NCJ Number
195847
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 29 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 44-48,50-51,52
Editor(s)
Ronnie Garrett
Date Published
June 2002
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article discusses issues relevant to the selection of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system that will provide effective 24-hour surveillance.
Abstract
The most practical and commonly used approach for providing illumination for night surveillance by CCTV is the use of infrared technology located at the camera head to provide "invisible" lighting for the camera's use. Infrared for CCTV purposes refers to the light that cannot be seen by the human eye, but can be seen by a monochrome camera. Derwent Systems Ltd. of England, which authored this article, produces a range of infrared illuminators that are designed to work in conjunction with existing and new CCTV systems. Extreme CCTV of Burnaby, British Columbia (Canada) has taken this a step further by combining the camera and infrared illumination into a single housing. The user is faced with a large selection of monochrome cameras that are able to see this infrared light. This article offers some guidelines for the camera selection. Other issues discussed are the characteristics of dual-mode cameras, which operate as color by day and monochrome by night, the matching of the camera's field of view to the infrared lamp, "achievable distances," and installation/capital costs.