Industry View

The CCTV Project Planner

CCTV implementations face a lack of product standardization, a confusing bidding process, and a limiting market structure. Here is expert guidance on critical considerations about bandwidth, frame rate, image quality and more

By Jason Cowling

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Additionally, when you're thinking about data storage be sure to inquire about chain-of-custody best practices. If you're going to be handling potentially litigious situations with your video, be sure you've got a firm grasp of what procedures you'll need to implement for the proper handling of archived video. Consult your legal counsel if this is a crucial requirement of your system. Additionally, the issue of CCTV signage can become litigious, if you're considering putting up signs that mention video surveillance be sure to consult council. (See also The Hidden Camera for more about this tricky issue.)

Walkthroughs and Other Project Management Issues

Both the global issues of the CCTV market and the organic nature of the systems level we've discussed together help to frame end-user systems planning and implementation. Additionally, achieving your idea of a video solution is better aided with an awareness of these issues. Another result of this framework is an early focus on the day-to-day usage of your CCTV system, getting data to the right place at the right time, at the right resolution, with minimal bandwidth consumption.

Having this knowledge in place will also help in conducting site walkthroughs, or if you're in preconstruction, blueprint reviews and preconstruction meetings. Let's cover some basics of this phase that will help you conduct a mutually productive walkthrough. If at all possible, have accurate blueprint copies for your bidders. This small step alone may help you to better compare quotations, receive more accurate quotations, and save money.

If the blueprints are scaled, you'll be providing your bidders with a far more accurate measurement than manual measurement. This can save significant cabling costs. Also, if you are managing the CCTV project but you aren't the expert on the physical aspects of your building, you should schedule that individual for all walkthroughs, and system-planning meetings. Other individuals that commonly need to accompany walkthroughs are building management personnel, elevator company personnel, parking lot leasing companies and the like. Take the time to schedule these individuals, they will likely be the ones with the most contact with the installation team, have intimate knowledge of your facilities, and can make or break projects. If you're on a new construction project, be sure you ensure communication between your video system provider and the general contractor or the electrical contractor, whoever is overseeing the low-voltage installations at your job site.

Oftentimes video and more generally, security installing companies, do not get accounted for in the initial job planning. As a result, video and other low-voltage systems don't make it onto the job blueprints, instead joining the job while it is in progress. If this happens,