By Chris Uwaje

Effectiveness and Cost Advantage of IP Surveillance SolutionsNetworked IP camera systems have cost advantages, as the required wiring is less expensive. Especially the fact that IP networks can be used for purposes of other data transmission, such as email, file transfers etc.

The vast amount of functionalities IP surveillance software gives to IP cameras make them more effective and less error prone.
As mentioned above IP surveillance systems are able to handle motion detection, event triggers, and alert automation and have a multitude of options for changing frame rates, resolution and timed record cycles.

For more simplified and better understanding, the following explanations will further elaborate on the solution.
lSpecial IP Cameras can be configured in a way that they only send data to the recording servers when a specific threshold of motion is detected.

*Sensitivity settings can be adjusted so that insignificant movements will not trigger a recording.
*The main benefit of this is that it saves recording space and human analysis time, as the system only keeps what is relevant to the particular security situation at hand.
*It is then possible to automatically email such security alerts to any email address or group.
*This email can then be retrieved with any IP_connected communication system containing an email client, such as PDAs, mobile phone and other IP connected devices
*In Addition, it is possible to integrate digital images with third party applications for license plate recognition, people counting, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and face recognition.
*And many more for monitoring Stock Exchange activities.
*t is perhaps important to emphasize that with an analog camera system, none of these applications can be performed as easily as with an IP based system, as such functionalities would require intensive digital conversion, which is performed on multiple layers and leads to a reduction of the image quality.
*P Surveillance systems digitization process
As described above, with IP Surveillance systems, the digitization process occurs once at the camera and is carried across the digital IP network, thus any video data starts digital and stays digital throughout the infrastructure.
This leads us to the next benefit – the superior image quality. In analog systems the coax cables used can compromise image clarity, as signals can degrade over long cabling distances. Other than that, analog cameras adhere to NTSC/PAL standards, which means that they limit the resolution to 0.4 megapixels.
*P network cameras, on the other hand, use progressive scan technology and high resolutions that depict moving objects more clearly and cover larger areas with sharper images. These technological advantages enable digital pan, tilt and zoom features that analog systems can only perform with additional, dedicated cabling.

All these benefits are great, but how is a secure connection guaranteed that can not be intercepted easily? A technology called encryption is used, which sends coded data across the network. Encrypted data being sent across the network has the advantage that only the cameras and servers know what kind of packets to expect across the system. With this secured technique, and authentication keys, it is not possible for outsiders to break into the network to steal video data or feed false video into the system.
*TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.