Monitors on the Brain

Dear Charlie I met you two years ago at your training show in Chicago, which by the way, I would recommend to anyone getting into or already into CCTV designs. Great Training!.

At the show you had talked about limiting the number of viewing monitors to reduce operator fatigue and improved comprehension. This accomplished by means of automation via alarming inputs and video detection techniques. However, with current CCTV surveillance requests on my desk currently, the camera viewing areas have constant movement. In other words, the security personnel is looking for a certain type of activity. How can I reduce the number of monitors while still providing the best security and maximum amount of recorded signals. i.e.: What would the head-end consist of when you have 24 cameras. Half of which are pan &tilts. (Multiplexers are so choppy). Any ideas? Thanks in advanced..

Sign me Pete with Monitors on the Brain.  

Dear P.M. Brain,.

First things first, thanks for the compliment, I really appreciate the kind words. Now onto your questions. You can have as many monitors in a system as the brain will allow. First however, let's understand that you are seeking information about two separate problems. The first concern being that the security personnel are looking for specific operations or movement at all times, so what can be done to give them the most and keep them from zoning out? The second problem is how do I record as much information as possible without the chop of multiplexers?.

Onto the first problem.... Because the job you describe demands constant vigilance, the only thing that you can do is make the job as non-restraining as possible. If we look at a casino, the surveillance personnel have the opportunity to take a break and are encourage to do so at any time they can. This means that they literally stand up and leave their station and the room. With a little experience, they know when and how to leave their station for five or ten or fifteen minutes at a time... This way when something is coming down, they are able to concentrate and pay attention for longer periods of time. Also, because there is action, the time and fatigue factors walk out the door. An operator can stay active as long as the adrenalin is flowing and there is a reason to pay attention. They also work in groups and can tandem a job onto an associate or partner if they become fatigued. By tossing an important, long term surveillance back and forth, it can go on for hours in a manner of seamless effort..

The next portion has to do with the overall monitor layout. A master monitor of twelve, fourteen or twenty inches for the main scene with up to four nine inch monitors mounted in pairs on either side or as a quad group to the left or right of the master. These units are used as a visual reference so that multiple views of the same scene can be observed easily without much effort. If the operator feels that a better view is available, they can switch based upon what they think they see on the nine inch unit with the press of a single button.... Whops, not as good as what they had, a push of another button and the images reverse monitors again..

What your people snack on or eat while on duty can also affect their overall ability to perform. Have your operators avoid caffeine and other such products while they work... Orange and apple juice for vitamin C and K... have crisp snacks available.... no not chips and such, but carrots, celery, et cetera... these things help keep the nerves down, the bladder empty and the mind sharp..

Now for the second problem...Twenty four cameras is a lot of information to record no matter how you look at it... Again however, the type of application and the amount of information necessary will determine what style, and speed, and what method of recording you will be doing..

First the recorder... If you are using a time lapse machine to accomplish twenty four to seventy two hour recordings and you are not happy with the amount of information that you have when done, it is probably due the actual recording speed of the time lapse machine... That is: a time lapse machine in the twenty four mode records about five pictures per second, while in the seventy two hour mode it records about 1.75 pictures per second.... Therefore a play back of eight cameras in the twenty four mode means that you will record .75 pictures per camera per second. The problem is that you want more information to cut down on the "Choppy" effect, but you don't want to give up the twenty four hour mode..

To accomplish this, you should take a serious look at upgrading your recorder to the newer format, high density 24 hour machines. These units actually record an average of 17 to 21 pictures per second. They accomplish this by using a longer tape (T160) and changing the angle and number of fields recorded per inch of tape. Therefore you can now multiplex eight cameras and get two pictures per camera per second... A very nice improvement..

Using the same basic technology, the new 72 hour, high density machines record 5 to 7 pictures per second... again a vast improvement over the time-lapse machines..

At any rate, that is the best I can do without more specific information about your application... I hope that it helps.... Let me know if you need anything else, and I will do my best for you... I am in your service... Good luck and stay in touch..