Comparison of CCTV Surveillance Cameras: Deciding between Digital, Hybrid or Analog Systems

IP cameras have come a long way since they appeared on the market a decade ago, and promise to be the wave of the future for CCTV surveillance, not only catching up with analog and hybrid versions but providing a movement from forensic analysis to preventive analysis. However there are still challenges to be conquered along the way.

The benefits of each system are outlined below:

Analog CCTV Solution Benefits:

• Mature market with wide acceptance
• Readily available with standard output interfaces
• Tried and tested
• Closed system which is perceived as tamper proof
• Structured market in place
• Lots of products available in the market place
• Perceived as lowest cost solution

Benefits of Hybrid CCTV Solutions:

• Use existing analogue infrastructure
• Readily available
• Multi-user access
• Low cost remote transmission
• Remote management and configuration
• Move from analogue to digital recording

IP Solutions:

Technology benefits:

• Direct Ethernet connectivity - no external boxes. This translates into ease of installation and re-configuration
• Complete system - pan, tilt, zoom, presets, alarms
• Still image capture and sequence capture on HD
• Ability to "ping" for operation testing
• 85 ms remote alarm verification vs. 7 sec for remote analog system
• Resolution constant regardless of distance

Users benefits:

• Use existing cabling - do not need to install new cables (70% world CAT5 cabled) - reduced cost
• Reduced installation time - which also results in reduced cost and disruption
• Low cost remote transmission
• Remote management and configuration
• Multi-user access - in other words many people can view simultaneously
• Interactive applications e.g. email, text on alarm

Intelligent video surveillance systems are emerging as a new trend that is driving the video surveillance software market. According to IMS senior research director Simon Harris, the CCTV surveillance market trends point to an IP network system, with a consistent growth of 45% in 2007 from 2006 but expecting to slow to 35% in 2008 from 2007. However the growth can still reach 40% if the economy improves.

A recent report from Research and Markets outlines that the global CCTV market (including both analog and IP-based CCTV) grew at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 24.28% in 2007 over 2006 and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of approx 23% from 2008 to 2012. The global demand for CCTV systems is escalating at a faster pace due to a robust growth in the IP-based CCTV surveillance systems compared to analog.

However video analytics have not lived up to their expectations and promises made. This is still a pioneering field with decades of research yet ahead of us before intelligent cameras can perform human-like analysis. According to a recent report by Australian Customs Service "while motion detection is the most common application of video analytics, few of the intelligent video products achieve low false alarm rates (a maximum of 20 false alarms per night). A false alarm rate beyond this can lead to security staff ignoring the alarm or having video analytics switched off all together. It is also possible to defeat motion detection by very slow movement through the detection zone." The report concluded, in part, "security consultants, clients, and end users should understand that the technical functionalities are highly dependent on environmental variables and that the analytical algorithms do not contain artificial-intelligence program structures. Therefore, there should be no expectation that a CCTV system incorporating video analytics will replicate human perception or learn from previous detection events to reduce false alarm rates."

Intelligent video is drawing more IT integrators into the rapidly growing video surveillance industry. WashigntonTechnology.com reported as early as 2005 that a significant development in the video surveillance industry is the aggressive entry of integrators that are networking the new, advanced digital cameras and intelligent video software with existing systems, including analog cameras, and with other security systems and IT networks for access control, intrusion detection and cyber security. Formerly dominated by burglar alarm companies and camera experts, experts noticed that the video surveillance field is being influenced strongly by a growing number of IT integrators who offered a more holistic and sophisticated approach.

The future may belong to IP based security networks, with substantial progress made in newly developed IP products but for now, the choices depend on issues such as:

• Infrastructure (bandwidth) availability
• Frame rate requirements
• Image quality needed
• Use of existing infrastructure
• Total costs of system

Various industries such as retail, healthcare, gaming and transportation (ports and airports) offer the most opportunity for market growth however smaller companies, the SMB (Small Medium Business) sector have shown the largest increase in sales in 2007 as more affordable solutions become available.

For more information on CCTV cameras systems installation for your company or organization, please contact Celergy Networks toll free at: (877) CELERGY (235-3749).

For more information on Celergy Networks Inc. please visit our website at www.celergy.coom.