WHAT IS CCTV

Most people are aware of CCTV surveillance as it are widely used commercially and in the public sector - for example, in town centres, shops and on public transport - and often featured in the media.

CCTV is an acronym for Closed Circuit Television: "closed circuit" as in an installation of directly connected components creating a circuit which cannot be viewed by anybody outside of the circuit, unlike a terrestrial television broadcast system which can be viewed by anybody with the appropriate reception equipment.

An obvious use for CCTV is to prevent crime and malpractice but it is also a valuable business management tool offering staff protection, supporting Health & Safety initiatives, aiding investigations, proving innocence and avoiding lawsuits; other examples of its use are help with production control and other observational objectives in factories where, for example, conditions are unsuitable for human intervention.  It can be used a wide range of other applications, such as traffic surveys, keeping an eye on livestock and for monitoring wildlife activity, to name but few.

The use of CCTV in the home environment is becoming more popular.  Not only does it improve general security, it can help to defend against anti social behaviour, and is a way of keeping an eye on children and pets.

CCTV systems in the public arena are governed by the Data Protection Act of 1988; those in a domestic environment are governed by the Human Rights Act.

CIA’s expert system designers and technicians tailor-make CCTV systems to suit individual requirements, from simple one camera and monitor systems to multiple camera systems that are fully integrated with other security installations.

Purpose

• A CCTV system's most basic purpose is to provide monitoring and surveillance of an area. This surveillance helps to deter illegal activity by offering the threat of prosecution, and documents the activity of those individuals not swayed by the presence of the CCTV system. It also helps to monitor situations, ranging from large gatherings to more personal uses such as elderly patients with health conditions. Constant monitoring allows for immediate alert and response in cases of emergency, or evidence in legal cases.

Equipment

• A basic CCTV system consists of three components: a camera, monitor and recording or storage device. These pieces of equipment connect with coaxial cables or wireless signals, which carry the image data the camera captures for viewing and recording. Different styles and varieties of cameras are available depending upon your specific surveillance needs, including outdoor models, zoom cameras and dome types.
• Types

• The simplest and least expensive type of CCTV system utilizes analog technology, which basically involves a camera connected to a monitor and recorder using video tapes. This VCR-based system, while affordable, possesses its share of disadvantages, such as low quality picture and the necessity of changing the tapes regularly. Digital technology-based CCTV systems offer two alternatives for recording: a dedicated computer or a digital video recorder. The digital CCTV system, unlike the analog version, digitizes the captured image date for recording on a hard drive. This eliminates the loss of quality found in analog systems and allows for continuous recording.

Use

• While home and business security top the list of uses for CCTV systems, these self-contained surveillance methods are used in other areas as well. Communities and cities use them to monitor traffic and control vandalism. Zoos and wildlife researchers find them invaluable for recording and studying the behavior of animals without the possibility of human interference. Filmmakers and stage managers use them to see hidden or blocked areas of the set.