What Is a Security Camera?
Security cameras (surveillance cameras) are cameras used to capture images of a specific location for the purpose of crime prevention.
Security cameras are used to deter crimes and to confirm images in case of trouble. Since they can be placed in conspicuous locations and are expected to prevent crimes, they have been introduced in a wide range of situations in recent years.
Security cameras come in a variety of types, including box, dome, and valet types, and can be selected according to the location and time of use.
Uses of Security Cameras
Security cameras have different uses depending on their type.
1. Box-Type Cameras
Box cameras are often used in convenience stores, shopping centers, etc., as they are expected to be highly effective in preventing crime. They are also useful in preventing shoplifting.
2. Dome Cameras
Because they are less intimidating and do not spoil the atmosphere of the place where they are used, they are often used at entrances of buildings and apartments, offices, waiting rooms of clinics, classrooms of schools, banks, and inside train cars, etc.
3. Bullet-Type Camera
Because of their conspicuousness, their most common use is for street security in shopping areas and municipalities.
Principle of Security Cameras
Security cameras are expected to be used either indoors or outdoors. For indoor use, box-type or dome-type cameras are effective.
On the other hand, for outdoor locations, valet or PTZ type cameras are used. This classification is based on the shape.
1. Box Camera
Box cameras are box-shaped and angular. Because of its presence, it is easy to catch people’s eyes. Not only can the camera freely change the subject of the image depending on its orientation, but it can also be adjusted to telephoto, wide-angle, etc. by changing the lens. High security effect can be expected.
2. Dome-Type Camera
A dome camera is shaped like a rounded light fixture. It is less oppressive than a box-type camera and can blend in with the environment in which it is used. It is also difficult to determine from the exterior alone which direction the camera inside is facing, thus reducing the sense of oppression to the surrounding environment.
3. Valet Type Camera
Valet cameras are installed outdoors and stick out from walls and other structures, making them more conspicuous. Security Cameras can be more effective by using a thermal imaging camera, which can continue to capture images even at night.
4. PTZ Type Camera
PTZ cameras can pan P, tilt T, and zoom Z. The camera lens can be moved up and down, left and right, and zoomed.
Other Information on Security Cameras
1. The Difference Between Security Cameras and Surveillance Cameras
Security cameras and surveillance cameras are not so different in terms of the cameras themselves, but there is a difference in purpose and installation location. Security cameras are installed for the purpose of preventing crimes. They can be installed at home entrances, apartment entrances, bicycle parking lots, parking lots, garbage dumpsters, entrances to supermarkets and convenience stores, various locations inside stores, and inside elevators.
They are also used to track suspicious persons. Security effects can be realized by installing them in well conspicuous locations and in a manner that makes their installation clearly visible. Surveillance cameras, on the other hand, are installed to monitor specific locations or persons for evidence of crimes, or to monitor natural disasters such as earthquakes, windstorms, floods, traffic volume measurement, and water volume measurement in rivers and dams.
While the image information from security cameras and surveillance cameras is highly useful, it has been pointed out that there is a risk of invasion of privacy and use of records for other purposes.
2. Characteristics of Security Cameras
Security cameras are conspicuous. The more conspicuous they are, the more effective they are in preventing crime, and dummy cameras are sometimes used. They are also useful not only for crime prevention but also for disaster information and as live cameras.
Security cameras enable the acquisition of clean images. As camera performance improves, clean images with a high pixel count can be obtained. The number of images per second increases and the movement is smoother. Data volume is increasing and is being stored on the hard disk in the equipment or in the cloud. Various methods have been developed to address the issue of video data storage and management.
One is confidentiality. When data is stored in the cloud, it is distributed across multiple clouds and encrypted. It is also possible to detect system failures and perform maintenance.
The second is the processing of huge amounts of data. For example, in a store, it can analyze the attributes of visitors and increase sales. Furthermore, advanced image analysis is also possible using AI technology. For example, it can detect the absence of people, intrusion of suspicious persons or animals, count the number of people, monitor off-limits areas, detect specific persons, and detect abnormalities.