As CCTV is part of a multi-layered security approach, a CCTV 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.

Identifying Customers Needs

Before deploying an IP CCTV system design , having a layout map of the site at hand to identify the shooting purposes of each network camera is necessary and useful. The map gives you an overview of the installation site and helps you have an in-depth discussion with your customers. You can have a more general idea about the number of cameras the whole system needs, cabling scheme, and other peripherals such as speakers, microphones, and joysticks required so as to achieve an efficient installation.

Generally, cameras are used for viewing or recording, or both of them. For special requirements such as object tracking, people counting, motion detection or plate identification, intelligent capability in cameras or software will be needed

• Viewing Considerations

The following factors should be your main considerations when installing a network camera:

• Viewing Direction
  • The shooting direction determines the lens and camera types, placement, or even the coverage of a camera.
• Viewing Distance
  • The shooting direction determines the lens and camera types, placement, or even the coverage of a camera.
• Viewing Angle
  • If the monitored area is a wide open field, a camera with PTZ movement or a wide angle lens is highly recommended.

• Viewing Object
  • In case of monitoring a fast moving object such as vehicles, it is highly suggested to use a camera with a progressive scan CCD sensor.

• Environmental Considerations

• CCTV Cameras
• Outdoor/Indoor
  • Outdoor applications for network cameras usually require the features of vandal- and weather-proof, and conformation to the IP66-rated standard for protection against vandalism or weather damage.

• Light
  • The quality of the captured image is significantly influenced by light sources in the monitored area. For most of the conditions you encounter,

• Day and Night
  • For outdoor applications where light changes significantly during daytime and nighttime, the true day and night function (camera with a removable IR-cut filter together with IR illuminators) is required so as to maintain good image quality constantly for 24 hours.

• Low Light
  • A camera with better light sensitivity (low light performance) indicates that it can generate acceptable image quality in low-lux environments.

• Challenging Light
  • For such high contrast places as entrances, ATMs and loading areas, cameras with WDR can still cope with the challenging light to generate identifiable image with ease.