Traditionally CCTV Systems have been analog based and have required a specific Control Room in which they can view all camera feeds. A CCTV user would then sit in the Control Room and attempt to view relevant camera feeds for feedback.
This can become a tedious task if there is only operator attempting to view over 64 camera feeds and determine their relevance in the production scheme.
Industrial Video and Control is one excellent solution to this problem, as apposed to having an operator find the camera of relevance during a specific part of the process, rather have the Camera of relevance popup and bring attention to the operator during that specific part of the process.
Traditional Camera’s are analog based, in the industrial world this is very limiting for the following reasons:
- Price of Co-Ax Cable
- Single Point of Viewing from DVR
- High interference on the Co-Ax Cables
- No Integration into the Scada/HMI
- Expansion can become expensive and difficult if part are still available
IP Camera Management Solution solves many problems!
When deciding to migrate towards an IP Based Camera Solution many questions have to be asked and answered before making your decision.
- What do I want to view?
- Do I require a Static or PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) type Camera?
- Do I require day/night vision?
- What are the environmental conditions?
- What type of IP Rating is required? Eg: IP65, IP67, Intrinsically Safe : These examples of dust/water and hazardous rating requirements.
- What type of infrastructure currently exists?
- An IP Camera Solution requires an Ethernet Network Infrastructure.
- This topic is a broad topic as the following aspects should be looked into
- What is current available bandwidth on existing network?
- What is total camera count?
- What % bandwidth should be catered for expansion on network load?
- Are there any difficult to reach places where Wireless should be looked into?
- What frame rate is required per camera?
- Example of Frame Rate for the industrial worl if important to understand since this impacts your bandwidth requirements as well as storage capacity requirements.
- How much recording is required for the total solution?
- Is tamperproof detection required?
- Is motion detection required?
- How many different viewing control rooms are required?
- Is Modbus TCP integration required?
- Are Digital Inputs/ Digital Outputs Support Required?
- How the integration into your automation process must take place
Application Notes:
Many customers have already integrated their IP CCTV Camera Systems into their Scada Systems as you can see from the image above, once that section of the process is about to start, the operator, through the Scada, will be able to visually confirm safety requirements are met before starting or stopping the process.
(The lower left image is a live popup of a camera viewing a stacker over 1Km away and displaying the live information ANYWHERE on the network)
Certain customers have already integrated the Output of their PLC into the Digital Input of the IP Camera, this way as soon as the PLC starts a given process it will automatically send a command to the Camera, which in turn will alert the Camera Management System to implement the preconfigured tasks in the control room.
Upgrading an existing Analog System to IP WITHOUT replacing all Analog Camera’s!
Yes, you can upgrade your plants existing Analog Camera System to an IP System and have all the benefits mentioned above and more!
H3iSquared offers multiple varieties of Video Encoders that converts any Analog Camera into an IP Ready Camera, ready to pull into the IP Camera Management Software.
A stand alone 4 Channel Encoder (4 Analog Camera Inputs, 1 Ethernet Output) for isolated area’s. For upgrading bulk Analog Cameras there is an option available for a Rack Unit with up to 12 blades with 4 Analog Inputs per blade giving a total conversion of 48 Camera’s per Rack!
For customers who do not wish to invest in hardened ethernet cameras, this is a feasible option to make use of Analog Camera’s converted to IP.
Compatibility with Camera’s to avoid becoming Vendor Locked!
Many IP Camera Systems are able to communicate to specific vendors and manufacturers only.
It is very important to select a solution that will allow you to add a different vendor camera’s at a later stage if you wish thus not locking you in to only one hardware supplier.
Customized Designed Viewing and Alarming Screens
It is also essential to be able to configure your Main Control Room as you require it as apposed to only having predefined layouts.
Expansion here is once again the key to a successfully used Camera Management System.
If you look at the different tailor configured viewing displays below you will find the importance to be able to dictate where on the screen each of the cameras should be as well as dictate how and when the screen should change and show you more relevant cameras depending on the part of the process in relevance.
