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The Advantages of a Digital Video Surveillance System

Centralized Vision Digital Video Surveillance System High Definition Camera Wide Angle Lens Video surveillance systems have come a long way. The early analog systems were very inefficient and required massive amounts of storage space. Today’s new digital video surveillance systems are more versatile and efficient and have superior image quality.

Characteristics of an Analog Video Surveillance System

What is an Analog video surveillance system? Simply put, an analog video surveillance system collects video and transmits it over a traditional base band format to a Digital video recorder of some kind or DVR. Once it reaches the DVR it is converted to a digital format so it can be compressed and stored on hard drives.

Analog video surveillance systems have been around since the first CCTV system was installed at a test stand in Peenemünde, Germany in 1942, for observing the launch of V-2 rockets. At the time, it was an innovative, state of the art system. However, they had no way to record the footage. Thus creating the need for the first live monitored video surveillance system.

Analog surveillance systems require that each camera has its own dedicated coaxial cable and usually must be expanded by either 4 or 16 cameras at a time. The installation of an analog system requires massive amounts of coaxial cables for video and may require specialized cables for audio capabilities as well.

The amount of cables involved in the installation and maintenance of an analog system can boggle the mind. Each camera not only needs its own dedicated coaxial cable for video and possibly another cable for audio, they each need their own power supply. The need for power to each camera is solved with a digital system since digital surveillance system cameras can use POE which is a way to get their power from the Ethernet cable.

Each analog camera on a video surveillance network must be connected directly to the digital video recording device. This limits the number of cameras you can add to the number of ports you have on your recording device. With a digital video surveillance system, there are multiple ways in which you can expand your network using switches and other equipment.

One major drawback of analog surveillance cameras is that they have extremely low resolution which provide grainy, blurry, and unclear images. The maximum resolution available in an analog camera is equivalent to approximately .4 megapixels. In comparison, today’s most advanced digital video surveillance cameras are available in up to 11 megapixels.

Low resolution is not the only cause of analog video surveillance camera’s production of such blurry images. Analog cameras use a process called interlacing. This interlacing is what creates the jagged video and blurry images. The way interlacing works is by dividing the images.

The Interlacing process involves dividing images into two sets of lines, odd and even. These lines are then refreshed alternately. This alternate refreshing is what causes moving objects to appear jagged and or blurry and creates distortion in the video.

The reason it is so blurry is that only half of the lines are recording at any one time while the other half wait to be refreshed. Once both images are received by the DVR and put back Centralized Vision Digital Video Surveillance System Analogtogether, the images have moved slightly, and therefore create a blurry image.

Analog cameras also do not have the same digital zooming capabilities as digital video surveillance cameras do. The grainy pictures produced by an analog camera only become grainier and blurrier when you zoom in. The poor resolution and grainy picture make it difficult or even impossible to identify people and see what exactly is happening at any time.

Another characteristic of analog video surveillance cameras is their narrow field of view. With traditional analog cameras you had to install several cameras in order to watch a large area. A digital surveillance camera can cover three to four times as much area than an analog camera can.

Possibly one of the largest drawbacks to an analog video surveillance system is the fact that they do not work well as a wireless system. Analog signals must follow several government guidelines and are prohibited from being encrypted and are extremely susceptible to interference. In addition to interference, your system will be vulnerable to hackers. Florescent lighting can also be very problematic for wireless analog networks.

Benefits of A Digital Video Surveillance System

There are many benefits of a digital video surveillance system. Digital surveillance systems are superior to analog in their ease of installation, their ease of use, their superior image quality, their data requisition and transmission processes, and many other ways.

The main difference between an analog and a digital video surveillance system is the way they collect and transmit the video signal. Analog systems convert the information into a digital format after it reaches the recording device. With a digital video surveillance system, the information is gathered in a digital format to begin with. Thereby eliminating the need to convert and compress the information at a later time.Centralized Vision Digital Video Surveillance System

Collecting the information digitally from the start makes the whole process much more efficient. Digital information can be transmitted more quickly than an analog signal due to the fact that the information is compressed prior to its transmission.  Besides being faster, digital systems are superior because with a digital signal, there is no degradation of the image.

Since the video is collected digitally straight from the camera, there is more flexibility as to how and where you can record the video. In most cases, the DVR is replaced with an NVR (network video recorder), which can be simply software since the information does not need to be converted to a digital format.

As I mentioned earlier, digital video surveillance cameras have much higher image quality than their analog counter-parts. The most sophisticated analog cameras on the market today have a maximum of .4 megapixels. That is less than half of a megapixel. Even the cheapest digital cameras available today far exceed this in megapixels alone.

Sophisticated digital video surveillance systems have several capabilities other than transmitting video images. Today’s digital systems have the ability to control more than video. Apps can be downloaded to allow for remote access, access control systems, visitor management systems, and building management.

With remote access capabilities, it is far easier for a live video monitoring company such as Centralized Vision to monitor your property. With the right applications your video feed can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection which alleviates the need to have on-site monitors.

Access control systems allow you to remotely monitor and facilitate entry of guests to your facility. In addition to monitoring guests, you can set up alerts to inform you in the case of a door being left unlocked or propped open. With an analog system this would not be as easy to facilitate.

With a digital surveillance system, you can track your guests and visitors while they are on the property. In the event that a visitor is allowed only in certain areas of the building, you have the ability to control their flow. You can lock and unlock doors as needed to let them move freely about in  authorized areas. Thus not leaving any access points open, unlocked or vulnerable to unauthorized access.

In addition to digital video surveillance systems having superior image quality and sophisticated app capabilities, another advantage is the ease of use when installing or adding to the system. When installing the system, it requires much less wiring than a traditional analog system.

Remember, an analog system requires separate coaxial cables, audio cables, and power cables. That is not necessary with the POE (Power over Ethernet) option available with a digital system. The cameras can get their power directly from the Ethernet cables.

A digital video surveillance system is easier to expand than a traditional analog system as well. With an analog system, you are required to expand your network in multiples of 4, 8, or 16. That is not the case with a digital network. With a digital video system, you can add a camera any time and almost anywhere that you want.

With the use of switches to connect your digital cameras to each other without wires. You can add many more cameras to a network than you can with an analog network. Digital cameras can even be installed without wires which makes it even easier. This gives you the ability to place your cameras almost anywhere.

Digital video surveillance systems are superior to analog systems in their ability to transmit wirelessly without interference and distortion. With a traditional analog system, there are several federal regulations that must be followed when transmitting wirelessly. The most problematic is the fact that you are not able to encrypt or protect the information.

With a digital system, there are not the same government regulations to abide by, and therefore your information can be transmitted with encryption and without the same distortion. You are able transmit your information quickly, safely, and with high quality.

Digital video surveillance systems have many advantages over analog systems. They are easier to use with far superior image quality and ease of installation. They are more sophisticated, have a multitude of capabilities, can easily grow with your needs, and are remotely accessible from anywhere. If you have any questions about digital video surveillance systems or how we can help protect what matters most to you, please contact us.

How Can Remote Security Services Help Protect Your Business?

Centralized Vision Remote Security Services ArticleEvery business needs security of some type. On site security is useful, but remote security services can do more than your traditional on-site security guards. Virtually anything that can be done by on-site security can be handled remotely by a professional remote site monitoring company such as Centralized Vision as well as a plethora of other services.

There are many ways that remote security services can help protect your business. Remote security monitoring can solve many issues at the same time. With remote site monitoring, one technician is able to monitor several areas at once for any number of situations that might occur. Trained technicians are equipped with all the necessary skills and tools needed to protect you and your business, as well as your employees, tenants, and guests.

There are several services offered by remote security companies that cannot be provided by a traditional security company. No matter how remote or hostile your location may be, a remote security monitoring company will be on the job 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Remote monitoring and security services can help protect what matters most to you.

Remote Security Services Offer a Wide Variety of Services

The services offered by a remote security company reach far beyond preventing and stopping crimes with live monitored video surveillance. Everything from Intrusion and Access Control to Badge and Database Management as well as so much more can be performed remotely.

Live Video Camera Monitoring

When you think of live monitored video surveillance, you may think of crimes being caught on camera. Whereas catching criminals in the act and preventing crimes is an important part of live monitoring security cameras, there are a multitude of other services that can be performed using live video feeds.

HVAC Monitoring

One service besides crime fighting that can be provided by live video surveillance camera monitoring is Energy Management. Professionally trained technicians can monitor your HVAC system to ensure it is optimized and functioning properly.

Losing HVAC or other vital systems can be devastating to any business, and depending on the industry, the reliability of your HVAC systems can make all the difference in the world. In the case of a pharmaceutical company, vaccines and other specimens must be kept at certain temperatures to maintain their effectiveness.

Hospitals and Care Centers have unique HVAC requirements not found in other industries. They rely heavily on their HVAC systems in order to care for their patients and save lives. HVAC systems in hospitals can help defend against the spread of airborne diseases; they can also contribute to the spread if they are not properly monitored and maintained.

Hospital HVAC systems require specialized equipment like HEPA filters, re-circulating systems, filter fans, air mixing equipment and static cooling systems which provide cooling without moving any air. With remote monitoring, all these specialized pieces of equipment can be monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to guarantee the system will be functioning at the highest level possible at all times.

Building and Vital Systems Monitoring

Another valuable service that can be provided by a remote security monitoring company is monitoring the building, its structure, and all its vital systems. You rely on your building to keep your business running and with a professionally trained staff of technicians monitoring your systems, you can be assured that your building will continue functioning up to its full potential.

Trained technicians monitor for things like structural issues which can include anything from roof leaks to foundation issues.  These issues can usually be repaired easily and for minimal cost if caught in the early stages of development. However, if the issues go unnoticed and are left in disrepair, they can cost more than money.  A roof leak can quickly lead to a roof collapse which can cost you time, materials, and possibly employees if the business is to be closed long-term for repairs.

Inclement Weather Monitoring

Centralized Vision Remote Security Services Article 3Remote security technicians can also monitor your business for weather related issues and developments. Many people are inured at work every year due to weather related problems and many of these could be avoided if the building occupants simply knew what was happening outside.

Earlier this year, a fitness center filled with unsuspecting patrons was hit by a tornado and the entire end of the building was sheared off. If the fitness center had had a remote security monitoring company in place, they could have been warned of the impending weather situation and evacuated the building.

Weather can be dangerous but it can also be a costly set back to your business if you are caught by surprise. A company that relies on its fleet of vehicles would be remiss to let their vehicles become snowed in. With cameras in the parking areas, trained technicians can notify the proper personnel in the event that the vehicles are in danger of becoming snowed in and who can then relocate the vehicles before the snow becomes an issue. The weather is becoming increasingly violent and difficult to predict. With security video surveillance live monitored by a professional company, you will never have to worry about being caught off guard by a pending weather situation.

Plumbing and Electrical Systems Monitoring

Plumbing and electrical systems are other vital areas that many of us don’t think about until there is a problem. Some problems develop in areas where people don’t usually go or cannot physically fit. These types of issues can become serious in a small amount of time. But with a remote security company keeping an eye on things, these types of potential problems never go unobserved.

A small plumbing leak in the wrong place or an electrical outlet that is sparking can easily escalate to a major problem if not discovered and rectified in a timely manner. With remote site monitoring, problems with your plumbing and electrical systems will not become an issue.

These are just a few of the services which can be provided remotely by a live video camera monitoring company.

Access Control

Access control is another area which can be handled with remote security services. Technicians can perform all the same duties as an in person concierge or receptionist plus a whole lot more. Not only can the doors be locked and unlocked remotely allowing access to authorized individuals at any time day or night, technicians can also alert you to forced entries.

One valuable service that can be provided by a remote concierge or access control system that cannot be easily offered by an in-person service is that all visitors, guests, vendors and service people can be monitored while they are on the property.

All areas that need to be accessed by vendors, maintenance or other persons can easily be unlocked remotely while keeping all others areas locked and off limits. Having someone watching will keep your property safe and sound.

Database Management and Visual Escort

Centralized Vision Remote Security Services Article 2With badge and database management services, you no longer need to have someone manning the front desk 24 hours a day. With remote services in place, our trained technicians can not only check all visitors against the facilities’ database of approved people. Remote technicians can also activate a deactivate access cards as needed to maintain a secure facility.

With our innovative Visual Escort and scout ahead services, your clients, tenants, guests, and visitors will feel safe as long as they are on the property. Trained technicians can watch over your guests as they make their way to their vehicles; with just one easy call to our professional staff we will watch over your guests until they reach their vehicles safely.

Or, if preferable, we can scout out the area ahead of your guests departure to ensure their safety before they ever leave the building. With trained security technicians watching over your guests as they come and go from the property, you can ensure they will never doubt your sincerity when it comes to safety and security.

Dispatch and Investigative Services

When you employ a remote security company to monitor your property and keep an eye on what matters most to you, professionally trained technicians have the ability to dispatch the proper personnel to handle any situation that may arise.

Technicians can dispatch private security to check on open doors, suspicious activity and the like, as well as dispatching local authorities in the event that a crime or dangerous situation unfolds. Building representatives and maintenance personnel can also be contacted and dispatched to the location if needed.

Investigative services are another specialized service that can be provided by a remote security company. One of the many benefits of hiring a professional monitoring company to handle your security needs is that you gain the knowledge, experience, and expertise of their entire staff. That is something it would cost you tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours of training to achieve and it all comes with the service.

Anytime an incident occurs, recorded footage or still images of the unauthorized motion/presence or incident will be recorded and sent to you or stored for your review according to your preference. This is a time saver as it allows you to quickly and easily review all security incidents without having to scour hours of footage.

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Car Thieves Caught By Live Monitoring and Centralized Vision

Centralized Vision Caught By Live Monitoring Auto Thieves Blog

Every day you can turn on the television and see videos of criminals caught in the act. Whether you are watching your local news, or a show like The Hunt with John Walsh, there is no shortage of videos of people committing crimes. More often than not, the story is that the authorities need your help to identify the perpetrators or your help in tracking them down.

When you have your video surveillance system live monitored by a professional company like Centralized Vision, crime caught on camera stories have much happier endings such as “Caught By Live Monitoring!”

Live monitoring of your camera system allows you the ability to have eyes on your property 24 hours a day and the ability to prevent or stop crimes and other situations. You can learn all about how video surveillance monitoring systems work in this recent article.

Would-Be Thief Caught By Live Monitoring –

During a recent overnight shift, one of our technicians was alerted to a potential trespasser on the lot of an auto auction. After an extensive search of the property with the cameras, our tech witnessed an individual poking his head out of one of the cars on the lot. Our technician immediately contacted the police and informed them that he had an unauthorized individual on a secured site.

After speaking with the police and while waiting for them to arrive, our technician maintained his visual control of the property utilizing the security surveillance system. He noticed a gray car being driven on the lot as well as 3  individuals who exited the gray car and began sweeping the area. They were seen combing through the cars on the lot. The perpetrators continued looking through the vehicles until the police arrived.

Within two minutes of first observing the intruder, the police were dispatched to the scene; they arrived less than three minutes later. When the police did arrive on scene, they surrounded the business in force and began searching the property. The thieves dropped everything and began sprinting towards the back of the property.

The police gave chase to the suspects and requested permission from the property management to employ K-9 officers to assist with the chase. After receiving the required permission, K-9 officers were released and joined the search. The officers were ultimately able to capture at least one of the suspects involved.

Our trained technician was able to maintain visual control of the property while waiting for the police to arrive, all while maintaining his own personal safety.  Remote monitoring allows our technicians the ability to monitor any situation safely from our air conditioned control room. Whether it be harsh environmental conditions, hazardous industrial areas, or severe weather, we are able to maintain a 24/7 365 watch of your property to ensure its safety and security.

This is yet another story of how Live Video Monitoring works to take bad guys off the streets.

How Does Video Surveillance System Monitoring Work?

Centralized Vision Video Surveillance System Monitoring BlogVideo surveillance systems seem to be everywhere these days.  But video surveillance system monitoring is a relatively new field. In the old days, you would install a video surveillance system and hit record on a VCR which would record what the cameras saw. If anything ever happened, you were able to go back and watch the video recording to see watch the event after the fact. The video recording could be used to help identify a criminal and be used for their prosecution in the event that they were caught.

Today there is a better way, and it is known as Video Surveillance System Monitoring. It goes far and beyond your old standard surveillance system by having your cameras monitored by trained technicians, in real time, 24 hours a day. This allows you to react to an incident while it is happening and make a real difference in the outcome.

Videos surveillance system monitoring allows technicians to monitor for a variety of criminal activities. However, video camera surveillance monitoring is a multi-functional tool which can also be utilized to monitor any number of processes and situations.

What is a Video Surveillance System?

Centralized Vision Videe Surveillance System Monitoring BlogVideo camera surveillance systems have come a long way. The first video surveillance system was designed by three German engineers and installed in 1942, it was used to monitor the launching of a rocket. The first video surveillance camera system was installed in the United States in the late 1940’s and as of 2014, over 245 million video cameras were in use worldwide.

The word surveillance means the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime. Therefore, video surveillance systems are an electronic means of watching someone or something.

Video surveillance systems are a system of one or more video cameras on a network that send the captured video and audio information to a certain place. The images are not available to the public like television. They are live monitored or transmitted to a central location for recording and storage.

The basic equipment necessary for a video camera surveillance system includes cameras to capture the images and some sort of recording device or monitoring service; one and two-way audio speakers are also becoming more popular every day which adds yet another tool to the arsenal of a surveillance system monitoring company’s trained technicians. Cameras, possibly speakers and a recording device or monitoring capabilities is about all you will need besides the usual miscellaneous supplies used when installing any kind of A/V equipment.

When it comes to video surveillance cameras, there are two basic types of cameras but there are several different options you can choose from. The two types of surveillance cameras available are analogue and digital. The signal from an analogue camera can be recorded to a video tape recorder, it can be converted to a digital signal and stored on a computer, or it can be stored on a digital video recorder.

Digital cameras, on the other hand, are much more user friendly than analogue cameras. Digital video surveillance cameras use a digital signal to transmit the images so the need to convert them is eliminated. This makes it easier to store the information on a computer. A Digital camera has a higher resolution than an analogue camera. Digital images are available at up to 11 megapixels which make it possible to read license plates. Even with the best analogue camera, you could never read a license plate.

 What is Video Surveillance System Monitoring and How Does It Work?

Centralized Vision Video Surveillance System Monitoring BlogVideo surveillance system monitoring has been around since the very first surveillance system was installed in Peenemünde, Germany in 1942. When the first camera surveillance system was created, there was no way to record the images so the cameras had to be monitored in real-time.

It wasn’t until the 1970’s that the technology became available to easily record and store the images captured by the video camera surveillance systems. Once this technology became available, the use of video surveillance systems began to skyrocket. It seemed like all businesses had video cameras and were recording everything that happened.

Although recording video information for later use is a great way to provide the authorities with evidence after a crime has been committed or another event has happened, it can do nothing to change the outcome of the event. That is not true of video surveillance system monitoring. When your surveillance system is live monitored, trained technicians have the ability to step into a situation and change its outcome, thus preventing loss, damage, and bodily injury among other things.

Video camera surveillance system monitoring works by having the live feed from your video surveillance system monitored in real-time by in-house employees, or by a trained, professional company like Centralized Vision. The benefit of hiring a professional company is that the technicians are all fully trained to handle any situation that might arise with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. They also have all the necessary back-up and equipment to handle any scenario that may arise.

Video surveillance system monitoring is great for preventing crimes and stopping them in progress, but that is only the beginning of what you can do with a good surveillance system and a top-rate monitoring company like Centralized Vision. Trained technicians can use your video camera surveillance system to monitor everything from Energy Management, to your buildings vital systems like plumbing and electrical.

Uses for Video Surveillance System Monitoring

Centralized Vision Video Surveillance Monitoring System BlogThere are many uses for video surveillance system monitoring besides watching for criminal activity. Trained technicians are prepared to handle any number of situations.

Industrial Processes –

There are many areas where live-monitoring of video surveillance systems can be utilized in industrial processes. When an area is too dangerous, or too hot, or too loud, etc. for an employee, a video camera can be placed there instead and monitored by a live person in real-time allowing them ability to step in at any moment to stop or correct the process if needed.

Energy Management –

Technicians can monitor energy systems to ensure everything is working properly. In some industries, temperatures and electrical power levels must be kept constant in order to maintain product integrity, deliver a viable product, and even save lives. A monitoring company can have their tech’s monitor your HVAC and electrical systems, including back-up generators to ensure there are not any interruptions. If there is ever a problem with your equipment, trained technicians can dispatch the proper repair personnel so there is never any down time.

Intrusion and Access Control Monitoring –

Using live-monitored video surveillance systems for intrusion and access control saves not only man-hours, it saves on equipment and energy as well. Having a monitoring company act as a virtual concierge eliminates your need to have the front desk manned 24 hours a day. It also eliminates the need for office equipment and furniture usually utilized by a receptionist. Technicians can monitor for unauthorized open doors, lock and unlock doors, alert you to forced entries as well as greet tenants and guests and sign in and track vendors.

Visual Employee Escort and Scout Ahead –

Visual employee escort is an extremely popular service being provided by surveillance systems monitoring companies. Whenever an employee is ready to leave and walk to their car, they can call a monitoring technician who can then either scout the area in advance and let them know if it is safe to go. The employee also can have the technician watch them as they make their way to their car. This service combined with Panic/Call Station monitoring makes for an extremely safe exterior and parking environment for your company and your employees.

Video Archiving and Dispatch –

Video archiving and dispatch capabilities are a few of the other services that can be provided by your video surveillance monitoring company. If you need extra space to store videos, your monitoring company can help you with that. Your monitoring company can store your videos on their server and provide you with copies or original files if requested. This frees up space on your own server as well as gives you the added security of having your videos stored off-site.

Dispatching capabilities means that your video camera surveillance system monitoring company can dispatch service personnel, building representatives, security, or local authorities when needed, giving you peace of mind knowing that no matter what type of emergency might come up, it will be taken care of immediately and with total privacy and professionalism.

 

“Video Surveillance System Monitoring Works by taking your investment in surveillance technology and placing it into the qualified hands of Centralized Vision which allows for real-time monitoring of the location to occur. There is a significant difference between reactive and proactive with the latter being quite fulfilling. The days of watching a crime after the fact are a thing of the past with real-time monitoring in place. This solution allows for preventative measures to be taken at that very moment to stop an undesirable situation from occurring, rather than having it happen, only to have it lead to costly losses. This solution becomes even more powerful with the simple addition of one-way audio speakers. Strategically placed speakers give our Operating Technician the ability to speak out live, who commands and changes behavior. Once you’ve changed behavior you’ve impacted the culture of the location. Which, in the world of security, is a true victory.”

Tom Vigilante -President – Centralized Vision

Centralized Vision Services Keep Your Property Safe

Centralized Vision Services Keep Your Property Safe BlogIntrusion and access control monitoring along with badge and data base management can keep your property safe from unwanted visitors. With our trained techs on the job, we can manage access to all entrances as well as take care of a variety of other tasks.

Our technicians can handle all aspects of access control from opening doors and managing unauthorized door props, to assisting tenants, visitors, and vendors that wish to enter your property. We can check visitors against a database as well as activate or deactivate an employee or vendor badge if needed.

In the past, your entry management options consisted of hiring someone to physically monitor all entrances and manage visitors. With today’s technology, you do not have to hire expensive security guards or door greeters to monitor the entries and exits.

Keep Your Property Safe

Our live monitored video surveillance along with two-way audio capabilities allows us to provide you with all the same services you would expect to receive from an on-site employee. When tenants arrive we can unlock or open doors for them as well as provide a number of other concierge type services.

We can manage vendors and repair people as well. When vendors or maintenance arrive at the premises we can check them against an expected visitor list and allow them access. If they are not on the list, we can take care of that as well.

Besides monitoring vendors and other guests, our technicians have been trained to respond in the case of unwanted guests as well. In the event of an unauthorized entry we will immediately notify on-site security or the proper authorities and continue monitoring the situation until it is resolved.

With audio capabilities we can call out to the guest to identify themselves. Our technicians will ask the visitor to identify both themselves and the purpose for their visit. The visitor can then respond by using the two-way audio call box or by making a phone call to our office.

With access control and badge management services in place, you may no longer need a receptionist to manage your guests, visitors, vendors, and repair persons. Our trained technicians can take care of everything remotely.

When guests arrive, our techs take care of them. We can check them in, direct them to where they are going as well as control and monitor their movements by unlocking and locking doors as well as surveying them on camera.

When vendors or service persons arrive, we can make sure they stay where they are supposed to be working by locking down all areas except those they are authorized to be in. This can eliminate several problems such as theft and property damage. You will not have to worry about visitors with Centralized Vision on the job.

From live video surveillance camera monitoring, to intrusion and access control, we have many services that can protect your property.

Live Video Surveillance Monitoring – More Than Stopping Criminals

Centralized Vision February Video Surveillance Blog Stopping Criminals Live monitored video surveillance is great for stopping criminals and preventing crime. But it is good for more than just catching bad guys. With 24/7 live monitoring, technicians can not only contact security personnel and police in case of a crime, they can also contact other emergency personnel, building management, or building maintenance.

Contacting Security and Police

Having surveillance video live monitored by trained technicians can help stop and even prevent crime from happening. In the case of a crime in progress or a suspicious character on your property, technicians can immediately summon on-site security or the police. Having an extra set of eyes watching your property can give you peace of mind knowing that if anything does happen, there will not only be someone reacting to the situation in real time, there will be a recording and a written report as well as the ability to keep the authorities aware of the suspects whereabouts minute-by-minute.

Emergency Personnel

Having live monitored video cameras is great for securing your property from criminals. It is also great for things like recognizing emergency situations as they are happening and summoning the proper emergency responders like the Fire Department or Emergency Medical personnel. Every business is at risk of fire from one source or another. Many businesses are lost to fire due to faulty equipment or problems nobody was aware of because no one was watching. With Centralized Vision on the job, fires can be detected even before they start, and the fire department can be summoned immediately if needed.

In the case of a medical emergency, live monitored video surveillance can potentially save lives. There was a case recently where a young man fell off the back railing of a cruise ship and drowned before anyone knew he had fallen over. The entire thing was recorded, but since no one was monitoring the video at the time of the incident, the recording ended up being too little too late. Live trained technicians watching the cameras could have notified the ship’s captain and sent rescue personnel after the young man.

Live monitored video is also great for helping your employees, if they ever fall ill and need emergency medical help. In the case of a medical emergency in the work place, our trained technicians will call the EMT’s and give them a detailed account of the incident as well as instructions on how to reach the patient.

Building Management and Maintenance

A video surveillance system that is monitored 24/7 is good for many things. A roof or plumbing leak can be catastrophic if not caught in the beginning, but they often go undetected for months. However, if your surveillance system is live monitored, the leak will be noticed when it first begins, minimizing any damage that might occur. At the first sign of a leak or any other issue with your buildings vital systems our technicians will notify building management of the situation.

With the unpredictable weather we are having these days, having your surveillance cameras monitored by live technicians can help protect your customers and employees in the case of bad weather. With exterior cameras in place, technicians can keep you informed of weather situations. They can notify you if you have dangerous ice build-up on the roof or heavy snow piling up in the parking lot while your employees are working.

Technicians can also notify you of dangerous weather heading your way. Bad storms can pop up without warning and wreak havoc on people and property. During a recent thunderstorm in Louisiana, a tornado broke out headed for a populated area. It ripped the wall off of a fitness center while the staff and customers were all inside, unaware of the approaching storm. With technicians keeping an eye on things outside, they could have notified the business and allowed everyone to get out before the twister arrived.

There are many ways live monitored video surveillance can help you and your business. Technicians can not only keep an eye out for criminals, they can also monitor your buildings vitals systems and help protect your customers and employees.

Construction Jobsite Safety and Security – How real-time monitoring can save your project!

Construction Jobsite Safety and Security - construction workerIn construction, jobsite safety and security are paramount. Countless dollars can be lost due to unnecessary theft, accidents, and injuries. With today’s technologies in place, a jobsite can be monitored by our trained technicians 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At Centralized Vision, our trained staff can keep an eye on your investment no matter how remote the location or how harsh the climate may be.

Jobsite Security

Most jobsite theft happens at night or on the weekend when nobody is around. And more often than not, the thieves use equipment from the site to gain entry into storage buildings and containers. After most jobsite thefts, extra security officers are hired. But with our Live Video Surveillance Camera Monitoring, Centralized Vision’s technicians assess situations in real-time, utilize a situational-response handbook tailored to each individual client’s needs and can dispatch security or the police when necessary. Live, real-time video monitoring can make all the difference.

Recently, a construction site in Ohio was the victim of a smash and grab. The assailants drove their truck through the fence and were able to flee with thousands of dollars’ worth of tools and equipment. But thanks to live monitored video surveillance, the technicians were able to notify the police right away. With the information provided by the video monitoring service, the police were not only able to apprehend the suspects, they also recovered all stolen items from the jobsite. With our two-way audio capabilities, our trained technicians can prevent most intrusions before they happen with a call out to the unwanted visitor.

Having our trained technicians monitoring the jobsite can help to prevent employee theft as well. Knowing that someone is watching is enough to deter most employees from stealing from the company. But others will still try to get away with it. Our video evidence, including a file consisting of recorded footage or still images of unauthorized actions on your property can be sent to you electronically and used for further investigations.

Jobsite Personnel Safety

Live video monitoring not only saves money by preventing theft, it also saves money by keeping your employees safe. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains and enforces standards concerning the safety and health of the employees on a jobsite. One of the requirements of OSHA is the installation and maintenance of the necessary technology to prevent accidents and injuries on the job. One important new piece of safety technology is a surveillance system with 24/7 live monitoring. Video monitoring can help with maintaining safety standards already in place and help to identify possible weaknesses and areas for improvement.

Surveillance cameras are a great way to enhance your current safety program. In addition to regular safety meetings and training, having trained technicians monitoring your jobsite will promote a safer work environment. Employees will not only work more safely in general, they will be more likely to follow safety procedures set forth by the company. Accidents and injuries can be minimized and even prevented with our live video monitoring service. In the case that an accident or emergency does occur, our technicians will dispatch emergency or rescue personnel to the site immediately, saving precious minutes and possibly lives.

Jobsite Safety

Our trained technicians can also help to maintain the safety of the jobsite itself. We can keep an eye on the power supply, environmental dangers, and safety hazards, and monitor developing situations in real-time. We can locate and inform personnel of safety hazards anywhere on the property.

A few months ago, a small fire started in an equipment shed of a large highway construction project in the Manhattan. The damage from a fire of this type could have been devastating. But, thanks to live video surveillance monitoring, the fire was noticed immediately and safety crews dispatched and were able to put the fire out before any major damage was done. This is just one story detailing how live video monitoring can be an enormous benefit to your company’s current safety plan. Live monitoring can also alert personnel of environmental hazards such as leaking equipment or storage containers as well as any flooding or electrical dangers.

Protecting the safety and security of your jobsite and personnel are just a few of the many services we perform while monitoring your property. With cameras and audio systems in place at your location, our technicians can help save your budget and your project. To learn more about how Centralized Vision’s monitoring services can help you, contact a Centralized Vision professional today.

 

 

Virtual Guard Service Now Available Through Partnership with Benson Systems

By Tom Vigilante, Jr.

Centralized Vision is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Benson Systems to offer our Virtual Guard monitoring service for commercial property managers, management companies and other businesses.

Virtual Guard is a pro-active video managed service available through a building’s security camera system equipped with access control and a speaker and microphone system. The service allows Centralized Vision’s well-trained security technicians to monitor any company’s video camera, access control and audio speaker system remotely through a high-speed Internet connection at all hours of the day.

When an incident occurs on a site that is a participating in our Virtual Guard program, the Centralized Vision security techs are alerted. They quickly respond to the alert by using the security camera system equipped with a loud speaker to engage the suspect and move him off the property. The security techs can also contact local law enforcement authorities immediately if they deem the situation warrants attention.

Centralized Vision and Benson Systems are excited to offer this service to Class A building property managers and retail businesses because it greatly reduces ongoing security expenses while also providing a service that is more beneficial than an onsite guard or roving patrol service. Our combined services are already in place at the Stockyards Restaurant and surrounding office complexes in Phoenix and at the 60,000-square-foot Biltmore Circle office building in Central Phoenix.

Benson Systems, whose mission is to be a trusted single-source provider of vital facilities services, system integration and installation, does a great job in taking care of security system, security camera and card access needs for companies throughout Arizona. Now with Centralized Vision’s innovative security platform, both companies can provide pro-active protection of property and assets by using a remote-camera monitoring system with real-time response options.

Centralized Vision Partners with Climatec to Provide Video Managed Services at UltraStar Multi-Tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle

By Tom Vigilante, Jr.

The new UltraStar Multi-Tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle in Maricopa, Arizona provides many options for families wanting to experience a variety of entertainment options under one roof. The 165,000-square-foot facility features three dining options, bowling, laser tag, arcade games, an amphitheater and a 12-theater movie complex.

To ensure a family-safe environment throughout the facility, Centralized Vision partnered with Climatec to secure a contract with UltraStar Multi-Tainment Center and provide video managed services by monitoring more than 90 security cameras on the property. Centralized Vision currently does video monitor tours of the facility at various times throughout the day from its off-site location and can provide real-time notifications of any disturbances on the property.

The UltraStar Multi-Tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle is our first collaborative partnership with Climatec, which now allows us to provide remote managed services with a well-respected company on a national stage. Since 1975, Climatec has been a leading provider of advanced building technologies for a wide variety of industries and buildings. Their broad set of offerings allows them to be a single source integrator of critical building systems. They provide safer, more comfortable and more efficient building environments.

Climatec was interested in partnering with Centralized Vision due to increased demand from their current and potential clients requesting video managed services. Some potential customers were reluctant to invest in new technology products from Climatec without having the internal personnel to utilize them to their fullest extent. Centralized Vision eliminates this concern by providing dedicated personnel, also known as Operating Technicians, for Climatec to offer their current and new clients, thus creating a complete service offering to include a variety of remote managed service options.

Our partnership with Climatec will allow us to potentially receive exponential growth throughout the country, exposure to cutting-edge technology and possible access into theme parks, hospitals, schools and sporting venues.

We are fortunate to be aligned with a well-respected company like Climatec. However, the big winners are the numerous people that will experience a safe and secure environment when visiting any of the properties we are collaboratively providing video managed services at.

Centralized Vision Offers Pro-Active Video Managed Services at Iconic Class A Facility in Tempe

By Tom Vigilante, Jr.

You may have heard the recent news coverage about the 2 million-square-foot Marina Heights office development just north of Sun Devil Stadium on the banks of Tempe Town Lake that will house State Farm’s regional headquarters.

Construction started this month on the Class A office space that will also include a minimum of 40,000 square feet of service retail and 8,500 parking stalls. Marina Heights’ first building is scheduled to be occupied by mid 2015, and the entire project is projected to be completed in 2017.

Just west of Marina Heights is Hayden Ferry Lakeside, a master-planned mixed-use project on 43 acres that created the blueprint for development along the south shore of Tempe Town Lake and downtown Tempe. Hayden Ferry Lakeside has been an iconic staple of economic development in Tempe for more than 10 years.

Centralized Vision has provided video managed services at Hayden Ferry Lakeside over the past two years through a contract with the property’s owner, Parkway Realty Services, to ensure safety throughout the development. We monitor a combination of 30 fixed and pan-tilt-zoom cameras throughout the property’s two office towers and eight-level parking garage, including elevators in the parking garage. Additionally, we also monitor the grounds surrounding Hayden Ferry Lakeside, including retail space and the newly-constructed fitness center, to help prevent trespassers, car theft, misuse of elevators and unauthorized after hours lobby access.

Centralized Vision offers Hayden Ferry Lakeside the ability to make their security cameras pro-active. By having our techs actively engaging their environments through their camera systems, we can fulfill any desire they may task us with at any time of the day. We also provide Hayden Ferry Lakeside the luxury of our Virtual Guard services, which are also used at other Class A properties we monitor. Our Virtual Guard services include one or two-way audio speaker communication, gate access control and greeter services conducted through two-way phone lines and call boxes. Virtual Guard also is used to visually escort employees from their offices to the parking garage safely in after hours situations.

As developments like Hayden Ferry Lakeside and Marina Heights consume more square footage and drive additional consumer traffic to their sites, it is important that they consider cost-effective solutions like Centralized Vision to ensure safe and secure business and retail environments.

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