Basic Video Surveillance

Long time readers of this blog will be familiar with the name John Honovich. John has web site, IPVideoMarket.info, that deals with the details of video surveillance. He has started a new service that looks very promising for security managers wanting to learn more about the basics of video surveillance technology, a video surveillance training program. The only drawback to the service is that it is not a free service, but the corporate membership rate is only $299 per year, so it isn’t much of a drawback drawback especially since it provides full access to the information on John’s site. John uses a combination of podcasts and printed material in the training program. I just finished listening to the first of three podcasts in the “Basics for Using Video Surveillance” program. It was an interesting 52-minute conversation about “Basic Uses of Video Surveillance” and it covered:

Different approaches to live surveillance monitoring Types of alarm monitoring Examples of conducting investigations Common number of cameras being used Common locations and types of cameras being used Privacy issues in using video surveillance Unrealistic or science fiction approaches to video surveillance

It included a very good discussion about when and why facilities may or may not decide to have someone constantly monitoring the feeds from their security cameras. I especially appreciated the discussion of video quality and why it isn’t practical to have 100% perfect videos throughout the day. There are two additional podcasts in this introductory program; Video Surveillance Products Basics and Basics on Cost and Value of Video Surveillance. John includes links to written reports on both subjects for further detailed information. Once again I have to recommend another of John’s products. The podcasts are interesting conversations instead of lectures. Combined with the links to reports on information covered in the podcast the training value for this material is high. Once again, John is not trying to make anyone a video surveillance technician or integrator with this program, but he is providing valuable information to someone who will be dealing with these professionals.