Quadrant Security Group White Paper

Transcription

1 Quadrant Security Group White Paper CCTV Going Wireless The benefits, costs and considerations of implementing public space wireless CCTV systems 1 P a g e

2 Introduction CCTV has become an integral element of public space safety and security. It informs and aids police work, it acts as a deterrent and it also serves to reassure the general public. In fact, in 2011, an independent 1 public opinion survey revealed that 76% of people felt safer in public areas knowing that CCTV was in operation. But in an era of budget cuts, many local authorities are facing a significant problem greater need but less resource. It s an issue prompting many to turn to wireless CCTV as a possible solution. But why is this and what other factors are there to consider when deciding whether to go wireless? This White Paper has been designed to answer these questions and provide a practical reference for local authorities considering wireless CCTV. The boom and bust of public space CCTV investment The real boom time for public space CCTV began in the nineties when almost 40million worth of Government funding was made available, through the CCTV challenge competition, to local authorities to implement CCTV programmes. Between 1999 and 2003 the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme also invested 170million of capital funding in CCTV development. Local authorities were keen to be involved in the CCTV revolution and in many cases faced pubic pressure to do so. However, this also meant that strategy was sometimes sacrificed. Systems were put in place without, in a number of cases, full and detailed need analysis to maximise opportunities and ensure that provision matched, for example, localised crime issues. The CCTV budget boom also meant that CCTV was often implemented in isolation: a standalone crime prevention measure with stand-alone budget. But that is not how CCTV works best. The here and now Things have changed since then. Awareness of CCTV capabilities, how to integrate its use strategically into the wider crime prevention matrix and its benefits for targeting specific localised issues, has increased significantly. Another change is public demand. It was high then it s even higher now. A public opinion poll in 2011 revealed that 72% of people would be worried if their local council reduced 1 Independent research was carried out by research specialist, ICM, investigating public attitudes to CCTV. It was commissioned by Synectics. 2 P a g e

3 CCTV services in order to save money, with 62% saying they would actually like to see more 2. Unfortunately, however, the big budgets of the 90s and early 00s have gone. Where once there were grants, now there are cuts. The net result is that local authorities are looking to do more with their CCTV without it costing the earth and where possible, with less. Cost a prompt for wireless thinking So why has this predicament prompted so many local authorities to consider wireless CCTV? Cost is certainly one reason. Installation There are two main direct cost benefits that appeal to local authorities. The first relates to actual installation process. Wireless CCTV cameras, as the name suggests, require no direct cabling linking them to recording and viewing devices. Wired systems do, and consequently installing or expanding them requires significant investment. In most cases, cables are subterranean which means digging. Digging takes time, resources (i.e. significant equipment, manual labour) and causes disruption to roads, businesses and general infrastructure. Not ideal consequences in such tight economic times. Wireless cameras, conversely, can be installed quickly, easily and with virtually no knock-on disruption. Wireless appeals to local authorities keen to avoid installation disruption 2 Independent research was carried out by research specialist, ICM, investigating public attitudes to CCTV. It was commissioned by Synectics. 3 P a g e

4 Hybrid systems The other major draw to wireless at present is the fact that hybrid systems are now possible. For local authorities that need to upgrade their system to meet new demands this presents an appealing opportunity. Technology that facilitates interoperability means that old analogue cameras and new IP cameras can be connected on one wirelessly controlled system. So rather than rip out and replace, systems can be gradually evolved to wireless via upgrades and additions without crippling upfront cost or disruption. Leased-lines The second direct cost-based consideration that appeals relates to line rental. Wired CCTV cameras, and the system they form, have historically been dependent on leased-lines from telecommunication providers such as BT, Virgin etc. As well as rental fees, leased-line based networks also have the disadvantage that content, i.e. the images obtained, is the property of the service provider and not the local authority using it. A wireless network removes the need for leased-lines and, once installed, becomes an asset to the user potentially a profitable one once initial implementation costs are recouped 3. Of course, cost benefits and potential savings depend on the size, sophistication and scope of system, but from our experience, a local authority currently operating a network of 50 cameras on a leased fibre optic line could save approximately 20,000 over five years. Mobile capability for improved efficiency In addition to direct cost benefits, wireless CCTV systems also offer indirect cost benefits in relation to system efficiency. Wired CCTV cameras, for the reasons already outlined, are expensive to move. However, the need to move them is often substantial. Road layouts may change, buildings that weren t there when cameras were deployed may now obstruct views, criminal activity that once affected a specific area may have been resolved or have been displaced. In all of these situations, the camera is no longer serving its original purpose and is effectively wasting money. Wireless technology presents the opportunity to eliminate inefficiencies such as these at minimal cost, making the following possible; Re-deployment Working in close collaboration with the police, cameras on an IP system and be easily redeployed to emerging crime hot spot areas as town centre trends change. No cabling, means cameras can simply be relocated and re-purposed. 3 See section entitle opportunity income generation 4 P a g e

5 Rapid deployment Of course, as wireless CCTV cameras are easier to move, they are also quicker to move. A process which could previously have incurred significant cost and taken months could be completed in days meaning that local authorities can respond to demand extremely quickly. When working in collaboration with, for example, community action groups, this can be a major benefit. Being able to re-deploy wireless cameras quickly and easily can be a major support to frontline policing Temporary deployment It could be that cameras are needed elsewhere on a temporary basis. For example, say a major sporting event comes to a town or city: There will be an instant population increase, different traffic demands etc. The flexibility of having wireless CCTV cameras means that resources can be deployed elsewhere temporarily and just as easily returned. Such benefits, i.e. more effective, efficient resource deployment, have practical cost implications. Being able to shift and tailor resources means they can be streamlined - less cameras at less cost providing the same, if not more efficient coverage. Future proofing The fact that wireless systems can be re-deployed easily and at low cost means that such systems are, to a large extent, future proof. But to truly be future proof, a system also needs to be able to offer scalability i.e. be able to accommodate increased capacity. With wireless CCTV systems, upgrades are largely software based rather than hardware led. Again, this has significant cost saving implications and not just in terms of reduced equipment outlay. It takes less people, less time to upgrade software than it does to install new hardware across multiple locations. 5 P a g e

6 What s stopping the wireless revolution? With so many apparent advantages, why haven t more local authorities already made the switch to IP based systems? Historically, two main concerns have been raised; Quality Wireless CCTV cameras can t offer the same quality picture as analogue can they? Wireless systems may once have struggled to match analogue but they are now of a standard that makes high quality, high definition, reliable evidential footage a reality. What s even better is that wireless systems can be tailored so that different modules within the system work to differing quality levels and bandwidths according to need. For example, while a camera in a high incident level area may need to be very high resolution, a general traffic camera in a low incident level area does not. Also, if quality demands increase, well designed wireless systems facilitate relatively simple bandwidth upgrades without the need to upgrade transmission links. High quality encryption systems help alleviate security concerns Security wireless CCTV networks aren t secure though? They are! A wireless CCTV system, installed by a reputable provider, will feature in-built approved security encryption systems to protect all data being transmitted. Wireless CCTV systems, like any other product or service, are closely governed by set industry standards both in terms of the technology used and the installation process adopted. Compliance with such standards is something any provider would be happy to demonstrate. As with analogue cameras however, it s not just virtual threat that needs to be considered. Wireless cameras should also have suitable environmental housing to protect against adverse weather conditions and unauthorised users. 6 P a g e

7 Opportunity income generation The fact that wireless CCTV systems are now so secure and offer such high quality also presents new opportunities for local authorities, ones that can potentially cut costs even further. A local authority implementing a wireless CCTV network owns that system it is an asset, a fact untrue of leased line analogue systems. One of the potential benefits of this is that the system can be used to transmit other (non CCTV related) IP comms systems. These additional systems could be internal, i.e. under the management of the authority, but also could be systems from third party partner agencies. This means potential extra income or network cost contribution which, in today s economic environment, is a significant point. For example, one south east local authority working with Quadrant is collaborating with a WIFI company to allow them access to the backhaul element of their new wireless CCTV network, enabling the provider to offer residents their WIFI services. As well as generating financial contribution towards the service, this collaboration also means that residents that do use the WIFI service are directed to a local authority homepage on connection, highlighting local services. Considerations While there are numerous benefits to wireless CCTV systems, there are also important considerations that need to be taken into account to truly assess suitability for specific needs. Cost As previously highlighted in this paper, one of the biggest benefits of utilising wireless CCTV cameras is cost saving. However, that doesn t mean it is always going to be the best option. Local authorities should consider several key points here; 1) Is my leased-line good value and does it work well? While a wireless CCTV system brings benefits of use ownership and costs less in terms of infrastructure disruptions to install and re-deploy, if an analogue system is currently working well on a line leased from a service provider e.g. BT, and the rental on that line is low, it may not be worth switching on a cost based analysis alone. 2) What timescales am I working to in terms of budget planning? Intrinsically linked to the question of cost is the issue of project timescales. For example, while a switch to a wireless system will bring cost benefits, initial investment may not be recouped until in the first year. Local authorities need to marry these calculations against objectives, budget planning and timescale mapping. 7 P a g e

8 3) Apart from equipment investment, what costs do I need to consider with wireless? In addition to the cost of the kit, local authorities need to ensure they are fully aware of additional costs that are specific to a wireless system upgrade. For example, while such a system may negate the need for a leased-line, there are costs such as a light licensed spectrum purchase to consider. This is a fee payable for a licence which prohibits other parties using a frequency/signal that interferes with the licence holder s. It is a relatively small fee annual fee but nonetheless, is one of the factors that need to be taken into account. A reputable installation and integration specialist will be able to provide a clear plan of all such costs to enable an informed decision to be made in terms of costs benefit. Practicalities In addition to cost, there are practical points that local authorities need to consider when choosing wireless; 1) Power One of the biggest benefits of wireless CCTV cameras is that they can be easily re-deployed according to changing needs etc, the reason being that there are no cabling issues. However, it is important not to forget that even wireless CCTV cameras need a power source access to such sources e.g. street lighting, needs to be taken into consideration. 2) Migration strategy When planning a move from a leased-line system to a wireless network, it pays to have a sound migration strategy particularly in terms of timings. For example, most leased-line providers will require a three month notice period. Local Authorities should work with their integrator/installer to ensure that this period is used to migrate the system. 3) Survey While technology does exist to enable non line of sight transmission, i.e. it allows systems to speak round corners to avoid obstacles, this incurs extra cost. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but usually a reputable integrator/installer will conduct a survey to assess the best possible layout by examining 3D topography. This survey and planning process works out the more effective and direct route for the system to operate. 8 P a g e

9 It s important to consider line of sight when planning for wireless It will also identify prime locations for camera positions, some of which may be privately owned. In such cases, rental costs may need to be considered in order to gain access. 4) Using existing resource A new wireless system does not necessarily mean investment in new cameras. Existing analogue cameras can be integrated into a wireless system to avoid unnecessary expenditure. However, the normal considerations in terms of picture quality, efficiency and location effectiveness should be taken into account here. Is it better to use an existing analogue camera in a fixed location or invest in a new wireless camera which can be re-deployed when necessary? Conclusion There is no cut and dry answer to whether a local authority should adopt a wireless system there is no one size fits all solution. However wireless systems compete on quality and offer cost, efficiency and flexibility benefits that are clearly defined. Most importantly, wireless systems do facilitate a do more with less approach. It s why they are experiencing such a surge in popularity and why local authorities considering changing their system should investigate wireless CCTV technology further. /Ends About Quadrant Quadrant Security Group (QSG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK-based Synectics plc. QSG is one of the UK s largest independent integrated security systems integrators, delivering end-to-end security and surveillance solutions from consultancy to systems design, installation and support. Working in conjunction with all the major security product manufacturers and in partnership with its clients, QSG delivers integrated security solutions for a wide range of sectors including public space, banking & finance, high security, utilities, transport and commercial. For further information, visit 9 P a g e