Certification and standards needed for IP video
Deploying IP CCTV means raising the industry game around standards and certification, says Henrik Boman
Some analysts are forecasting a brighter future for the CCTV market as the economy recovers and the construction industry – one of the major adopters of surveillance kit – starts to pick up once more.
The London 2012 Olympics, too, will rely on CCTV to help police the event. An increase in demand for surveillance technology also comes as analogue CCTV starts to decline, with IP adoption increasing every year.
Over the next few years, I expect the vast majority of specifiers and installers will be using IP-based surveillance technologies. That means a need for training and the setting and maintaining of minimum standards in this sector, so customers know when they are sourcing a defined level of knowledge and skill.
Customers expect SIs to be experts in the technologies they recommend and deploy. Training can help sales by increasing an installer's confidence in recommending and selling network video offerings. System design can also be improved by training individuals or teams to specify, plan and design better offerings.
Most camera manufacturers offer varying options for training to fit the needs of individual installers, including classroom or web-based training and online tutorials.
Training can be on topics such as installation, image usability, bit-rate optimisation and video analytics. Practical sessions should also include hands-on training on choosing the appropriate model of camera and how and where it may be used, and also on ways to save bandwidth and storage.
Knowledge can also be expanded, investigating specific products and offerings. For example, SIs need to understand how to make the most of their customer's investment in the analogue technology that is still around, and how to use video encoders to convert analogue signals to digital.
This level of understanding can only strengthen relationships with customers.
Certification is widely recognised in the IT sector as validation of an individual's or organisation's ability to successfully plan, design and implement a specific vendor's IT. In order to maintain standards for IP-based surveillance deployments, providers should also be able to work towards specialist certification that showcases their skills.
Audiovisual integrators are equally under pressure to evolve their skill sets. And as the UK CCTV market starts to grow again, customers will need experienced and business-aware surveillance specialists.
Those with the training and validation of their expertise will immediately differentiate themselves and be ready to take full advantage of the forecast growth we can expect to see from next year.
Henrik Boman is northern Europe manager for sales engineering and training at Axis Communications