The video surveillance industry has an unfortunate reputation for producing surveillance images that are almost useless. With HD cameras becoming common in the industry, the results are improving but there are still common mistakes people make.
Amongst the most frequent errors made is expecting the security camera to cover too much. There are so many programs on television that show how a video image can be enhanced that it is not surprising people expect this. I have even had police ask me to enhance a head that was the size of a pin in the scene. The reality is a person's head that is only 10 pixels tall will never be of any use.
If you follow these rules of thumb when determining the location for each CCTV camera you install, the results will give you an image quality that you can work with.
One camera for one purpose. If you want to see the persons face to recognise them, don't try to also get an overview of the scene
Have a camera at a choke point for ID and a second elsewhere for the overview This means as a person enters an area, they need to pass through a narrow area such as a door or corridor. This is the best spot to get a good quality face image. Once you have this, your other cameras just need to provide an overview of their movements.
Think about what you would see if you were at the cameras height If you have a 3 mtr high roof, installing the camera up there will typically mean you get a great image of the persons bald spot or the brand name on their baseball cap. If you want to see their face, you will need to lower the camera. An angle of less than 20 deg is ideal.
There are many other aspects that can improve the image quality such as the camera quality, the recording resolution and lighting but each is a subject of it's own and can be found on my website that provides a comprehensive range of tips and tutorials on CCTV.
CCTV is not rocket science. But it is a science.
About the Author:
Jim has been in the security surveillance industry for 22 years. If you are designing a CCTV system, I recommend you ask his advice.
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