Four Things to Consider when Incorporating Industrial Power over Ethernet (PoE) Solutions with Outdoor Internet Protocol (IP) Surveillance Systems

When it comes to industries using outdoor IP surveillance systems, there are various critical applications that rely on them. These include overseeing highway traffic, monitoring oil fields and pipelines, managing power generation and distribution, as well as supervising water and wastewater stations. Asset owners place a high value on the dependability and accessibility of their surveillance systems for these specific applications. This is because IP surveillance systems play a crucial role in enhancing staff safety, monitoring essential facilities, and streamlining operations. Additionally, to monitor site conditions effectively and respond promptly to any incidents, sophisticated High-Definition Pan-Tilt-Zoom (HD PTZ) cameras, which have high power requirements and extensive bandwidth needs, are commonly deployed to enable monitoring of large areas and ensure continuous high-quality video feeds.

One common challenge faced when operating in harsh environments, which may involve extreme temperatures, intense environmental noise, and cybersecurity threats, is ensuring that the PoE switches can consistently provide adequate power output and network bandwidth. To overcome these challenges, system integrators should carefully consider various factors when integrating industrial PoE solutions into their outdoor IP surveillance systems.

Delivering High-Power PoE to Modern Surveillance Equipment

Surveillance cameras are expected to support an increasing number of functions to meet the expectations of asset owners. Certain deployments, such as using PTZ surveillance cameras for monitoring large outdoor areas in low-light conditions, can present challenges. Activating additional functions like heaters, blowers, or Infrared (IR) in adverse weather conditions may require more power than usual. In projects involving multiple HD PTZ cameras monitoring expansive areas with high activity levels, it is essential to have a PoE injector or switch that can deliver up to 60 watts of power, alongside a power supply capable of adequately supporting all connected devices.

Ensuring Satisfactory Network Bandwidth Configuration

When devising a network architecture to support multiple surveillance cameras in industrial settings, it is crucial to allocate ample uplink bandwidth to ensure the transmission of high-quality images without any loss of data under any circumstances.

Implementing Integrated Failure Recovery Solutions

For cameras deployed in challenging environments or remote locations, it is advisable to utilize an industrial-grade PoE solution for supplying power and Ethernet connectivity to IP cameras. PoE switches should have built-in mechanisms for automatically monitoring failures and facilitating device recovery, thereby minimizing the need for physical site visits by operators in case of network issues. Moreover, having failure recovery capabilities in networks hosting surveillance solutions can be advantageous.

Utilizing Cybersecurity Features for Network Protection

IP surveillance systems play a pivotal role in enhancing the safety of individuals and monitoring critical infrastructure, such as transportation systems. Maintainers of networks supporting critical infrastructure must address potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities. Therefore, any industrial PoE solutions implemented should not introduce new vulnerabilities to the surveillance network. Careful attention should be given to the security features of any devices integrated into surveillance networks.

Summary

When selecting an industrial PoE switch, asset owners must carefully consider specific features to meet customer requirements, including high-power PoE support, ample bandwidth, fault recovery capabilities, and robust cybersecurity protection. By leveraging the advanced features offered by industrial PoE switches, asset owners can reduce the overall cost of ownership while meeting essential technical needs to ensure that surveillance cameras deliver superior video quality and maximize system availability.

For more information, feel free to download our white paper: Switches Facilitate Reliable Outdoor IP Surveillance Networks