SJA hears exclusively from Monique Merhige, President of Infusion Direct Marketing, Inc. about video surveillance health checks.
Just like visiting the doctor annually for preventative health check-ups, regular camera maintenance is crucial to ensuring optimal performance of your video surveillance system.
Most companies make a significant investment in a camera system and want it operating properly for years to come.
Cameras are delicate pieces of equipment that require regular care to function properly and produce high-quality images.
Proper maintenance can extend the longevity of a camera system plus also help prevent common issues such as dust accumulation and sensor problems.
CameraShine
Brandon Beal, President at CameraShine said: “Today, a big issue that many organizations face is not having clear guidelines or a comprehensive plan for proper camera care, which can lead to overlooked maintenance.
“With security teams tasked with so many demands and limited resources, proactive camera upkeep often falls to the bottom of the priority list until a significant problem arises.
“Most organizations won’t even know there is a problem until critical footage is needed after an incident occurred which is too late.”
Getting a clean bill of health
As part of preventative maintenance, most patients visit their doctor annually for bloodwork and an overall health check-up to prevent any issues from escalating.
The same holds true for a camera system as being proactive when it comes to camera maintenance is the only way to ensure that a security system operates efficiently 365 days a year.
From firmware updates to blocked views and dirty lenses, video surveillance system maintenance is something that should be done on a consistent basis to avoid any downtime.
Each market has a unique set of challenges as discussed below, but all of have one thing in common – to keep their video surveillance system running properly.
Retail – Retail outlets ranging from chain stores to small boutique stores rely on sophisticated AI analytics for loss prevention, customer service, checkout automation and more. Having just one spider web block the lens can have a huge financial impact on a retail store
Education – K-12 and Higher education facilities typically have a campus-wide video surveillance system installed. The goal is to keep students and staff safe anywhere on campus as it’s crucial that security can monitor schools 24/7. When a camera is down due to weather damage or vandalism it puts the entire campus in jeopardy
Manufacturing – A manufacturing plant tends to generate dust and debris from production processes that can quickly build up on camera lenses and housings. This contamination reduces image clarity, impacts analytics accuracy and creates additional cleaning demands for safety-critical areas
Beal later added: “Dirt, debris and weathering gradually degrades video quality and can seriously impact the safety and security of any type of facility whether it’s a retail store, office tower, healthcare facility or government agency.
“All buildings face the same reality of surveillance system degrade. The environments may differ but the pain point is universal, a down camera does not deliver when it matters most, creating an unsafe environment.”
Some security system integrators not only sell and install security systems but also sell preventative maintenance plans, which include cleaning cameras. Climbing ladders or renting lifts for routine cleaning is slow, costly and exposes workers to unnecessary risk.
By keeping maintenance on the ground, integrators can standardize their workflows, improve safety and save time on the site.
“Based on this notion, CameraShine was born as an easy safe and efficient way to clean camera lenses while safely on the ground,” explains Beal.
“The CameraShine surveillance cleaning kit utilizes our patented tools, custom-formulated cleaning spray and HD-quality microfiber bonnets to save end users time and money while protecting the delicate optical plastics used in cameras.”
With these new types of cleaning solutions, organizations can use an extended pole to reach the camera lenses and avoid having to climb up ladders and take unnecessary risks.
“The advice I give customers is to treat your cameras like any other critical asset, know what you have, maintain them and plan for their long-term performance.
“Your cameras have never been more important than now,” says Beal. With the uptick in crime ranging from active shooter incidents, property vandalism and thefts; we all need to be vigilant in preventing these incidents from taking place in the first place.
“The first step is keeping security systems working properly and having someone monitor your facility in real-time.”
Clear vision ahead
As we move forward, we will see more organizations utilizing AI to make intelligent business decisions. Being proactive and keeping your video surveillance system working properly is the only way to ensure your property is safe and secure.
The continued evolution of new cameras combining AI with on-board audio and video analytics is resulting in highly accurate object detection and classification.
However, if a camera lens is dirty or blocked, this would impair the efficiency of AI Analytics.
The real power of surveillance comes when you have an integrated system with access control and intrusion systems, creating a unified security ecosystem.
All parts of your ecosystem must be maintained and working properly to reap the benefits of the latest security technology.
Another important factor is real-time monitoring and having a security team in place to monitor your video cameras day and night.
However, without the proper check-ups and preventative maintenance, you will not be able to give a clean bill of health to your technology; creating an unsafe environment for all.