There may seem to be a lot to consider when selecting a camera for your construction site. As there are several options available and all differ from each other, it becomes more complex to choose the right construction camera for your project. Understanding the options available will give a better idea about your project requirements and choosing the right camera. In this article, I will show you the different types of construction cameras based on their functionality, some pro tips for choosing a construction camera, and some basic faqs related to construction cameras.
What is Construction Camera?
A construction camera is exactly as it sounds. It is a camera that captures images at definite intervals and can monitor long-term construction projects. Some may consider it as a network-enabled camera that allows monitoring of your project site remotely. A construction camera is generally used for a long-term project and has more advanced functionality than a regular surveillance camera. Before knowing about the camera types you must consider knowing about why you need a construction camera on your Jobiste.
Sometimes people may confuse the terms time-lapse camera and construction camera with each other. A time-lapse camera is a camera that has the ability to capture time-lapse footage. And a construction camera is a camera that allows remote monitoring of a construction site and can have time-lapse footage capturing functionality.
What are the parts of a construction camera?
Hardware:
To withstand different situations and fulfill the construction project monitoring requirements, a construction camera must have to be:
- weatherproof
- Connected to the internet for remote monitoring
- Power supply
- Local storage
Advanced construction camera hardware may include an Air quality detection sensor, night vision, and other add-on solutions.
Software:
The main functional difference between a construction camera and standard IP CCTV is the working software infrastructure, such as:
- Cloud storage
- Time-lapse monitoring
- Specialized features like BIM integration, Procore integration, and more.
What are the types of construction cameras?
Depending on the functionality, construction cameras are of the following types
- Fixed position construction cameras
- Pan-tilt-zoom construction cameras
- Mobile camera trailers construction cameras
- 360-degree construction cameras
- Drone cameras construction cameras
- Mobile phone cameras
1. Fixed Position Construction Camera
As the name shows, these cameras are fixed to a static position, usually in a high viewpoint, to have a good view of the job site. There is a construction monitoring camera provider (OpticVyu) that provides three main variations of fixed-position construction cameras:-
- Regular lens-based construction camera (60-80 degree view angle)
- Wide-angle lens-based construction camera (with 110 & 180-degree view angles)
- Fisheye lens-based construction camera (with ultra-wide-angle field view)
2. Pan-tilt-zoom Construction Camera
PTZ or Pan-tilt-zoom are motorized cameras. They are fixed to a location but can pan, tilt and zoom to view the location remotely. PTZ cameras are capable to capture footage of different areas concurrently and can pan up to 360-degree. PTZ cameras require human power to change the viewing direction.
3. Mobile Camera Trailers
Mobile trailers cameras aka plug & play type cameras are the best portable monitoring solution built on wheels and have a power supply system (solar panels and battery). For remote communication, they have in-built connectivity (such as wifi or 4G/LTE connectivity). Such cameras are used where the power supply is limited or not available.
4. 360-Degree Construction Cameras
360-degree construction camera is the new concept in construction monitoring solutions and provides far better results than a PTZ camera. PTZ cameras require human intervention to change the capture direction but 360-degree cameras can capture the footage in all directions. These cameras are capable of giving a real viewing experience at the time of filming on the ground. It allows viewers to see the progress in every direction.
5. Drone Camera
Drone construction monitoring is in demand and gives a different viewing angle that is not possible with other types of construction cameras. Drone construction monitoring provides a bird’s eye view of the site but requires a human operator for each and has limited battery power.
6. Mobile Phone Camera
Many times mobile phone cameras are used to capture the project progress on a personal level or to communicate with the team and project manager. With the increasing adoption of smartphones in our modern era, every construction worker now has an HD camera in their pocket. These cameras are more useful for small use cases.
Pro Tips for Choosing the Right Construction Camera Type
The following features should always be considered when choosing a construction camera:
- Provision for 4G/LTE internet connectivity.
- It should be possible to access the camera feed from anywhere.
- Easily relocatable.
- Night vision should be included.
- Optionally, Image processing capabilities.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Construction Camera
What are the different types of construction cameras?
Considering the reasons for camera installation and project requirements construction cameras are of the following types:-
- Fixed position camera
- PTZ camera
- 360-degree camera
- Mobile phone camera
- Drone camera
- Mobile camera trailer
How secure are your construction cameras?
Every construction camera allows remote access and is enabled with cloud-based storage. So the security of construction site data is the primary concern for every construction firm. The security of a construction camera depends on its software (which is individually monitored and controlled by the construction camera company).
Does construction cameras are different from CCTV?
Yes! construction cameras are different from CCTV in terms of usage for a construction site. Construction cameras allow remote monitoring and integration with BIM/Procore, which a regular CCTV can not provide.
What are the benefits of using a construction camera?
Here are the main 7 benefits of using a construction camera on your project site.
- Progress monitoring
- Security recording
- Video surveillance
- Project management
- Documentation
- Communication and Collaboration
- Marketing and investor relations
Conclusion
The construction cameras do not function the same way nor are they uniform. With the knowledge of camera types used on construction sites, you now know which tool will fit a particular task, with some options specializing in certain tasks, while others are more versatile and can be used at different times. Whenever you decide to install a construction camera on your project site consider the above-mentioned pro tips. Those tips are from verified customers of OpticVyu.
