Feb 18, 2016

The security monitoring capabilities of video surveillance are uncontested. Nearly every industry has something to gain from the sheer amount of visual information that a video camera is capable of capturing. Law enforcement can use these feeds to search for clues that might help in an investigation. Merchants and retailers use them to deter theft, catch perpetrators in the act and develop profiles of shoplifters. Oil, gas and construction companies use video surveillance to promote the safety of workers and maintain legal compliance. Transportation services rely on video cameras for a safer in-transit experience.

The list of possible video surveillance use cases needs no further enumeration. That said, when facilitated by wireless mesh technology, several new and critical benefits can be realized for surveillance solutions. Here are three of them:

1. Mobility

One of the the most noteworthy boons of wireless mesh networks is how conducive they are to mobile surveillance solutions. This is a vital benefit for the transportation sector, which can improve public safety by installing onboard video surveillance systems. Traditional network infrastructure, however, made this somewhat difficult. Ensuring strong, reliable connectivity for a vehicle in motion such as a train or bus is a challenge, but it's one that a mesh network can rise to meet. 

In some parts of the country, for example, cities are enhancing security monitoring onboard buses and trains through the installation of video cameras. Using a wireless mesh network makes it easier to ensure that these surveillance systems stay connected at all times. More significantly, feeds can be streamed in real time to other moving vehicles, including police patrol cars, fire fighters and other first responders as they race to the scene.  

2. Flexibility

An added benefit of a wireless mesh network is the ability to more easily deploy a video surveillance system over a sprawling area such as a city neighborhood, or an expanding construction site. Because the network leverages wireless technology, fewer resources and less time are needed to create the actual network architecture. 

It is precisely for this reason that Mission, Texas, law enforcement chose a wireless mesh network to support its video surveillance system. The initial network, deployed in 2009, relied on six mesh modes, but the city expanded it to include a total of 33 mesh nodes. Officials wanted a way to better secure certain neighborhoods known for their high rates of crime. One of the main criterion for the surveillance system was the ability to easily reallocate cameras on an as-needed basis. With a wireless mesh network, the city was able to do just this. 

3. Affordability

Last but not least, because the deployment of a wireless mesh network demands fewer resources and less time, it also means lower overhead. This was a principle factor for why Mission law enforcement went with wireless mesh solutions. City officials noted that they were able to realize significant savings by not going with a traditional, wired surveillance system, but without having to sacrifice any of the benefits of reliable video surveillance.

Thanks to wireless mesh technology, Mission and a host of other municipalities and organizations have been able to realize the true trifecta of effective video surveillance: mobility, flexibility and affordability.