Every chief operations officer has to love the ROI of a well-designed video security system using “smart” cameras combined with a semi-automated (event-based) camera monitoring service package.
In the past year or so, security camera technology and software functionality have finally converged so that the system can, today, directly pay for itself in less than a year through reduced security staffing costs. Even better, the “smart camera” system can further boost savings by reducing (or even eliminating) actual incidents and false alarms.
Central Alabama clients are attesting to the cost savings they are experiencing after working with Vulcan Security Systems to design and install new video security technology.
In this article, we will explain how businesses can recoup the cost of a well-designed video security system by reducing (or eliminating) security-related labor expenses and fewer incidents of theft, vandalism, and suspicious injury claims.
Security Guards Are a Direct Cost and Drain On Your Company’s Bottom Line
Human security guards are a major business expense, whether outsourced using a third-party provider or directly employed by your company.
$81,000 per year is a conservative minimum budget line item for one human security guard per shift at a commercial facility such as a warehouse or industrial yard or any other commercial property that’s likely to be “closed” to general access for 12 hours per day.
Here’s a sample calculation, using hypothetical numbers based on minimum staffing costs:
Assume one security guard is needed on the premises from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for five (5) days each week plus a 24-hour security guard presence on Saturday and Sunday.
A minimum weekly cost would likely be along these lines:
12 hours per day x 5 days x $15 hour = $900
24 hours per day x 2 days x $15 hour = $720
$1620 per week x 52 weeks = $81,000
If you need to secure a large commercial yard, one security guard per shift might not be enough. In any event, one security guard has only one pair of eyes and can’t be in all locations of the property at the same time. So, even under the best of circumstances, a diligent human security guard can only achieve so much in terms of facility protection.
As one Vulcan Security Systems client recently explained, a theft incident while a security guard was on duty prompted the company to look for a better alternative.
“We thought we would get better coverage and better security protection using a camera-based system,” explained Mike Bretzke, General Superintendent, PGP Operating, LLC. “The cost savings have been amazing. It moved the needle and it wasn’t a small installation. The installation will more than pay for itself within a year in cost savings compared to what we were paying for security before.”
To address lighting issues, PGP opted for the recommended Mobotix M16 camera system (which features dual thermal/optical lens in a single camera unit) combined with Vulcan’s event-based monitoring services package.
Read the full PGP Operating, LLC case study of its new thermal cameral system combined with event-based (semi-automated) camera monitoring service package.
We’ll get more into the event-based camera monitoring service later in the article. First, let’s take a quick look at the difference between the “optical” camera lens functionality and the “thermal” camera lens capabilities.
Capabilities of Optical vs Thermal Camera Sensors
Video cameras equipped with optical lens capture images visually, just like the human eye. Resolution can vary (even across high-definition camera models), although Mobotix cameras all feature at least 6MP high-definition resolution as standard on its entire line.
The optical lens requires adequate lighting to capture a decent image, which can be a challenge for securing premises where lighting is low or non-existent or a large area with many “obstacles” for trespassers to hide behind.
Cameras with optical-only capabilities are also subject to triggering false alarms when shadows, leaves, or other natural phenomena generate movement in the field of vision.
For example, one
of Vulcan Security System’s clients is a large commercial property in the path
of jets and other planes flying into the Birmingham airport. During a rain
event, water would sometimes pool on certain areas of the roof. Lights reflecting
on the water would result in false alarms.
Jason Maddox, president of Vulcan Security Systems, explained: “When planes would fly over, which was all the
time, the security cameras on the roof would detect a little red dot reflecting
in the pool generating an alert at the monitoring station.”
Thermal cameras
can largely eliminate these types of false alarms.
“Thermals see perfectly, just as well at pitch black night as in bright
sunshine,” Maddox said.
Thermal cameras operate by reading the “heat signature” generated by a person, wildlife, or hot spots in stored materials or equipment.
Check out our articles on Optical and Thermal Security Camera Technology:
Mobotix has identified a number of benefits of thermal cameras:
- Thermal cameras can read and capture images in low and no-light contexts
- Thermal cameras can reduce the number of false alarms
- Visual “Camoflauging” is not effective to shield against the “fingerprints” produced by heat signature
- Thermal cameras offer higher ROI compared to traditional optical-only video security cameras
Source: http://mobotix-5264207.hs-sites.com/blog/understanding-thermal-solutions
“If it’s a tough lighting situation or even a bigger yard, I like the thermals because you can reduce the total number of cameras but still get a more accurate reading of the larger area,” Maddox said.
Dual Sensor Cameras With Thermal and Optical Functionality
Mobotix M16 security camera line comes equipped with dual sensors—the camera features BOTH thermal and optical lenses on a single unit, so you get the best of both worlds. “Mobotix is the only company I know of that offers dual thermal/optical sensors in the same camera,” Maddox said. “The M16 gives you the best of both worlds in a single camera.”
When combined with event-based monitoring services, the dual-lens “smart” cameras make it possible to semi-automate the security monitoring process while minimizing the number of false alarms.
How Does Event-Based Remote Monitoring Work?
Mobotix cameras are “smart” cameras. This means the camera can be programmed to generate an email alert when an event occurs in the defined area(s) under surveillance. Each camera can have multiple areas defined for alert triggers.
The alert
triggers an automated email notification, along with camera images, to one or
more persons who can then review the live feed and take action based on a
decision tree.
We’ll assume that you’re using our event-based monitoring services so, in most
scenarios, the initial alert will be sent to the monitoring station.
At the point of an alert, a person on duty at the monitoring site will take a look at the live camera feed, and the images attached to the alert notification, to investigate the likely cause for the alert.
If it’s clearly a dog or other animal that triggered the notification, the monitoring station will likely just log a wildlife trigger. The client isn’t bothered.
On the other hand, if there’s an indication of a human trespasser on site, the monitoring station can start by using voice-down capabilities to send an audio warning to the trespasser that the site is under surveillance.
Voice Down Capability
A simple audio warning that demonstrates the monitoring station has a live camera feed is usually enough to send the trespasser running for the exit. For example, the monitoring station might reference the color of the perpetrator’s jacket or car.
Notifying the Authorities
Each client establishes a decision tree that defines how to respond to various scenarios and under what conditions the company’s designated management point of contact should be notified.
Obviously, if there’s a serious event happening, the appropriate authorities will be notified immediately.
The monitoring station will stay online with the 911 operator and can communicate directly with police to identify what the station is capturing on the live camera feed. If the perpetrator is clearly armed with a weapon, this information can be relayed to the police. If the trespasser leaves the premises before the police arrive, this can also be reported.
The Invisible Force Field
“Once word gets out that there are ‘eyes’ on the premises, shenanigans tend to stop,” Jason Maddox says. “The bad guys will usually pick an easier target.”
That’s been the PGP Operating, LLC experience: “We’ve had no incidents since installation,” said Mike Bretzke, General Superintendent.
System Design, Camera Quality, Installation, Programming & Service Testing
An effective video surveillance system requires:
- An appropriate system design for the commercial application needs
- Quality, durable equipment that is deployed through effective installation and programming, and
- Regular system functionality testing.
Camera quality, camera durability and non-proprietary software are among the reasons that Vulcan Security Systems prefers Mobotix video security technology. The Mobotix cameras are made in Germany and subject to rigorous quality control testing before they’re shipped for installation.
“A $50,000 system can pay for itself in 10 months if you can eliminate the need for security guards,” Maddox said.
On top of that, the Mobotix camera system gives you the documentation for responding to bogus slip-and-fall claims, workers comp incidents, and prosecuting theft if it does occur.
“It’s a no-brainer,” Maddox said, “if you use good equipment and technology and choose a good partner for your installation and monitoring.”
