up monitors; and
•Networking for several switchers.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.5.1 Switchers
•CCTV systems with large numbers of components need microprocessor-based switchers that can handle large
numbers of video inputs and outputs.
•These are referred to as matrix switchers.
•Matrix switchers offer versatility and some can handle over 4,000 cameras and 500 monitors.
•These switchers have the ability to control cameras, preset positions, or pan in the event of an alarm.
•Software programs have been developed to handle all types of camera, monitor, and recording situations.
•For example, user profiles and priorities can be created for as many as 100 operators and security personnel.
•Matrix switchers can often be preprogrammed at the factory to suit a client’s specifications,
•which will save considerable installation time. The ability to upgrade software and the availability of built-in
diagnostics for the hardware are also important features in selecting equipment.
IP CCTV Design
3.5.2 Multiplexers 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
•Multiplexing began the transition from analog to digital video; these devices receive an analog video signal and
then digitize it.
•Unlike switchers, which do not digitize the video signal, multiplexers often have imbedded software that can
perform analytical tasks on the video signal, such as video motion detection.
•Before transmitting video data to other components, a multiplexer may convert the signal back to analog for
display or recording.
•Multiplexers are designed to record frames, images, or fields.
•Cameras covering alarmed areas in an integrated security system may be prioritized so that their images are
shown on a monitor and all images are recorded.
•Some multiplexers have imbedded motion detection and analysis software to record or display the image only
when the software detects movement or some other phenomenon.
•A number of multiplexers can be used in networks controlled by computers and servers.
•DVRs not only perform the functions of multiplexers, but also include integral hard drive storage so that
prioritized video is recorded as compressed digital data.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.5.3 Multiplexer Networks

•Multiplexers can be linked together using a multiplexer server to create systems capable of handling greater
numbers of video input sources and outputs to monitors and recorders.
•Linking multiplexers enables the operation of a complete system with several video monitors.
•These networks can be programmed to perform complex sequencing.
•The ability to network multiplexers brings the capability closer to that of the DVR by combining a multiplexer
server with multiplexers and adding a hard drive.
•It is prudent to carefully consider the cost of multiplexers and associated components before discounting the
purchase of a DVR.
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3.6 Video Recorders

•Recording capability is essential for assessment, investigation, and evidence collection.
•Video recording has transformed from tape-based systems to digital hard drive systems.
•While some systems still use tape, the popularity of digital video has driven the demand for recorders with hard
drive storage.
•Traditional analog CCTV systems in which video is recorded to video cassette recorders (VCR) are rare in
today’s environment and have rapidly been taken over by DVRs and NVRs on IP networks.
•Many types of recorders are being used today, but this section will focus on digital recording equipment as well
as removable media and some emerging technologies.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.1 Digital Video Recorders
•A CCTV system may send digital or analog video to the recording system.
•A DVR receiving analog video takes two fields of the analog signal and builds one image, which is then digitized
and compressed.
•If the video going to the DVR is digital, it is normally compressed to save storage space.
•Various data compression methods can be used that offer varying degrees of performance, quality, and storage
economy.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS

3.6 Video Recorders

3.6.1 Digital Video Recorders

DVRs can include a variety of features and

capabilities such as:
•On-board software, such as video analytics;
•Image protection/authentication techniques;
•Ports for additional recording capabilities;
•Internal hard drive for video storage;
•Ability to easily search for and locate events;
•Ability to record one or more camera inputs
while performing video analytics;
•Removable hard drive for archiving purposes;
and
•Ability to transfer data to expandable storage
systems called Redundant Array of
Independent Disks (RAID) to free up recording
space.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.1 Digital Video Recorders

DVRs may be classified as simplex, duplex, or triplex.

Simplex DVRs cannot record while searching and viewing
recorded images. Duplex systems can record while
searching. Triplex DVR systems allow the operator to view
recorded and live video while recording continues.

.Recording Strategies
•Organizations may find it beneficial to customize the
recording settings for various cameras.
•For example, the recording rates set for primary cameras
(i.e., those that are viewed most frequently) may be set at a
higher rate to allow quality viewing of movement.
•In contrast, the default setting for secondary cameras (i.e.,
those that are focused on less critical areas) could be set at
a lower rate.

Recording Capacity
•Many components of a CCTV system need to be integrated
and configured according to other device settings.
•For example, the method in which the system’s cameras
capture images will influence the amount of data the DVR
needs to record and retain.
•Two important determinations include the frame/image size
and the frames/images per second.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.1 Digital Video Recorders
Frame/Image Size
•This value is the average size of each image as recorded.
•The actual figure will be a function of the image resolution (in pixels or TV lines) and the amount and type of
compression applied to the image or video sequence.
Frames/Images Per Second (fps and ips)
•The number of frames/images recorded each second by a camera has a significant impact on the amount of
data being generated.
•The preferred frame rate should be determined in the design phase.
•The fps or ips value can be dynamic if a camera is triggered by external alarms or motion detection.
•Some systems may be configured to record only when activity is detected.
•Other systems may provide continuous recording at a low image rate (e.g., 1 ips) until activity is detected.
•The system then records at a higher image rate (e.g., 12 ips) for a specified period of time.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.2 Data Compression Methods
•The type of compression selected dictates
the quality and amount of video data that can
be stored on a DVR.
•Therefore, it is important to understand the
differences in compression technologies.
•The compression aggressiveness affects
how much video data can be stored on a
hard drive recorder and the quality of the
images during playback.
•If the compression is too aggressive and too
many pixels are removed, faces or objects
may not be recognizable.

The following example illustrates the amount of video data that accumulates over
time and why compression techniques are important.
A DVR will require the following storage capacity for 2 hours of uncompressed data
(1 megabyte [MB] of data per image).
1 MB of data x 30 images per second
x 60 seconds
x 60 minutes
x 2 hours
=216,000 MB or 216 gigabytes (GBs)
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.2 Data Compression Methods
•This data storage requirement can quickly overwhelm the hard drive space of a DVR.
•The number of images per second can be reduced to allow a smaller storage requirement, but it not provides a
good illustration of why compression techniques are needed.
Most organizations’ DVRs serve a dual purpose:
1)high quality video recording and
2) live surveillance viewing as transmitted through the Internet or other data distribution means.

•If the data is compressed to accommodate faster transmission, the video quality and resolution will suffer.
•Traditional compression technologies include: Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), JPEG2000, Moving
Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and Motion Joint Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG).
•These traditional video coders compress the incoming analog video signal (input) and produce a single digital
video signal (output).
•DVRs then use this single digital output for recording and transmission of video, thus resulting in the trade-off
between data size, resolution, and quality.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.2 Data Compression Methods
•Another data compression technology is a multi-rate video coder, or scalable motion adaptive coder-multi-
stream (SMAC-M).
•SMAC-M is a proprietary video compression technique that enables multiple data output streams to meet
different video recording and viewing needs.
•The latest video compression standard, H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 advanced video coding (AVC), is currently the
most commonly used format.
•H.264 is best known as the codec standard for Blu-ray Discs™ and is widely used by streaming Internet sources
such as YouTube™, iTunes Music Store®, Adobe® Flash® Player, and many more.
•H.264 requires half the bandwidth of other standards and allows for more effective compression, while also
providing better quality, flexibility, and a variety of features such as multi-picture/inter-picture prediction and
variable block size motion compensation.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.3 Hard Drive Recorders
•Standard rack-mount, hard drive recorders are generally mounted in a 19-inch rack system and may receive a
number of analog video inputs: 4-, 8-, 12-, 16-, and 32-input units are typical.
•These units can be switched between the NTSC and phase alternating line (PAL) video standards and have
power supplies that accept a 60-Hz or 50-Hz current.
•The hard drive capacity is a key specification for systems without a network storage strategy, since the device
hard drive will determine how many days of recording remain before the system begins recording over the oldest
video. The data storage requirements will depend on the type of cameras connected to the DVR. The resolution,
image rate, motion detection features, complexity of image, and FOV will also affect the unit’s storage availability.
Most hard drive recorder models have the following features:
•Multiple hard drives;
•Built-in compact disk rewritable (CD-RW) or digital versatile disk (DVD) that provides permanent recording on
removable media;
•Alarm inputs to trigger event recording; and
•Multiple analog monitor outputs, usually up to four.
IP CCTV Design
3.6 Video Recorders 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6.4 Other Recording Options
Network Video Recorder–NVRs
•record digital video data transmitted over an IP
network from multiple CCTV digital cameras.
•NVRs can be configured to record video in a digital
format to a disk drive, portable storage device or a
mass storage device.
•NVRs differ from DVRs as video input is delivered
from an IP network.
•With an NVR configuration, video is encoded and
processed at the camera and streamed to the NVR
for storage or remote viewing.
•With a DVR configuration, video is encoded and
processed at the DVR.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.4 Other Recording Options
Hybrid DVR–Hybrid
•DVRs incorporate functions of both NVRs and DVRs by
accepting and converting video images from analog cameras
as well as IP video inputs.
•Hybrid DVRs often have IP connectivity supporting remote
viewing capabilities to play back recorded video from across
the network.
•They also allow viewing of live video.
IP CCTV Design
3.6 Video Recorders 3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6.4 Other Recording Options
Mobile Recorders
•replacing mobile VCRs in patrol cars and on motorcycles.
•Mobile recorders have all the features available in a conventional DVR
and are less susceptible to dirt.
•become reliable recording platforms due to the advancements in
immunity to vibration and motion.
•provide the ability to download recorded data to a memory card.
•Some mobile recorders have a removable hard drive for data backup.
•also have wireless inputs and outputs for transmitting the data to a
server.
•Mobile recorders are often coupled with other devices, such as radar
guns, where the radar information is overlaid on the video itself.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.5 Portable Storage Devices
•DVRs can accommodate several types of portable storage media.
•Universal serial bus (USB) flash drives, memory sticks, and DVD+R dual layer (DL) are detailed below.
•USB Flash Drives–USB flash drives allow video to be recorded or transferred. USB flash drives are available in
capacities in excess of 128 GB, have a fast transfer speed, and can be programmed with password protection.
•Memory Sticks–Memory sticks come in a variety of capacities up to 1 terabyte (TB). They have a fast transfer
rate allowing video to be transferred to them quickly.
•DVD+R DL–DVD+R DL discs have two storage layers and can hold about 17 GB of data. There are also other
DVD media available, including DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM. These are lower in cost
but hold less data (approximately 4.9GBs).
 IP CCTV Design
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3.6 Video Recorders
3.6.6 Video Motion Detection
•Motion detection can be built into the DVR software or
directly into the camera.
•Video motion detection software analyzes video images
frame by frame, and when a frame to frame change is
detected, the CCTV system can alert the operator.
•In some cases motion detection can start DVR recording.
•The sensitivity of motion detection can be adjusted to
reduce false triggers.
•The more sophisticated systems allow the user to define
areas where motion can be ignored, such as movement of a
ceiling fan or a tree branch moving in the wind.
•Other advanced features are available, such as object left
behind and missing object detection.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.7 VIDEO STORAGE
•A CCTV system needs to be designed and
configured so that it retains the necessary
quantity and quality of video data.
•CCTV systems must also be equipped with
appropriate export and archiving capabilities.
•An organization must clearly determine the
purpose of the video that is being collected and
understand how it may be used.
•Equally important is establishing the image
resolution, image rate, and the number of days
of recording that will be stored by the system.
•These factors will influence the use, access,
recall, and storage requirements of a CCTV
system.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.7 VIDEO STORAGE
3.7.1 Media Storage
•Many organizations use write-once, read-many (WORM)
media for long-term storage needs due to its secure and cost
effective features.
•WORM technologies include optical discs such as CDs and
DVDs, while older systems may use magnetic disks or tape.
•A disadvantage of using WORM media is that record
management can be cumbersome.
•CD can be destroyed, damaged, or easily removed from its
environment, which is not the case with data stored on servers.
•The storage capacity of WORM media is also a concern.
•It may take considerable time to copy all video data required
for long-term archiving.
•secure server with appropriate disk storage offers a central,
searchable repository of video images, which can be easily
accessed, recalled, and viewed by authorized personnel.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.7 VIDEO STORAGE
3.7.1 Media Storage
•Servers also enable data to be migrated
automatically and suffer no loss within a RAID
system.
•RAID storage allows images to be distributed
across multiple hard disk drives to protect against a
single point of failure.
•RAID systems conduct integrity checks and perform
repairs from the parity disk if data integrity has been
compromised.
•WORM devices have minimal to no data recovery
capability if they are damaged
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.7 VIDEO STORAGE
3.7.2 Scalable Network Storage
•Data storage in CCTV systems is
changing rapidly and has been influenced
greatly by IP-based systems requiring
efficient and cost effective storage.
•The market offers various network
storage options for IP-based systems and
hybrid systems, which incorporate both
analog and IP technology and
communications protocols.
•Most organizations with a sizeable CCTV
system will require network storage
beyond local DVR storage capabilities.
•Network storage involves a physical
separation of storage media from the end
user.
•For example, storage media located
within a recording device (e.g., a hard
drive or DVD) has limited capacity, but
network storage is independent from the
recording device and offers greater
scalability for the large storage demands
of video images.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.7 VIDEO STORAGE
3.7.3 Interface Protocols
•Connecting servers to storage devices is typically accomplished through use of small computer systems
interface (SCSI) protocol.
•Within CCTV systems, SCSI is the most dominantly used storage interface.
•With the increase in available IP technologies and the need for interoperable and open architecture, the iSCSI
protocol incorporates new capabilities to access voice, video and data from multiple types of network storage
devices and make it available across an IP network.
•The “i” in iSCSI stands for Internet and in the simplest terms,
•iSCSI combines the SCSI storage capabilities with the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP).
•Network storage device options include direct attached storage, storage area network, and network
attached storage. These are discussed below.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.7 VIDEO STORAGE
3.7.4 Direct Attached Storage
•DAS is considered an older technology that was developed as a stand-alone mechanism to connect hosts to
storage devices through a direct, one-to-one SCSI attachment.
•Adding storage and servers to a DAS system to meet demands can result in a proliferation of server and
storage islands.
•In a DAS environment, storage sharing is limited because of its direct affiliation to the servers.
•DAS is still used today in CCTV systems, but external storage solutions are usually better options for CCTV
video than fixed DAS storage.
•As LANs gained popularity, the server attached storage (SAS) was developed as an alternative to DAS in order
to achieve a distributed approach via a LAN..
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.7 VIDEO STORAGE
3.7.5 Storage Area Network
•A SAN consists of communications
infrastructure and management layers
that ensure secure and robust data
transfer.
•Storage appliances within the SAN
contain data blocks.
•Operators access the data blocks
when needed over the network.
•A SAN is a dedicated, high-
performance network, typically using
fiber channel technology,
•Fiber channel protocol and
interconnect technology provide high
performance transfers of block data.
•SANs are generally used to connect
numerous storage devices such as
DVRs and NVRs to one or more
centralized, shared storage systems.
•An increasing number of CCTV
components are being designed to
connect directly to SANs via iSCSI.
IP CCTV Design
3. COMPONENTS OF CCTV SYSTEMS
3.7 VIDEO STORAGE
3.7.6 Network Attached Storage
•NAS systems record and access data in file
format and consist of an engine that retrieves files
from one or more storage devices.
•With NAS technology, servers maintain file
systems on their local storage, and clients can
access files at servers over a network via LAN or
WAN technology, typically using Ethernet.
•NAS protocol is typically TCP/IP based,
•NAS is considerably less expensive than DAS
and SAN;
•many considerations for the entire CCTV system
will need to be evaluated to ensure NAS is
compatible with other system components.