Energy and Cost Efficiency in Security Camera Choice and Placement

In planning any security surveillance system it is very important that we discuss with clients requirements. It is very easy to go through all existing security procedures and identify many improvements to the clients system and provide the ultimate security solution using cameras to cover every possible angle, entrance, exit and threat. ignoring why we should want to monitor a certain place and to what level that place needs to be monitored and at what times it need monitoring.
If we look carefully at the cost versus benefit of a low resolution solution we find.
  • Whilst the cost of an individual camera is Low, but the total cost of all the cameras is very high. This is wonderful for the camera supplier/installer as:-
    •  He sells many cameras and even by reducing his margin on each camera sold he generates a large profit.
    • Large numbers of cameras need more back end infrastructure in the server room or distributed through the building so he sells more racks loaded with more IT routers and switches and a lot more cable/connectors.
    • He installs many cameras and the labour costs for the project will be high so he makes even more money from the installation point of view.
  • Most of the cameras will consume around 10 watts of power. It is totally conceivable that a medium sized mall could make use of around 250 cameras. So the cameras alone would give rise to a power consumption of 2.5 kilowatts. This could equate to annual costs of
    • $3500 in the UAE (Dubai)
    • $4750 in the UK
    • $3500 in the US
  • Poorly chosen cameras and lenses can also bring the need for additional lighting at certain times this will add to the running costs.
  • More cmeras require more maintenance effort so undoubtedly the cost of any annual service/ maintenance contract increases.
  • Decommissioning costs are higher due to the amount of equipment to be removed
We can approach the issues of surveillance camera costs in a number of ways dependent upon the clients need to just deter threats or to seek prosecution/compensation should a threat become a reality. Where providing a deterrent is the only consideration we could go as far as:-
  • Making use of highly visible dummy cameras (not recommended) with
    • Very low capital cost
    • Minimal Installation cost
    • No back end equipment cost.
    • No Power requirement.
    • Zero-Minimal maintenance cost.
    • Small decommissioning cost
  • Lighting simply controlled by its own motion detector with.
    • Low capital cost
    • Small Installation cost
    • No back end equipment cost.
    • Local power requirement but very low power most of the time
    • Can be maintained by ‘in House’ electrical maintenance teams at low cost.
    • Provides a visible indication that area may be monitored at night time or in darkened areas.
  • Simple Signage solutions such as“ Warning this premises is being monitored by High Definition Security Systems” benefit from:-
    • Very Low capital cost
    • Minimal Installation cost
    • No back end equipment cost.
    • No Power requirement
    • Zero-Minimal maintenance cost.
Typical output from Site Survey with Camera Placements.
(full camera target range not shown)

The reality is all situations must contain some deterrent and measures and more advanced security monitoring measures. In most security systems the deterrent measures of lighting and signage are a real must. Dummy cameras are relatively easy to identify by both the security professional and criminal and are not really advised. Deterrent only measures have their place in extremely low risk situations (where the impact of any security transgression is extremely low). Where a higher level of security on systems is required and we must look hybrid solutions where deterrent (signage, Lighting) is used alongside real cameras providing visible deterrent (Patrolling PTZ camaras, lower spec overview cameras) with correctly located high resolution and high specification cameras. This says standard definition and low resolution cameras have a place in such a systems but it must be realised that they may only be suitable to detect the presence of persons/events unless we use many of them where they are very close to the targets.
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Who benefits from a low tech Secutity solution.
The beneficiaries of a system based only on lower resolution, low specification cameras will be:-
  • The Camera manufacturer
  • The Camera Supplier
  • The Camera installer
  • The system maintenance provider
  • Potentially any consultant with a payment based on the percentage of the contract value.
  • The IT Suppliers/ installers
  • The Electricity Company.
Not the Client who will be faced with
  • Higher capital equipment costs
  • Higher Install costs
  • Higher maintenance costs.
  • Higher Electricity costs.
  • High Decommissioning costs

Security Solution using IP Controlled POE Lighting.

Use of High Tech Security Camera Solutions

With the use of carefully selected Higher resolution (UHD, 4, 5, 6 Megapixel) cameras with correct lens choices and the use of multi-sensor cameras the overall cost of a security solution and it cost of ownership can be minimised (higher individual camera cost but far fewer cameras, lower overall power requirements, lower maintenance costs, cheaper to decommission).  The other benefits include.
Such cameras will be IT based devices allowing for.
  • Advanced camera analytic software enabling:-
  • Warnings to operators of materialising threats (minimising the need for constant monitoring and hence the need for large numbers of trained operators)
  • Triggering of event based recording (ensuring materialising threat events are always recorded and minimising the need for constant recording, hence reducing the volume of storage required (Capital costs reduction and electrical power cost reduction).
  • Smart triggering of advanced Security lighting systems providing low power usage deterrents and good lighting of the target for identification.
  • Power over Ethernet (POE)technology (installation costs are minimised as no local power needs installation).
  • Remote control of PTZ cameras allowing the ability to zoom in and focus on any event either controlled by the operator or automatically.
  • Cameras with higher resolution can be further away from a target still providing an image that provides full forensic identification of a target usable as evidence in court.
  • Correctly placed Multi sensor UHD cameras can provide a 360 degree view of a complete Atrium in enough detail to provide forensic evidence if required.
  • Use of cameras that provide multiple video stream outputs enabling 1 camera to record and stream for monitoring multiple regions or points of interest still giving forensic evidence.
Use of advances low light technologies in the cameras can also reduce the need for additional lighting (however automatically switched visible additional lighting still a good deterrent). 
We can also not ignore advances in lighting technology itself. The use of LED Lighting based smart lighting powered over the network cabling (Power over Ethernet) being controlled from camera analytics will also have benefits of:-
  • Install cost reduction
  • Lower maintenance costs (LEDs Longer lasting than older technologies)
  • Energy Saving.

So any site will have requirements for areas with a high level of security surveillance and areas that need a lower level (deterrent only). Hence most cost effective security solutions will implement solutions incorporating simple signage and lighting to highly advanced Multi-sensor UHD cameras with advanced analytics.

Cost Savings

Looking at typical hybrid installations (Hi Tech IP+ Deterrent)  vs an all low resolution system significant cost reductions can be seen such as:-
  • Camera costs reduction 25%-50% dependent upon application, requirements and use of simple deterrents.
  • Installation costs 75% reduction
  • Back End IT costs (servers switches) 50%
  • Maintenance/ Annual Service contract cost 50% reduction
  • Security system Electricity costs 50% reduction (based on Camera powering and IT system powering).

Redundancy

Within this document we have not considered any concept of system redundancy and this will no doubt have an effect on the cost of any system. It is true to say that where we use 1 multi-sensor camera to look at multiple points of interest then the loss of that camera could render a security system useless. It will be very important for the system designer to consider this along with any procedures to mitigate the risk. In doing so these typical cost reductions above may be slightly compromised. 
​Conclusion
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With the application of advances surveillance HD/ UHD camera technology we can reduce the capital cost and cost of ownership of any medium to large scale security system. In reality hybrid systems need to be employed to maximise the potential cost benefits encompassing the use of.
  • Deterrent signage
  • Low tech and high tech lighting solutions
  • Low resolution IT based cameras (where situations are relevant to the clients requirements)
  • Visible PTZ ( Pan Tilt and Zoom) cameras (providing surveillance with a visible deterrent)
  • Modern high tech HD, Megapixel and UHD cameras.
  • Advanced analytic Software.
Dummy Cameras are not recommended.
When client requirements are properly considered without consideration for maximisation of profit the client could benefit from:-
  • Reductions in capital equipment costs (cameras, IT infrastructure)
  • Reductions in Running costs
  • Reductions in maintenance costs
  • Reductions in operational staffing costs
  • Reductions in the eventual decommissioning costs.
NJS Smart Technical Services LLC Technology Division specialise in the Design, Consultancy and Installation  of electronic infrastructure systems for buildings be they homes, towers, offices of factories in the Gulf Region. Security monitoring and access systems are one of the many areas they can provide services in.