A customer may ask:
How many cameras are needed if there are 6 loading docks?
It depends on what they really need to see.
A loading dock is a mix of trucks, forklifts, personnel, goods movement and challenging lighting. One wide shot can cover the entire area but lack the ability to zoom in on the details when a pallet has been broken or when a shipment has an issue.
So, the first step is to determine the monitoring task before you decide on the number of cameras.
1. It is important to begin by outlining the site layout.
Request a drawing, photos or a short video of the site from the customer.
Indicate the following areas:
Dock doors
Truck positions
Goods staging areas
Warehouse entrances
Forklift routes
Camera mounting points
Network locations
This is much better than providing a single answer for a number of cameras.
2. Distinguish between Overview and Detail Coverage.
An overview camera can be used to see what's going on in several loading bays.
A specific camera can be installed in one of the dock doors, staging or goods transfer areas.
Don't try to get the widest lens to decrease the number of cameras.
The wider the field of view the larger the coverage area but important targets are also smaller in the image.
The aim is NOT to cover as much area as possible. The aim is to get sufficient detail that is useful.
3. To follow the Movement of Goods.
Consider product transport through loading dock:
Trucks unload at the dock door, which then goes to the staging area and then to the warehouse.
These are the areas that are most likely to have damage, lost goods or disputes over shipments.
The camera should follow this movement.
A high camera above the dock can be a great overview, but not as detailed as needed at the transfer point.
4. Examine the lighting around dock doors.Inspect lighting near dock doors.
One of the most difficult areas of loading-dock CCTV are lighting conditions.
During daylight hours, a camera mounted in the warehouse could be in a brightly lit outdoor setting. Another lighting challenge at night can be the headlights of trucks.
Check:
Camera direction
The difference in brightness between indoor and outdoor scenes.Brightness contrast between inside and outside.
Night lighting
Vehicle headlights
Position of important monitoring targets
Avoid choosing a camera with a high WDR or low-light rating in the specification sheet.
If possible, test the camera at the installation location.
5. Measure the distance between the Camera and the Target.Record the Camera-to-Target Distance.
Estimate the distance between camera and important monitoring space.
For example:
Dock door: 8 m
Staging area: 15 m
Truck area: 30 m
These distances will help to identify the right lens and FOV.
Without this information, you're going to have to try a fixed lens, wide-angle lens or optical zoom camera and see which works best.
6. Adjust the height of the camera and viewing angle.
Avoid selecting the topmost possible mounting point.
High-mounted cameras are useful for providing an overview of the coverage, but there may not be enough detail to be able to see loading activity or goods transfer.
Before installation, check:
Mounting height
Camera-to-target distance
Obstructions
Viewing angle
It is not just about getting the highest elevation for the best vantage point, it's about getting the best elevation for the best vantage point.
7. Apply PTZ and Fixed Cameras to various functions.
PTZ cameras might be beneficial in a large yard or open space where an operator might wish to zoom in and keep an eye on multiple areas.
But PTZ cameras can't be all fixed cameras.
One area is continually recorded by a fixed camera.
A PTZ camera only captures the direction that it is looking at at the time that the camera is recording.
A fixed camera is typically the most appropriate option for a dock door that is in frequent use.
PTZ cameras work better as a supplemental camera for larger spaces, yards or places where zooming is a regular occurrence.
8. Define the network and storage plan.Outline the network and storage plan.
After the camera positions have been confirmed, check:
Cable routes
PoE switch locations
NVR location
Cable distance
Future expansion requirements
Storage needs vary depending on recording setup.
For instance, if you're recording for 30 days, take into account:
Number of cameras
Bitrate
Recording hours
Retention period
Recording mode
Resolution
Resolution alone is not enough to determine storage requirements.
Common Mistakes
Some common loading-dock CCTV errors are:
Always using the same ultra-wide camera for all locations
Use bright colored dock doors that are not ignored.
It is important not to mount the cameras too high.
Determining number of cameras prior to specifying monitoring targets;
Failure to heed the flow of goods
Using PTZ cameras to replace important fixed cameras
Determining storage prior to camera and recording needs.
When asking questions, you might consider the following:
When preparing quotations, seek out the customers for:
In addition to the photos, a simple layout drawing of the site will be required.
There are 6 number of dock doors.
Truck parking and staging areas
Important monitoring areas
Camera-to-target distances
The lighting conditions at the time of the day and at night are indicated.
Available mounting positions
Existing Network or NVR equipment:
Required recording retention
Additionally, it should include PTZ, audio or AI needs.
This information is much more useful than receiving a request such as:
Please mention 6 of the 8MP outdoor cameras.
Conclusion
A loading dock needs to be broken down into multiple monitoring areas:
Dock Door
Truck Area
Goods Transfer
Staging Area
Warehouse Entrance
In each area confirm:
This is a classic setup that is often used for moving target photography.This is a classic configuration used for moving target photography, and is frequently indicated as:
Target -> Distance -> Field of View -> Lighting -> Camera Position -> Network -> Recording.
This will help avoid issues with blind spots as well as the wrong equipment being chosen or unnecessary cameras being used.
When installing a warehouse CCTV system, please provide us with photos of your site, the number of docks, monitoring distances, and essential monitoring areas.
Helpful to review camera positions and system requirements before finalizing equipment list.
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