SensorTec Security understands the importance of making sure that not only can you view “live’ images during surveillance but that the quality is suitable post incident when an investigation occurs ensuring that it is possible to recover suitable quality images from cameras ideally positioned in locations from what would be considered a design that is suitable to meet the operational requirements of your business.

Time and time again, end-users have either ended up with systems that have been poorly designed by engaging installers who have little or no experience in the industry and it goes without saying, why spend the investment at all if it will not bring benefit by way of safety and security and a system that is useful and beneficial when it requires interrogation and video footage to be retrieved in the event of an incident occurring.

In the UAE, various institutions are either governed under Dubai Law 24 of 2008 or legislation regulated by the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and they apply heavily to the design, performance, objectives and requirements that CCTV systems must deliver in certain environments.

There are auditors whom are appointed to ensure that the regulations that have been set by the local authorities are met and if found that the systems are not in compliance, the end-users can potentially be penalised if not brought up to standard and in line with the standards set upon those facilities.

When designing a system, you need to understand the clients business, their functions, take into consideration whether that particular business falls under any specific government regulations and develop a concept on the basis of that information.

While designing a system that is “fit for purpose” it is truly critical during commissioning in ensuring that the system will deliver the most it possibly can from its capabilities. After all, what good is an expensive camera in a critical location of a high risk building if it has not been commissioned correctly? It is down to the solutions integrator to provide a professional installation and commissioning service to ensure output that will bring the best out of the technology that is deployed.

CCTV is becoming extremely important more and more each day as we rely on it for evidence, intelligence, track and trace, auditing and now with video analytics, the list goes on. In the UAE, legislation has expressed the requirements of what is expected from cameras in certain business like hotels, shopping malls, banks, commercial towers and car parks with minimum operational requirements on levels of image acceptance.

A Rotakin Test Target

A test device, known as a Rotakin, is proposed for evaluating the performance of Closed Circuit Television Security Systems. The device comprises of two main components: a target board and a stand.

The Target Board

The target area is a flat “body panel” board, 1.6 metres in overall length and 0.4 metres wide matt black in colour. Each end of the Rotakin is shaped to represent the outline of a human head.

The panel has high contrast white resolution bars and a wedge chart to permit measurements of system resolution to be made if required. These are calibrated when the target is mounted vertically and occupies the full video picture from tip of one head to tip of the other.

Test Procedures

Using BS EN 50132-7:1996, SensorTec Security Systems has developed a set of testing procedures for carrying out in daylight and nightlight.

The tests are carried out statically and dynamically and on completion of each camera audit, a very detailed report along with day and night snapshots are included in the report for submission to the client (End-users and Consultants).

Recommended Object Sizes

The size of an object (target) on the monitor screen should have a relation to the operator task, e.g.: Identification, recognition, detection or monitoring. If the target is a person and the CCTV system has an installed limiting resolution of better than 400 TV lines, the minimum recommended sizes of this target are:

1. for identification the target should represent not less than 120% of screen height
2. for recognition the target should represent not less than 50% of picture height
3. for detection of an intruder the target should represent not less than 10% of picture height
4. for crowd control (monitoring) the target should represent not less than 5% of picture height