As has been seen time and time again, elevators can be a prime location for criminal behavior. In today’s blog post we hope to lessen the perceived barriers typically associated with elevator camera installation, by sharing the perspective of our Surveillance Systems Integrator, Jeff Hinckley.
In my mind, every public elevator needs a camera. This is where some bad stuff can happen, for sure. Potential privacy concerns have been dismissed after courts have deemed elevators as public space, where people should not have an expectation of privacy (take that, Ray Rice). Unfortunately, in the past, complete elevator surveillance solutions have often been prohibitively expensive for building owners and property managers to seriously consider.
Typically, the biggest barrier to installing surveillance cameras in elevators is the lack of available wiring to support camera signal transmission in existing traveling cables. Adding new coaxial and/or network cables can be expensive and require a new travel cable as well as a host of additional installation costs. Even if there is an available coaxial cable, it still needs to be verified for proper use and may require integration with existing power circuits within the elevator. Though costs vary depending on elevator, number of floors, and many other conditions specific to both the building and the elevator, installation often proves costly for most budgets.
Fortunately, a revolutionary, cost-effective solution is now available on the market. An innovative two-wire transceiver system for Power over Ethernet (PoE) IP cameras now utilizes standard spare conductor pairs that are typically already available in most elevators. The captured surveillance video can then be routed to either an existing IP video recording solution, stored on a new local IP recording solution, or written directly to a storage card located on the camera itself. Additionally, costs are further lessened by only requiring one transceiver in the equipment room to service multiple elevators.
If you have been interested in installing an elevator surveillance system in your building, but have been deterred due to the barriers to installation, and prohibitively high costs, now is the time to take another look. High-definition POE IP cameras are now a feasible solution for providing a layer of security for passengers, and protection of your equipment.
If you would like to learn more about applications for a PoE IP video surveillance system for your business or organization, we would be happy to provide a one-on-one consultation to answer any questions, and help determine the best solution for your needs. Please reach out to our Surveillance Systems Integrator, Jeff Hinckley, or your regional integrator at 1-800-370-3473.
Even I believe that an elevator needs a camera if it is a public one. This will secure the whole property and would not leave a loop hole.