The Hospitality Security portal covers the various security, health and safety issues specific to hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, casinos, theme parks, theatres and other entertainment venues, including staff and customer protection and security, access control, cctv, surveillance and monitoring, together with data and network protection.

Hotel, restaurant, club and casino security - breaking news

A Manager's Checklist for Cameras

There are a number of questions that need answering when considering current and future cameras. Some will be answered thanks to the expert help of a systems integrator, A&E consultant or product manufacturer.

An Infinova white paper establishes a manager's checklist for cameras.

Among the Basics:

• What do you want the cameras to see and what is the distance?
• What types of lenses are needed? Wide-angle, normal, telephoto? Can varifocal lenses be used?
• What resolution is needed for each camera?
• Are megapixel, high-resolution or high definition cameras needed? How about thermal?
• Can the video management system accommodate the features of the cameras?
• Are licenses required for the digital cameras?
• How many images per second are needed for each camera?
• What is the total number of cameras required? Fixed or pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ)?
• What types of cameras are needed: dome/mindome cameras? Bullet cameras? Enclosures? PTZs? Wall or ceiling mount?
• If PTZ cameras ... [ more ]

A Manager's Checklist for Cameras - part 2

Lighting

Lighting also can impact the type and placement of security video cameras. No doubt, in the out of doors, day/night cameras have a role to play. Still, there are unique lighting issues related to megapixel cameras. For example, when it comes to obtaining full resolution for higher-rated megapixel cameras, without greater levels of lighting than what is naturally in a scene, the camera will not deliver the optimum resolution.

When it comes to lux lighting levels, they usually refer to the light at the sensor, not the ambient lighting in any given scene.

Frame rate also affects low light performance. The longer the exposure, the better the image a sensor can produce in low light. But there is a tradeoff when it comes to moving images.

Frame rate is also an issue with megapixel cameras. Many of these cameras can only deliver 12-15 frames per second. This may prove insufficient for situations involving small, rapid movements such as dealers dealing cards at a casino t... [ more ]