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— Property Management Quarterly — August 2015
A
s a property manager, you
may or may not know how
violence in the workplace
can affect you. Property man-
agers, much like employers,
are subject to violent acts. The first
line of defense for a building is the
front door and lobby. This is almost
always the property manager’s
responsibility, making you a possible
target. A camera system can help.
The options for camera technology
have evolved over the years going
from strictly analog options to newer
digital IP options. Embracing digital
technology to protect and prevent
violence in your building is a wise
choice.
First, let’s discuss the options in
camera technology. There are analog
and digital IP cameras. The difference
between IP digital technology and
analog technology in closed-circuit
television is explained by the quality
of the image. There are many techni-
cal differences including the power
consumption, video compression,
and quality and image resolution.
Here I’m diving into image quality
and discussing why managers should
consider digital over analog for their
security needs.
The quality difference is best
explained with an example. Imagine
there are two cameras pointed at
the front doors, one of each flavor
(analog and IP). Someone walks in
at midday with the sun behind him.
The analog camera immediately will
capture a burst of brightness with a
shadowy figure. The image will even-
tually evolve into a person that may
be recognizable before they are out
of the shot.When you go back to the
recording, zooming
in will distort and
pixelate the image
to an unrecogniz-
able quality, making
the image look like
a blob.
However, the digi-
tal IP camera will
record this image
with better quality
than the human
eye can capture it,
which allows man-
agers to zoom in
and easily identify his face and read
any lettering that may be on him or
his clothing. Digital can do this while
having no competition with the sun
shining in behind the subject thanks
to the wide dynamic range technol-
ogy it employs. For clarity, the better
option is the digital IP camera. The
superior technology in an IP camera
overcomes the weaknesses of analog.
Another common area for cameras
is in parking lots and garages. An IP
camera can capture license plates
and can cover more area than an
analog camera. The technology is
helpful for cash registers to read bill
denominations used in transaction as
well.
The high-quality videos recorded
by digital technologies can be used as
admissible evidence if the manager or
owner is building a legal case about
an incident, protecting his assets, or
trying to understand how to prevent
crimes from happening again.
A major concern when considering
digital IP technology used to be cost.
For a long time IP cameras were more
expensive than the analog solution.
Today, the two systems are compa-
rable because newer technologies
brought pricing down twofold. Digital
IP now is cheaper to build than it
used to be. And, as mentioned, one
of the benefits of IP is that it covers
larger areas with less cameras. This is
a great way to help cut the cost of an
IP system when going head-to-head
with an analog design.
Additionally, the architecture for
expansion and layout is better in the
IP world because the camera wire
doesn’t have to go to the same place
as all of the other cameras. It just
needs to be on the same network.
Analog cameras must be home run
– a wire from the camera that runs
to the digital video recorder – and all
to the same DVR. This adds costs in
labor and wire.
An IP camera solution will provide
the property manager, the build-
ings and tenants with the tools and
peace of mind to prevent and protect
against violence in the workplace.
If considering a new digital camera
security system, there are many great
IP integrators in the Denver metro
area and statewide.We recommend
using the Better Business Bureau as
a resource when researching compa-
nies. It’s always best to use a trusted,
local name and one that will stand
behind its work and be available to
help troubleshoot problems, grow
the system and integrate it with
an access control system. Manag-
ers should look for a company that
can build a long-lasting relationship,
while not locking them down with
proprietary products.
Other practices in preventing and
protecting against workplace violence
have to do with maintaining a secure
and physically safe workplace, all of
which a camera system can help do.
The best strategies consist of having
procedures for quick responses to sit-
uations and incidents – ID badges and
access control; clean and debris-free
walk spaces; on-site guard services;
a clear and controlled flow of public
entry to and throughout the building;
and proper training of staff, clients,
vendors and tenants on these proce-
dures and expectations.
This topic is constant. It hasn’t got-
ten worse or better over the years,
and it won’t go away. Knowledge is
the strongest tool to defend against
violence, and through advances in
technology and continued determina-
tion in training, every building can be
a safer one.
s
Will Kinghorn III
Sales manager,
Mathias Lock &
Key Inc., Denver
Technology
The superior
technology
in a digital
IP camera
overcomes the
weaknesses of
analog.
