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IP Video Surveillance for Apartment Complexes

Topic: Apartment Complexes



Everyone wants to feel safe in their own home. Aside from shelter, one's home is also supposed to provide a sense of comfort, of safety and security. Unfortunately, many apartment complexes find themselves facing problems of theft and vandalism. This is often aided by the fact that apartments have numerous residents, with numerous people passing through in any given day, causing for difficulty in stopping people who oughtn't be there from getting in.

The Need for IP Video Surveillance

One powerful way of increasing security for the residents of your apartment complex is by the addition of an IP video surveillance system. Video surveillance allows you to keep an eye on things even when you're not immediately there on the premises. It keeps security forces alert and able to respond quickly as soon as an event occurs or even before, rather than waiting for the damage to be found at a later time.

IP (Internet Protocol) cameras are the perfect choice for any video surveillance system. IP cameras are generally small and easily placed. You can place as many or as few as needed, and upgrading is a simple process. Their digital video feeds are easily recorded on hard disk without the need for numerous video tapes. These are only the beginning of the advantages of IP cameras over their more traditional CCTV (Closed Circuit TeleVision) counterparts.

More Benefits of IP Video Surveillance

Among other things, IP video surveillance cameras are able to provide larger and clearer video of areas. This allows for you to more easily identify who is on the premises, and who may be up to no good. Many more advanced IP video cameras also come with enhanced features such as motion and audio detection, object recognition and more to keep you alert to any unusual events which might occur.

Most IP cameras come with a built-in web server, allowing for video to be sent out over a network with nothing more than an Ethernet connection. (Oftentimes this cable can serve as a power source as well). The network could be a small-area LAN (Local Area Network), or it could be the entire Internet. Such a set-up would allow you to view security feeds from the apartment complex even if you should be far removed from the complex, as long as you had an Internet connection.

Placement Advice for Apartment Complexes

With any video surveillance system, placement of your IP cameras should be a priority. Improperly placed cameras can make or break a security system. Following are some tips for the placement of your security cameras.

  • Ensure complete coverage of any and all parking lots. Parking lots are the most common site of theft and vandalism in an apartment complex.
  • Keep all entrances and exits to the apartment complex covered. No one should be able to enter or exit the apartment complex without a video camera recording their presence.
  • For cameras located outdoors, protect them from the environment. Many outdoor cameras come with excellent environmental protection, however you should also consider placing them in a protective housing to keep them safer from the weather.
  • Common areas, hallways, etc. should be covered and monitored for suspicious activity.

Concerns to Consider

Whenever you are placing video cameras in a place that people live, you should be concerned for their privacy. A video surveillance system is designed to make your residents safer and more comfortable, so make sure that you are careful to protect their privacy when placing your cameras.

A video surveillance system by itself will not keep your apartments secure. While it can provide you with critical information, you must either have people on the ground or a way of contacting the proper authorities to complete the process of securing your apartment complex for your residents.