Sony White Paper: Analogue to IP – the migration strategy

This year, for the first time sales of HD/network cameras have outstripped those of analogue cameras. Indeed, by 2014 we fully expect to see networked surveillance seriously out-performing analogue camera sales.

There are a number of factors influencing this trend. For instance, analogue CCTV cameras have reached their peak, offering low resolution and clarity compared to their HD/network camera counterparts.

Also, HD/network cameras realise added technology benefits such as edge-based analytics and recording as well as superb image clarity, with features like View-DR and visibility enhancers for dealing with severe backlighting scenarios.

In addition to this, larger enterprises and Government projects are migrating to networked video surveillance such that they can perform live monitoring in multiple locations.

Last, but not least, the increasing price competitiveness of network cameras and the chance to use less HD cameras to cover the same area under surveillance renders HD/network cameras much more cost-effective.

Benefits of migrating from analogue to IP… and the available options

Every surveillance installation is bespoke. Different end users have differing requirements and can probably benefit from different features.

Why, though, might a given customer choose IP over analogue? Some of the reasons are:

• surveillance across wider areas will be possible
• the solution will perform better when strong backlighting is present
• higher resolution cameras
• better camera sensitivity in low lighting
• remote or multi-site monitoring
• edge-based recording
• flexibility and scalability
• automated surveillance with edge-based analytics
• the ability to integrate surveillance with access control, building management and/or intruder alarm systems

This list is not exhaustive, of course. The important point here is to clearly define what’s needed and pick the best migration paths based on those all-encompassing host organisation requirements.

There are a number of migration paths available for anyone looking to upgrade a site from analogue to IP. Some sites may benefit from being a mixture of these different migration paths.

The first option is to install an IP network and upgrade to IP cameras. This is often a preferred route to achieve the full benefit of high resolution and advanced camera features. It may well be an expensive and time-consuming upgrade path to follow, but will enable a review of the existing site with the aim of rationalising the number of cameras needed when working with Full HD resolutions.

If the quality of the existing installation is poor or the cabling has significantly degraded you may find this is the most practical route to pick. Here, the analogue cameras are replaced with network cameras, an IP network is installed and the recording solution is replaced.

The installation of encoders offers financial benefits by extending the life of the existing analogue cameras along with most of the infrastructure. Encoders can be installed where the analogue cameras currently terminate. These then get connected into an IP network along with the new recording solution.

This migration option allows for both the existing and new solution to run in parallel using BNC 3 Way T-piece connectors while the migration process is taking place.

Installation of hybrid recording

Then there’s the installation of a hybrid recorder. This also offers some financial benefits as the end user customer may continue to use the existing analogue cameras and infrastructure.

Probably the quickest migration path as, once the recording solution is installed and the cameras are connected, it leaves only a minimal amount of configuration to be done.

Expansion of the solution is also simple as future camera purchases may be network cameras which can be recorded onto the same recorder (subject to capacity, of course).

The installation of dual output cameras, meanwhile, is a two-phase roll-out. The first step is to replace each camera, installing an IP camera with a dual output. The analogue output should be set to ‘On’. When the BNC cable is connected the existing recording solution will continue to record as it did before.

The second step will be to install an IP network and an IP recording solution. As soon as the cameras are configured into the new solution the analogue output may be disabled and the old recording solution decommissioned. This solution works really well if you’re able to use the existing power supply and housing to make a staged, uninterrupted switchover.

You may wish to make use of the IPELA Hybrid cameras developed by Sony. This migration path focuses on reusing the existing analogue infrastructure to transmit HD/IP video. Simply replace an analogue camera with the IPELA hybrid camera and install the hybrid receiver. The IP network and new recording solution can then be in installed.

This solution is a cost-effective migration path enabling savings in cabling and labour and which also allows the reuse of existing power supply and housing while bringing the end user HD resolution.

The aforementioned migration paths should be considered as a guide per camera location rather than per site.

The ability to mix and match IP products throughout is a key benefit. Some areas may benefit from the IPELA Hybrid solution, others from using encoders.

What considerations should be made before a site is migrated?

Regardless of the migration path you choose, there are a number of points which should be considered by way of a detailed site evaluation.

• Site history

Before attempting to select any of the migration paths discussed it’s worth assessing the age of the equipment and the cabling currently installed.

If the remaining life expectancy of the analogue solution is only a few years it may be more cost-effective to replace the legacy cameras with IP cameras. If the quality of the coax cabling has degraded this will also help determine your migration choice.

Alternatively, if some cameras are being replaced it’s worth assessing whether or not older cameras might be better re-deployed elsewhere. Installing HD cameras can reduce the total number of cameras required for a site.

• Cabling

Being able to use existing RG59 cabling up to a maximum transmission distance of 300 metres with the IPELA Hybrid solution saves on cost (good quality coax – RG59).

Remember that, when working with Ethernet, the length of the network cable must not exceed 100 metres.

• Housings and power supplies

Look to re-use existing housings and power supplies as this will keep the cost of the migration low.

Also, check the size of the new cameras fit into the old housings and ensure the power requirements for the new cameras match what is currently installed such that there are no delays during migration.

• Ongoing maintenance

It’s very common for a new installation/migration to be accompanied by some form of support and maintenance package. This will ensure the site remains operational and that picture quality is maintained at all times.

Installing cameras with easy focus and easy zoom functionality will significantly streamline ongoing maintenance. Focusing issues which arise over time can be corrected though a web-based interface without the need to physically visit the camera.

Following on from that, new IP cameras will come with support packages offering, for example, an advanced replacement service should a product fail.

Using IP cameras with built-in IR illuminators and outdoor heaters may also be a way forward in terms of saving on the site’s power consumption as only one device is powered rather than three.

• Edge-based analytics

Sony cameras and encoders feature intelligent motion detection and advanced analytics (designated DEPA).

These features can be used to reduce the cost of storage by recording only when something is happening or to streamline Control Room operations by drawing the end user’s attention to a real incident.

• Strategic placement of cameras

Many older cameras can be seriously affected when faced with strong backlighting. The only solution is to position the camera away from the severe lighting conditions.

However, this is often detrimental in that the viewing angle open to the end user is limited and, in turn, hinders cameras’ effectiveness.

Thankfully, with technologies like View-DR and Visibility Enhancer now available cameras can be installed where the end user needs surveillance.

• Wide viewing area

Moving over to HD or Full HD resolution may mean that less cameras are needed to cover the same levels of surveillance.

• Privacy masking

As the number of cameras installed increases in line with the resolution, the need to protect privacy becomes more and more important.

Many cameras and encoders can mask out between 8 and 32 sensitive areas simply by using a web interface.

• Migration planning

Migrating a site can either be a quick or slow process depending on the environment. Fast-moving verticals such as retail will expect the installation to be rapid and, as a result, will tolerate downtime as long as it’s kept to a bare minimum.

The managers of larger projects linked with public safety (such as city centre surveillance schemes) may not be prepared to tolerate any downtime at all, but will be happy to have a slow and staged migration strategy with the assurance of redundancy.

Understanding these requirements and working to them effectively will insure a smooth roll-out.

Building a successful business around migration

The added value of IP surveillance is growing all the time, and the pace at which the industry migrates to IP is significantly increasing year-on-year.

It’s fair to say that the opportunities available for building a better business around upgrading and migrating existing analogue sites has never been so strong.

Finding the most relevant benefits of an IP solution and designing a migration plan around achieving those requirements is fundamental. Taking the time to understand the site, working out what can be migrated, what needs to be replaced and what challenges the site presents will make all the difference to the final solution.

Analysis and good planning can bring true cost savings throughout the migration and into the support and maintenance contract.

Coupled with improved picture quality and automation through edge-based analytics, IP surveillance can yield a scalable, tailored solution that’s flexible to support changing requirements and emerging technologies of the future.

Yu Kitamura is strategic marketing manager (video security) at Sony Europe