Plan video systems
The performance description of a video system is full of requirements, as there are a number of system and observation categories. The Association of Swiss Installers of Security Systems provides a tool for this purpose.
The rules of use in video surveillance systems for security application have been published as part 4 of the SN EN 62676 series of standards. It should prove useful for all those responsible for establishing operational requirements, writing specifications, selection, installation, commissioning and use and maintenance of video surveillance systems (VSS). It does that, and yet: in practical application, it's a bit unwieldy. In order to familiarize interested parties with the handling of the standard, appropriate seminars are offered in the DACH region by the BHE-Bundesverband Sicherheitstechnik e.V. and by Save AG in cooperation with the Verband Schweizerische Errichter von Sicherheitsanlagen (SES). Thus, the meanwhile 7th SES practical seminar "Video-Security-Norm EN 62676-4" took place on August 30 in Egerkingen. The aim of this recurring event is to show the participants the advantages of applying the standard in their daily work by means of a combination of expert knowledge from theory and practice. During this event, the SES planning tool for video surveillance systems SES PlaTool VS was also presented.
Immediately after the publication of the standard, the Technical Working Committee Video Security (TAK VS) of the SES had already dealt with how it could optimally support its members in practice in the application of the standard. It quickly became clear that the existing checklists did not meet this requirement and that more was needed. The idea of a planning tool was born. This was developed by Simak Consulting AG for SES. Version 1.0 of the tool was available at the end of 2016 and has since been regularly updated with new functions. The current version, published in 2022, bears the version number 2.10.
The structure of the tool essentially follows the standard and supplements it with useful additional functions, such as checklists and maintenance plans, which the members of the SES are certainly familiar with from the Video Security Guidelines, which are regularly provided by the TAK VS. Special attention was paid to the fact that after project completion, a documentation of the installed video surveillance system, which can be handed over to the customer, is available without much additional effort.
Backup levels provide the opportunity to structure requirements for the video surveillance system and thus create the basis for the subsequent selection of components of the video surveillance system as well as the test plan and test sequence. Up to six Backup levels be defined, whereby the recommendation clearly applies here to only Backup levels that are actually needed. Nevertheless, all six observation categories could also be mapped with this, if this makes sense in a concrete project.
One of the functions, which in any case has a very high practical value, is the planning of the video cameras by means of the Camera List. Here the products used in the concrete project are entered with their characteristic values in a separate table. In the table with all cameras, the aforementioned table is accessed and the already existing characteristic values are supplemented with further information. For example, information on the distance of the camera from the object of observation and the reserve pixels as a percentage value are required, from which the net available pixels can be calculated. This enables the tool to determine the theoretically achieved observation category. In other words, it can be used to ensure that each camera meets the specified requirements as early as the planning stage of the video surveillance system. If information about the network load and any PoE load is also added, the Network Design table can also be used to check whether the selected network components are adequately dimensioned or whether they need to be adapted.
The test plan and the test sequence of the standard pose a special challenge. The tool provides all the necessary lists and tables for all the people involved in the test. Thus, an inspection plan with the expected results can be created in advance. In the course of the test procedure, the actually determined results, e.g. recognized faces or observation category, are recorded on the basis of corresponding test images. The calculation of the result of the test, in particular whether the test was passed, is done automatically in the tool. This follows the algorithm for the test criteria described in the standard.
Just as standards are always changing, the tool is also being further developed. The next release will be enriched with additional functions, such as a focal length calculator, an optimized backup level and references as well as an automatic synchronization of cameras in the audit and observer sheets.
For six years now, the SES PlaTool VS has been available to SES members as an aid in the practical application of EN 62676-4 and is regularly used by them. Interested professional planners and operators of video surveillance systems have the possibility to get access to the guidelines and thus also to the SES PlaTool VS in the form of a subscription. Apply the standard to handle your video surveillance projects more successfully. The SES PlaTool VS supports you in the practical implementation.
Of course, the tool also lives from user feedback. Suggestions are always welcome at office@simak-consulting.com with the password SES PlaTool VS in the subject line. Even if not all inputs can always be implemented immediately, as many of the suggestions as possible will be taken into account in the further development of the tool.
