Network cameras are here to stay. Here’s what you need to know to capitalize on the trend.
Network cameras have been around since 1996, but cabling installers have only recently started paying attention to the technology because surveillance cameras initially ran on separate coaxial cables. About 10 years ago, the first network camera-the first surveillance camera to connect directly to a data network-started to change the surveillance landscape, and cameras began migrating from the analog world to the digital world.
Digital bridges emerge
In the early years, the technology was not on par with that of professional level analog cameras, and most network cameras were thought of as more advanced Web cameras, which were used to view objects and events over the Internet or a LAN. For that reason, many users opted to keep their investments in analog equipment and digitize the video in other ways.
Digital video recorders (DVRs) are one of these bridging technologies. DVRs are typically proprietary systems that add digital recording to an analog camera system by replacing VCRs with hard drives for the video recording. This requires the video to be digitized and compressed to store as much as possible; compression is done at the DVR level, so it is difficult for the DVR to handle inputs from too many cameras.
Although some DVR systems are still used today, many users with analog equipment have opted for the more futureproof video server technology. Video servers connect directly to analog cameras to digitize and compress the video. The video server then connects to a data network and transports the video to a PC server, where it is stored on hard disks.
Today, network cameras have caught up with analog camera technology. They now meet the same requirements and specifications as their analog counterparts, and in some important areas, network cameras now surpass analog camera performance. Respected industry analyst firm J.P. Freeman and Co. Inc. forecasts that the network camera market is the fastest growing segment in surveillance, and by 2008 will surpass the sales of analog cameras.
The analog camera is a static technology that lacks the flexibility and performance needed in today’s digital world. As network cameras move digitization, video compression, and intelligence capabilities out and away from the DVR, systems can scale to handle thousands of cameras, and customers will be able to use cost-effective, industry-standard servers for recording and storage. This move to open systems, combined with the benefits of networking, digital imaging, and camera intelligence, is seen as a strong impetus for the adoption of network cameras.
How to shift smoothly
Viewed in this wider context, shifting security and surveillance from analog to IP-based networks includes a number of factors other than a direct comparison of the two types of cameras. Performance, open systems interoperability, flexibility, futureproofing and network connectivity have all become important factors to consider. In fact, you need to know 10 important functional differences between today’s network cameras and their analog counterparts before making your next camera purchase:
Future directions
So, where is network video technology going next?
Look for developments in megapixel imaging, including support of new 16:9 (widescreen) formats, digital pan/tilt/zoom controls, and multi-window video. Intelligent video applications will also greatly improve. As mentioned, network video installations can already be used to read license plate numbers or count people. They can also handle alarms through motion or audio detection. Watch soon for the applications to commonly involve even more complex actions, such as noticing a person falling, detecting abandoned luggage, and identifying abnormal behavior, such as rapid pacing.
Some of the newest network camera models support IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6), the latest level of the Internet Protocol that will lengthen IP addresses from 32 bits to 128 bits. This makes room for future Internet growth and will ensure that there is no shortage of Internet addresses. Advantages of IPv6 include better communication with mobile devices, ad hoc networking to make installations faster and easier, speeding up overall network performance, ensuring higher quality-of-service, and improved methods for ensuring data integrity and privacy.
When looking for opportunities to install network video systems, cabling installers should look to key vertical markets that have shown the most interest for these systems-banking, transportation, retail, government, education, and industrial. The trend of convergence in the network video market is here, and it is one that should not be ignored.
With all of the advantages over analog systems, it is no wonder that network camera sales are continuing to rise. For cabling installers, this trend is opening up new markets and revenue streams.FREDRIK NILSSON, general manager for Axis Communications (www.axis.com), oversees the company’s operations in North America. He manages all aspects of the business, including sales, marketing, business expansion and finance.
Top 10 myths about network video
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Myth #1.
DVRs are the latest, greatest CCTV security technology.
Reality: Despite some of their digital advantages, DVRs are still analog systems. IP surveillance allows users even more performance benefits, including scalability, camera-level intelligence, cost-efficient infrastructure, superior image quality, two-way audio and simplified equipment upgrades and replacements.
Reality: Despite some of their digital advantages, DVRs are still analog systems. IP surveillance allows users even more performance benefits, including scalability, camera-level intelligence, cost-efficient infrastructure, superior image quality, two-way audio and simplified equipment upgrades and replacements.
Myth #2
IP technology is unproven
Reality: The market has recognized the superiority of IP surveillance. With schools, airports, courthouses and departments of transportation switching to IP surveillance, it is estimated that approximately 25% of security users in the U.S. currently use network cameras, while 45% have plans to buy the technology.
Myth #3
IP surveillance cannot meet the demands of enterprise-level applications.
Reality: The IT standards on which IP surveillance is based make it ideal for enterprise-level applications, because they let users easily scale their networks to any size and reduce the amount of time maintaining and monitoring the system. Today, there are numerous examples of IP surveillance systems, with thousands of cameras deployed in education, government and retail environments.
Myth #4
Networked video image quality is not as good as analog.
Reality: Using progressive scan and megapixel resolution, network camera technology has surpassed the image quality of analog cameras. Network cameras let users more closely follow details and changes in images, and do not have the interlacing problems that cause analog cameras to blur moving objects.
Myth #5
Network video systems are more expensive.
Reality: Though a network camera is more expensive than a standard analog camera, the total cost of an IP-based system, including the cost of cameras, cables, and recording, is considerably less expensive than analog.
Myth #6
If I already have analog cameras, DVRs are my only digital option.
Reality: Video servers also make it possible to create a digital system using existing analog equipment, and offer more flexibility than DVRs. Video servers convert the analog signal into a digital video stream so that it can be transmitted over the computer network rather than a separate coaxial network.
Myth #7
Transferring video data over my network will overload it.
Reality: Users need only to make well-informed decisions during the installation process and properly configure the network to prevent network overload. Adjustable image size, compression, frame rate and resolution, in addition to built-in intelligence, mean that network video products can be configured to efficiently use bandwidth.
Myth #8
Transmitting video for security purposes over an IP network is not secure.
Reality: With banks and financial institutions regularly using the Internet as a medium for global money transactions, IP networks are a proven medium for security and surveillance. Easily implemented security measures, such as firewalls, VPNs, and password protection, ensure that video transmitted over the Internet is protected.
Myth #9
IP surveillance is less reliable than alternative technologies.
IP-based systems have proven reliable in some of the most sensitive and demanding locations, including airports, banks, train stations and prisons. When properly installed and configured, network cameras will function for years without being touched.
Myth #10
IP surveillance is still five years away.
Reality: IP surveillance is here. The J.P. Freeman research also estimates that network camera sales will exceed those of analog cameras by 2008, and that by 2009, network camera sales will more than double those of analog camera sales in the network video market.