How To Manage Surveillance Video

Because they are IP-based, VMS systems are more expandable and flexible than DVR-based systems, and employees can control the software from anywhere on the network. Surveillance and security teams can use the software for live monitoring, as well as investigative and forensic purposes, using archived footage.

Users have three form factors from which to choose for managing IP video: software-only, hardware/software appliances (sometimes referred to as network video recorders, or NVRs) or a hybrid DVR, which is a DVR with additional software to manage IP equipment.

Because of the economic downturn, the VMS market will see slower growth in 2009 than in previous years, with a forecast of 29 percent versus more than 40 percent, according to IMS Research.

Evaluation criteria for video management

VMS systems range from the basic to the sophisticated, with major differences including reliability features and number of cameras and locations supported. Here is a sample of features to consider:

• Specific options for different verticals, including retail, banking, transportation, etc.;
• Video analytics, such as license-plate or facial recognition;
• Integration with third-party systems, such as access control, building automation, alarm management, video analytics and more;
• Motion detection;
• Customisable, resizable viewing panes;
• User interface features that include hot-spot windows, colour-indicated activity, instant replay, quick switching between cameras, etc;
• “Privacy zones” to protect sensitive areas from being monitored;
• Creation of customised rules. For instance, if a particular door opens, the camera begins recording and even activates an alarm or sends an alert;
• Camera control (pan, tilt, zoom);
• View multiple video channels at once;
• Multichannel playback, which allows users to play recorded video from several cameras simultaneously—useful if tracking a suspect through hallways;
• Multiple search devices, including fastforward, reverse, thumb-nail view, time line bars, bookmarking, etc.;
• Secure export of material evidence; Fail-over capability that enables continued recording if the primary server goes down.

Software-only versus appliance

Users can choose between software that they load, configure and manage on a server of their choosing or a hardware appliance that’s preloaded with software. The benefits of appliances are reduced setup and installation complexity, while disadvantages are less flexibility, fewer customisation options and more difficult integration with third-party systems. According to Simon Harris, senior research director at IMS Research, more advanced users will typically opt for softwareonly solutions, while those that aren’t comfortable doing setup and configuration will choose an appliance, or what IMS calls a proprietary system.

“If you have only a small number of cameras and don’t intend to integrate with your access control or building management system, that lends itself to proprietary systems,” Harris says. “As they get bigger and more complex, that’s when they go for open platform.”

VMS versus hybrid DVR

Some DVR vendors have begun selling software that enables their DVRs to support both IP cameras and directly connected analogue cameras. VMS-based systems can also support analogue cameras, but they require the use of an encoder to translate the signal to digital. With hybrid DVRs, both types of cameras are supported directly.

The hybrid option will be particularly attractive to companies during the economic downturn, when many end users will be motivated to make modest, incremental upgrades to IP, while staying with their existing DVR providers, says John Honovich, founder of IP Video Market Info, a video surveillance information portal. “In the past, if you wanted to add megapixel or other IP cameras to your surveillance system, you were forced to go to an IP-based VMS solution,” he says. “That has become much more complicated now that DVR vendors are rolling out increased IP support.”