Parking enforcement has become an essential part of modern life. It helps to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians while also reducing traffic congestion. However, enforcing parking rules without proper tools can lead to frustration and anger among drivers and residents.
The primary purpose of a parking lot is to provide customers with an efficient means of arriving at their destination and allow them to leave the premises once they have arrived. The second purpose is to ensure that vehicles are parked safely so as not to impede customer access. However, these two purposes often conflict, especially when many cars are using the same space. An excessive amount of traffic may delay customers’ access to stores and limit available parking spaces.
When drivers park illegally on the street, they cause inconvenience for other customers and damage public property. In addition, illegal parking affects the availability of parking spaces for legitimate customers. Furthermore, illegal parking causes safety issues, such as vandalism and car accidents due to impeded visibility.
When it comes to ensuring security, surveillance plays a vital role. A video monitoring system can help identify and track suspicious behaviour, alert the appropriate personnel, and record events for investigation by authorities. It can also monitor the movement of people within a building or facility, which helps administrators manage staff and visitor flow more efficiently.
This post will discuss some of the key points to consider when selecting surveillance cameras for effective parking management.
Why Choose Video Monitoring?
The benefits of having a surveillance camera installed in parking lots include;
Reducing Crime Rates
Having surveillance cameras in a parking lot enables law enforcement officials to easily track who has been entering and leaving the lot and determine whether someone has left anything behind.
This reduces crime as perpetrators are less likely to commit crimes if they know that surveillance is present.
Detecting Crime Early
The CCTV footage from any given day may reveal multiple incidents of criminal activity over a short period, which could take place anywhere in the parking lot. If you don’t have the resources to investigate each incident individually, having a video recording of each event is invaluable.
Improve Productivity
By monitoring the movements of shoppers and staff, managers can make decisions based on accurate data. For example, if a shopper enters the store and remains there for five minutes, then leaves without purchasing anything, it would be easier to conclude they were browsing than if no observations had been made.
Furthermore, if the driver parks in front of the entrance to the parking lot, this could indicate that they intend to visit other businesses nearby. The manager can therefore use this information to decide whether to open up additional spaces for other tenants.
Monitor Employee Performance
When an employee performs poorly during their shift, managers can check the recordings to determine why. They can then work on resolving the issue and providing better training should it recur.
Monitor Attendance Patterns
CCTV footage enables managers to track who uses the lot’s amenities and when they’re accessed. By establishing regular schedules for these services, it becomes possible to anticipate peak times of usage.
In addition, it is simpler to count the number of cars in the lot compared to counting individuals coming into a store.
Increase Safety
Because surveillance has reduced thefts, robberies, and vandalism, overall safety levels have improved.
Eliminate Litter
In many cases, people leave trash lying around after shopping. This not only reduces the beauty of the surrounding area but is also unsightly and unpleasant to walk past every time you enter the parking lot. To ensure the cleanliness of your stores and facilities, install surveillance cameras at entrances and exits where large crowds gather.
Facilitate Customer Service
With footage taken by surveillance devices, customers become more satisfied with your store’s level of customer service.
Enhance Security
If your premises are located near public transport hubs, installing a surveillance system can help improve security. However, even if your business is not close to major roads or train stations, it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to protect yourself against potential threats. People can still steal items from parked vehicles or break them in through windows. A surveillance system can deter such activities from happening.
Improve Operational Efficiency Through Surveillance
Using surveillance cameras for parking lots helps to manage and monitor traffic flow, particularly in busy locations. You can collect detailed data about the movement of customers and drivers, including the duration of their visits and how long it takes them to exit.
It may be helpful to set up different zones according to demand to allocate space to each type of vehicle as required.
You can also identify areas that require repair and maintenance. With sufficient data, you will know which sections of the lot need extra attention.
The correct installation of CCTV cameras is vital to the success of any surveillance solution. It is essential to choose a manufacturer whose products offer an excellent return on investment. As well as choosing a camera model that offers high-quality images, it is also crucial to consider factors like durability, ease of operation, and cost-effectiveness. Finally, the location, size and angle of the cameras must be carefully considered.
Key Points When Selecting Surveillance Cameras for Effective Parking Management
The first point to note is that it’s best to choose the right camera type for your needs. Many network video cameras are available today, including IP-based, Analog CCTV, HD or 4K UHD, PTZ, and Dome/Tower. Each offers different features such as resolution, image quality, frame rate, and other technical specifications. The most important thing to remember is the application you need the camera for. Some things to keep in mind include:
Video Resolution – You should choose a high-resolution camera for the highest possible picture quality. This includes both the spatial resolution and the bitrate. A higher bitrate means better image clarity.
Image Quality – Choose a camera with a good image quality rating. This is measured with the ISO speed value. The lower the number, the better the image quality. If the camera does not have an “ISO Value”, check the manufacturer’s website for specific values.
Pan Tilt Zoom Controls – Most cameras offer pan, tilting, zooming, and focusing controls. Panning allows users to move the camera around the area being monitored. Tilting will enable them to adjust the orientation of the camera. Zooming changes the field of view of the camera lens. Focusing focuses the camera on the desired object.
Field of View – Field of view refers to how much space the camera covers. A wider FOV usually allows easier monitoring of a larger area, but the wider angle may make it difficult to see more minor details or objects depending on the application.
Mounting Options – Depending on where the camera will be placed, mounting options are vital. An outdoor mount will allow the camera to stay outside during adverse weather conditions. An indoor mount helps set the cameras inside a building for security purposes. Some mounts feature built-in power supplies and motion sensors, so there are no additional cables required. Others come with batteries and switches for remote viewing.
Power Requirements – Power requirements vary from model to model. Some models require an AC power supply, while others operate on battery packs and do not require external power. Make sure that your camera supports your chosen installation method.
Network Connectivity – Many surveillance systems today connect to a central server using a LAN connection. These servers often run Linux platforms and provide advanced functionality like event logging and analytics. Some newer models even come with integrated LTE modems so they can access networks over cellular data connections.
Storage Capacity – Storage capacity refers to the amount of data that each camera can store. As more data is captured, it becomes harder to keep efficiently on long-term storage devices. It is always recommended to purchase a larger capacity than what you think you might need.
Data Transmission Speed – Data transmission speeds also play a huge part in choosing the correct solution for your needs. Some cameras can transmit up to 10Gbps, which is excellent for capturing full 1080p images every few seconds. Other cameras can only handle 1Mbps transmissions, which is enough bandwidth for small area networks.
Battery Life – Battery life is another crucial factor when considering surveillance system components. A longer-lasting battery ensures uninterrupted coverage without frequent recharging. Check the manufacturer’s specification sheet before making a decision.
Installation Type – When planning the location of your camera, consider the potential interference with other systems. Cameras installed outdoors tend to suffer from fading signals, as well as interference from lighting sources and wind. Cameras intended for indoor use typically have better reception with less interference. Installation type should also be considered. Indoor setups tend to benefit from ceiling-mounted units since they cannot be easily tampered with. Outdoor installations benefit from placement on poles and walls, so they are not easy targets for vandalism. The ideal setup would combine both types of cameras for maximum effectiveness.
Cost-Effectiveness – If you are looking for a cheap surveillance solution, then chances are you won’t get one. However, quality does not necessarily cost more money. There are many DIY solutions available online that will give you all the functionality of professional-grade equipment. You need to know what you are getting into.
Select Camera Placement
Camera positioning is a critical factor in any CCTV system’s effectiveness. The ideal position would provide maximum visibility into the target area at all times. This would include monitoring areas such as driveways, car parks, garages or other areas where people park their vehicles.
The most common place to put cameras is on top of a pole or the roof of your vehicle. Although these are great places to get good angles, you need to ensure they aren’t placed too high, so trees or buildings don’t obstruct the view. You can use a tripod to keep your camera steady if necessary, but it should be low enough not to block anyone’s line of sight.
Another option is mounting a camera inside your vehicle in the front windscreen. These types of cameras provide excellent views of the road ahead. However, they won’t help you monitor parked cars on either side. If you decide to go down this route, be careful about installing cameras that might intrude on other drivers’ privacy.
When looking for a suitable location for your camera, there are several things to think about:
- Where is your goal?
- Is your purpose of catching someone breaking the law or simply to reduce speed bumps?
- Will you have access to footage from every angle or only certain ones?
For example, if you want to check out speeders, you probably don’t want to miss anything behind them.
- How many different locations are you going to monitor?
- Do you plan to install multiple cameras or just one?
- What size are you aiming for?
- Will you want to use zoom or regular wide-angle lenses?
- Do you want to see what is happening around the corner/street/building etc.?
It may seem evident that choosing the right camera is essential, but it depends on how much time and effort you want to invest in monitoring your parking spaces. Once you have decided on a solution, you need to look closely at your options. Here’s an overview of the main types of surveillance cameras available.
High Definition (HD)
This type of camera records video at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. HD cameras are typically found in more extensive business operations, requiring more advanced functionality than the standard models. You could choose to upgrade to this level if your cameras are recording slower than average speeds. Some HD cameras come with night vision capabilities that allow users to switch between day and night modes.
Standard Definition (SD)
These cameras record video at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. They are the most popular choice because they are cheap, easy to set up and use. Standard definition cameras don’t have any special features, but they work well for small businesses or residential premises.
Digital Video Recorders (DVR)
A DVR is a computer hard drive that stores digital recordings made using a live feed from a security camera. In addition to storing captured images, DVR s often include software that allows you to perform some fundamental analysis, such as searching for people of interest. This makes them valuable tools for crime prevention and general traffic control.
Other functions
Several cameras also come equipped with additional sensors. For instance, some monitors will detect motion when no one is moving; others will generate alerts when smoke is seen at a certain distance away from the camera. The advantages of using this type of equipment depending on your requirements. However, it is worth bearing in mind that adding extra pieces of kit means you will likely pay more money for your investment.
Although most cameras come fitted with a remote trigger, some manufacturers like Axis IP Security can also create customized triggers that let you send a signal directly to another device.
For instance, you might want to activate a light sensor installed near your car park entrance. When the light turns red, the sensor will activate the camera and transmit the image back to a display unit. This would give you instant feedback on whether or not anyone entered the car park. It is important to note that there are restrictions on triggering devices remotely. Some countries prohibit the transmission of signals through specific frequencies and without prior authorization from authorities. Cameras are expensive. But remember that investing in a sound quality system will pay off over time.
