Field survey experience for Hikvision IP camera repairs in a coal mine – A survey is a crucial step before repairing or installing security cameras. By conducting a site survey, I can assess the site conditions, determine the appropriate equipment, and determine any repairs that need to be made. The client who commissioned me to conduct the site survey this time was a coal mining company.
In this article, I will share my experience and what I found when conducting a site survey at a coal mine.
The Benefits of a Professional CCTV Location Survey
1. Knowing the Exact Location of the Mining Site
Customers usually send address locations via Google Maps.
Looking at Google Maps, I couldn’t accurately determine the actual condition of the road to the location. Roads could be badly damaged, unpaved, or paved but in poor condition. Google Maps also sometimes uses outdated imagery, and roads within plantations or mining areas are often either unavailable (because officials haven’t yet captured imagery to the location) or only partially visible.
The survey also gave me an idea of the actual location conditions.
2. Identifying Security Camera Damage at the Site
I once attempted a repair without first conducting a survey.
As a result, I brought the wrong equipment because I didn’t know what type of damage was affecting the security cameras installed at the location. I brought equipment to repair analog cameras, when the location was actually using IP cameras. To prevent this from happening again, conducting a survey is crucial to identify the damage, determine the type of cameras installed, and what tools to use for the repair.
Moreover, when asked via telephone conversation, customers do not know the type of camera used.
3. Knowing What Steps To Take For Improvement
After knowing which devices were having problems, it became easy for me to decide what to do for repairs.
For example, during one of my projects, many Hikvision IP cameras at the mining site were not appearing on the monitoring screen. To resolve the issue, I replaced several cameras, a damaged PoE switch, and one NVR unit. I also introduced a new mounting system because the previous design relied on excessive hardware while remaining inefficient.
4. Knowing Who to Coordinate With at the Site
At a coal mining site there are usually people who are given responsibility.
As a result, the survey helped me identify the right people to communicate with at the mining site. In this experience, I first spoke with the mine’s General Manager, who later introduced me to a site technician responsible for inspecting the security camera system throughout the area. Without knowing who to coordinate with beforehand, the process would have been confusing once I arrived at the location.
Conclusion
During the survey process, I typically first review the site conditions and potential risks. I also check camera installation locations, power sources, and storage systems. I also consider possible device integration options to ensure the installation or repair process is more efficient and meets site needs. Most site surveys can be completed within one to two hours, but larger locations or more complicated systems may require additional time.
Professional site surveys align technology with real-world risks and future needs. We hope this article is helpful.