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From the editor's desk: All about skills and experience

Welcome to the 2013 CCTV Handbook. We have put together an interesting collection of articles from some of the leading minds in the surveillance world for your enjoyment.

In the pages that follow, you will find information on a variety of issues pertinent to your surveillance installations. One of the interesting things I heard repeatedly while talking to people and putting this handbook together was that, while there is an almost endless selection of technology to choose from (do not miss the 'Selection Guide'), the success of your project depends on the skills and integrity of the people doing the installation work.

A case in point comes from someone busy with two smallish projects. In one he hired an installer who knows his analogue systems backwards and the installation is going smoothly. For the other project, the individual wanted a few bells and whistles, so he decided IP was the route to take. All he really wants is a low-light system that will allow him to perform LPR and visually identify visitors in any light conditions. The great thing about the IP installation is that the client was prepared to pay whatever it cost to get what he wanted. How many people get a client like that?

Of course, things did not work out all that well. The IP installation has been going on for months with dismal results and poor visibility throughout the day, and none at night. The analogue system, on the other hand, is running perfectly.

The lesson here is that technology is only one part of a surveillance project. The crucial part is retaining people who know what they are doing and have a track record to verify their skills, their ability to offer good advice and to deliver. And I guess it would not hurt to do your own research beforehand to ensure you can separate marketing fact and fiction.

Your choice of installer or integrator can be the make or break factor of your entire project. Get the right people on board and you can get an analogue system to shine. Get the wrong people and the most impressive IP systems will fail, and cost a fortune.

Good news for locals

The Consumer Goods Council has just released its updated CCTV Guidelines, a document that will be invaluable to installers as well as those people responsible for their organisation’s surveillance projects. It is a How-To put together by a group of people leading the field in the South African CCTV industry. Make sure you get yours if you want your surveillance system to deliver results.

I hope you enjoy the handbook and get value from it in whatever field you operate in. If you have any comments or criticisms, please let me know at andrew@technews.co.za .

Andrew Seldon, Editor

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