System Design & Coverage Planning

Surveillance projects fail when coverage is planned as a camera count instead of a performance requirement. System design translates risk zones, identification needs, lighting realities, and infrastructure constraints into a camera plan that produces usable evidence. The goal is simple: prevent video that looks fine but fails investigation, and avoid redesign after installation.

What Coverage Planning Solves

Identification where it matters

Entrances, exits, and controlled access points require usable identification, not wide views. We plan for line of travel, face capture, and exposure stability.

Blind spots and false confidence

Many systems appear complete until an incident happens. We map coverage gaps that cause investigation failure and resolve them before purchase.

Lighting and day/night reality

Backlighting, mixed lighting, headlights, and reflective surfaces can erase detail. We plan lensing and placement around real lighting conditions.

A purchase-ready plan

You get a clear camera role map aligned to goals and constraints, including where higher performance is required and where standard coverage is sufficient.

Inputs We Use to Design the System

Coverage planning is faster and more accurate when inputs are clear. If you do not have all items below, we can still start, but providing them reduces rework.

Site basics

  • Facility type and operating hours
  • Approximate square footage and ceiling heights
  • Floor plan or simple marked-up sketch (ideal)
  • Critical areas and access points

Performance targets

  • Where identification is required vs general coverage
  • Key incident scenarios you want to capture
  • Indoor and outdoor lighting conditions
  • Retention window target (days)

Infrastructure constraints

  • PoE availability and network closet locations
  • Internet availability for remote access
  • Known cable run challenges
  • Segmentation or IT policies

Operational requirements

  • Who reviews video and how often
  • Export needs for incidents and claims
  • User roles and permission expectations
  • Multi-site standardization (if applicable)

What You Receive

Coverage plan by priority zone

A plan that identifies where identification-grade coverage is required vs general visibility, with guidance on placement intent.

Camera recommendations with tradeoffs

Guidance on where higher WDR, low light performance, or tighter lensing is required, and where standard models are sufficient.

Retention-ready inputs

A camera role map and recording intent that makes retention and storage sizing accurate instead of guesswork.

Purchase-ready bill of materials

A practical list aligned to camera roles, recording platform, and core accessories so procurement and installation are straightforward.

Coverage and Camera Count Starter

This starter tool turns environment + priority zones into a baseline camera role map. It estimates a practical starting count and highlights which zones typically need identification-grade coverage. For a validated design, submit the inputs and we will confirm placement, lens intent, and infrastructure impact.

Select your priority zones
Check zones that apply. For entrances and controlled doors, the starter assumes you want identification-grade outcomes.

Common Design Mistakes We Prevent

  • Using wide lenses at entrances that cannot identify faces in motion
  • Mounting cameras too high for usable identification
  • Overbuying resolution while undersizing storage
  • Ignoring lighting variation and backlit vestibules
  • Failing to define retention targets before purchasing hardware
  • Assuming network capacity without validating PoE budgets and uplinks

System Design & Coverage Planning FAQ

Do I need a floor plan to start?

A floor plan helps, but we can start with square footage, ceiling height, and priority zones. A sketch with door locations and traffic paths usually gets you 80% of the value.

Will you recommend specific camera models?

Yes. Once camera roles are defined, we align models to scene conditions, lens requirements, and environmental ratings so each priority zone performs as intended.

Is higher resolution always better?

No. Resolution cannot compensate for poor placement, overly wide lenses, or backlighting. Identification outcomes are usually driven by field of view, distance to subject, and exposure control.

Can this be used for expansions or redesigns?

Yes. It is common to redesign entrances, controlled doors, and exterior approaches while keeping the rest of the system intact, as long as recording and network headroom are validated.

Design it right before you buy it.

Share facility type, square footage, priority zones, and retention target. We will define camera roles and infrastructure requirements aligned to real outcomes.

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