CCTV System for Shopping Mall

[batzmaru 0]

Hi,

 

My company just got a very big project of installing a CCTV system for a shopping mall. I need some help/advice for designing a system that will be suitable. We mostly do small scale projects and I have never intergrated more than 2 DVRs/PC based system together. Basically im a complete noob when it comes to integrating multiple systems. Here a rough description of the area:

 

- Shopping Mall with 4 levels. Concourse, Ground, First and second Floor.

- There are 3 main entrances and it is located on the Ground floor.

- CCTV surveillance is for the walkways/corridors only. Not inside of the shoplots.

- The area each level is roughly 500 000 square ft (Based on my calculations, might be more than that)

 

According to my rough estimation, each floor will require about 60+ cameras. Keep in mind that I have never undertaken such a large scale project before so my calculations might be off. Here are some of my questions off the top of my head:

 

- Which system is suitable, Standalone DVR or PC based?

- Maintenence/troubleshooting wise, which is easier?

- With such a large number of cameras, I obviously need a Central Management System to control all the cameras/DVR/PC. Which system is more cost effective? DVR or PC based? and Which is easier to setup?

- How about the cabling? Can I use a standard RG59 coax cable or do I need to use a different type?

- I have also been hearing about Network/IP cameras being more cost effective than a conventional camera setup. Is this true?

 

Please help. Thanx in advance.

[zmxtech 0]

I would be going for say 5 Mega pixel IP cams at the 3 main entrances,

lower res say 1-3mp everywhere else -and then you can use less cameras 30??. You will need a new Giga-Bit backbone network to run it. but it will be a great system. [100mb POE to the cams]

 

you get video analytics also

cabling >CAT6 POE is nice

upgrades & extras is easy -just plug a better cam in etc ....

You can send IP anywhere

Wireless bridges for hard to get spots.

Amazing images.

 

oh and facial recognition hooked up to the doors to stop idiots

and hoodi wearers ! -just a thought...

 

Cant comment on DVRs or PCs there are too may variables ..

[tho I am biased towards dedicated NAS]

 

for the networks I would use Cisco POE switches [3750] 1 per floor interconnected to the main switch or router via GB fiber -GB redundant fiber paths where possible and UPS [power supplies] all the gear.

 

parking lots ? gotta have day night there and number plate grabbers

 

I would think also they would want one PTZ cam with a mega zooms on each floor up high to sus things out sometimes. IP ones of course.

 

my 2c

[Rebco 0]

i would say hire an outside consultant to help you before you even think about doing it yourself, either that or start paying the lawyers now because if and when something goes wrong and it will, they will come for your head...

[dwaitkevich 0]

I would contact either Panasonic or Bosch. They are 2 of the major players in the CCTV Industry. Talk with their local Manufaturers Rep. They can assist you with all these issues. This sounds like a major install for your company and I wouldn't play around with this.

 

You can e-mail me off line if you need more help.

[batzmaru 0]

I did some research all night and it seems like IP cameras are the new trend for this scale of project. More cost effective and easier to maintain. Called up some ppl in my place for outside consultant and they also recommended IP cameras. As for the lawyers, we already have one Thats the first step we did when we took this project.

 

Thx for the replies. Now I have a better insight on which path to go for this.[/i]

[Securitymaster 0]

i would say hire an outside consultant to help you before you even think about doing it yourself, either that or start paying the lawyers now because if and when something goes wrong and it will, they will come for your head...

 

Man, give the guy a break, his company is growing, so he gets a big project and what? Tell him to use someone else? Get a lawyer?

 

Come on..

[Rebco 0]

Securitymaster what i said, if you hire an outside consultant is there to HELP you Not do the job for You. You don't want to miss something on the job and get a bad name, at least I Don't. When I get a big job i've never done before, i always ask for help I don't want to screw something up. Different animal when you do a shopping mall or a hospital or even a school they all want different things, You can't think all jobs are the same And as for the Lawyer ye you need one on big jobs, What you want to make Thousands but you don't want to spend some to make sure you dotted the i's and crossed the t's.

[Securitymaster 0]

Securitymaster what i said, if you hire an outside consultant is there to HELP you Not do the job for You. You don't want to miss something on the job and get a bad name, at least I Don't. When I get a big job i've never done before, i always ask for help I don't want to screw something up. Different animal when you do a shopping mall or a hospital or even a school they all want different things, You can't think all jobs are the same And as for the Lawyer ye you need one on big jobs, What you want to make Thousands but you don't want to spend some to make sure you dotted the i's and crossed the t's.

 

Ur right. I just re-read what you said and I feel like an idiot.

[zmxtech 0]

the guys are right you will need some outside help

 

network designers at least

 

 

z

[ati 0]

Hi, if you need a consultancy firm to make the design for you which is defiantly better then trying to do it yourself because you need an experienced firm that knows about CCTV, also knows about the required regulations that is in your country and has the capability to do the proper threat analysis, to know to install what and where.

You can email those people they are good… info at miskconsultancy dot com there based in the UAE

 

Regards

Ati

[nilakarthik 0]

Hi,

 

I am executing the CCTV system for the world largest shopping mall(THE DUBAI MALL, UAE).Here we have 2400Cameras(2225 Fixed and 175 PTZ Cameras).We(Honeywell) are giving the Hybrid CCTV Solutions.All are analog cameras(Honeywell nad PELCO make).This Analog video input we distributed by video distribution amplifier,one input feeding to the Maxpro Server(for viewing), another video input we are converting to digital by using the AXIS 241Q streamer. This streamer input we giving it to the DIGITAL VIDEO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM(DVM) for Recording.

 

For the cabling part we are using RG-59, RG-6, RG-11 and Fiber optic cables.

 

I am suggesting you can go for Honeywell DVM Solutions.

 

Regards,

Karthik

 

 

 

Hi,

 

My company just got a very big project of installing a CCTV system for a shopping mall. I need some help/advice for designing a system that will be suitable. We mostly do small scale projects and I have never intergrated more than 2 DVRs/PC based system together. Basically im a complete noob when it comes to integrating multiple systems. Here a rough description of the area:

 

- Shopping Mall with 4 levels. Concourse, Ground, First and second Floor.

- There are 3 main entrances and it is located on the Ground floor.

- CCTV surveillance is for the walkways/corridors only. Not inside of the shoplots.

- The area each level is roughly 500 000 square ft (Based on my calculations, might be more than that)

 

According to my rough estimation, each floor will require about 60+ cameras. Keep in mind that I have never undertaken such a large scale project before so my calculations might be off. Here are some of my questions off the top of my head:

 

- Which system is suitable, Standalone DVR or PC based?

- Maintenence/troubleshooting wise, which is easier?

- With such a large number of cameras, I obviously need a Central Management System to control all the cameras/DVR/PC. Which system is more cost effective? DVR or PC based? and Which is easier to setup?

- How about the cabling? Can I use a standard RG59 coax cable or do I need to use a different type?

- I have also been hearing about Network/IP cameras being more cost effective than a conventional camera setup. Is this true?

 

Please help. Thanx in advance.

[Rebco 0]

I am suggesting you can go for Honeywell DVM Solutions.

 

Regards,

Karthik

 

I suggest you go with the manufacture that will give you the best service and warranty

[rory 0]

until Honeywell updates its Compass Alarm Downloader software and brings that into the "20th" Century ... dont think I would be buying any honeywell surveillance systems any time soon.

[securitycamerasupply.com 0]

Which system is suitable, Standalone DVR or PC based?

If you were going the analog route, you should do a standalone Nuvico system since loss prevention love working with that system. Many casinos like that system also, but remote functions are terrible.

 

For IP based system, I would do PC based on ONSSI with Arecontvision megapixel cameras. DVR itself will manily act as the storage unit.

 

I have also been hearing about Network/IP cameras being more cost effective than a conventional camera setup. Is this true?

 

Typically the market has fake IP cameras. Usually they are analog CCD chips converting to digital. They are no progressive. Those IP cameras are junk and are not more cost effective than analog. Where you want to go is Megapixel cameras. Arecont Vision is a great choice, but you are looking at $900 retail for just a 1 meg camera.

 

Analog will always be cheaper and will be cheaper, because the CCTV market is filled with installers who use analog cameras to digital systems. The clientle market does not want to pay for high-end IP cameras, so installers will not put a heavy load to get IP based solutions out there.

 

How about the cabling? Can I use a standard RG59 coax cable or do I need to use a different type?

 

There are typically two mainstream cables. RG59U has a solid stinger and braided on the outer. RG59A/U is all braided.

 

When running great distances, you must take into consideration interference, a break in line, amplification, signal-loss, and crossover. I suggest using a device like Camera Master to check signals coming out of cable.

 

For your IP based solution, you can go with Cat5, hopefully shielded and plenum jacket. You will again need to test cable with devices like Test-Um kits. Make sure to get all IP cameras on a POE switch block.