CREJ - Property Management Quarterly - August 2015
As 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 technical 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 eventually 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 unrecognizable quality, making the image look like a blob. However, the digital IP camera will record this image with better quality than the human eye can capture it, which allows managers 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 technology 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 comparable 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 buildings 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 companies. 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. Managers 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 situations 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 procedures and expectations. This topic is constant. It hasn’t gotten 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 determination in training, every building can be a safer one.