Cctv Storage Calculator

CCTV Storage Calculator

function calculateStorage() { var numCameras = parseFloat(document.getElementById('numCameras').value); var recordingProfile = document.getElementById('recordingProfile').value; var recordingHours = parseFloat(document.getElementById('recordingHours').value); var retentionDays = parseFloat(document.getElementById('retentionDays').value); var bitrateMap = { "720p_H264_15fps": 1.5, "720p_H264_30fps": 2.5, "1080p_H264_15fps": 3, "1080p_H264_30fps": 5, "4MP_H264_15fps": 6, "4MP_H264_30fps": 8, "4K_H264_15fps": 10, "4K_H264_30fps": 15, "720p_H265_15fps": 1, "720p_H265_30fps": 1.5, "1080p_H265_15fps": 2, "1080p_H265_30fps": 3, "4MP_H265_15fps": 4, "4MP_H265_30fps": 5, "4K_H265_15fps": 7, "4K_H265_30fps": 10 }; var bitrateMbps = bitrateMap[recordingProfile]; if (isNaN(numCameras) || numCameras <= 0 || isNaN(recordingHours) || recordingHours 24 || isNaN(retentionDays) || retentionDays <= 0 || bitrateMbps === undefined) { document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields and select a recording profile.'; return; } // Calculations // 1. Convert Mbps to bits per second var bitrateBitsPerSecond = bitrateMbps * 1000000; // 1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bits/second // 2. Calculate total bits per camera per day var secondsPerDay = recordingHours * 3600; // 1 hour = 3600 seconds var bitsPerCameraPerDay = bitrateBitsPerSecond * secondsPerDay; // 3. Calculate total bits for all cameras over the retention period var totalBits = bitsPerCameraPerDay * numCameras * retentionDays; // 4. Convert total bits to Bytes var totalBytes = totalBits / 8; // 1 Byte = 8 bits // 5. Convert total Bytes to Gigabytes (using 1024 for computer storage) var totalGB = totalBytes / (1024 * 1024 * 1024); // 6. Convert total Gigabytes to Terabytes var totalTB = totalGB / 1024; document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Estimated Storage Required:' + '' + totalGB.toFixed(2) + ' GB' + '(' + totalTB.toFixed(2) + ' TB)'; }

Understanding CCTV Storage Requirements

Calculating the right amount of storage for your Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system is crucial for ensuring you can retain footage for your desired period without running out of space. Insufficient storage can lead to critical footage being overwritten prematurely, while excessive storage can be an unnecessary expense.

Key Factors Influencing Storage Needs:

1. Number of Cameras: More cameras mean more data streams, directly increasing storage requirements.
2. Resolution: Higher resolutions (e.g., 4K, 1080p) capture more detail but generate significantly larger file sizes than lower resolutions (e.g., 720p).
3. Frames Per Second (FPS): A higher FPS (e.g., 30 FPS) provides smoother video, capturing more individual frames per second, thus requiring more storage. Lower FPS (e.g., 15 FPS) can save space but might miss fine details in fast-moving scenes.
4. Video Compression: This is one of the most impactful factors.
   • H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC): A widely used and efficient compression standard.
   • H.265 (HEVC – High Efficiency Video Coding): The successor to H.264, offering significantly better compression efficiency (often 30-50% less bitrate for similar quality), leading to substantial storage savings.
5. Daily Recording Hours: Whether cameras record continuously (24 hours), on a schedule, or only upon motion detection will drastically affect the daily data volume. Our calculator assumes continuous recording for the specified hours.
6. Desired Retention Period: This is the number of days you need to keep the footage before it's overwritten. Legal or operational requirements often dictate this period.

How Our Calculator Works:

Our CCTV Storage Calculator uses typical bitrate estimates for various resolutions, frame rates, and compression standards (H.264 and H.265). It then multiplies this bitrate by the number of cameras, daily recording hours, and your desired retention period to provide an estimate in Gigabytes (GB) and Terabytes (TB).

Formula Used (simplified):
Total Storage (GB) = (Bitrate (Mbps) × 1,000,000 bits/Mb × Recording Hours/Day × 3600 seconds/hour × Number of Cameras × Retention Days) / (8 bits/Byte × 1024^3 Bytes/GB)

Tips for Optimizing CCTV Storage:

• Utilize H.265 Compression: If your cameras and NVR/DVR support it, H.265 can significantly reduce storage needs without compromising video quality as much as lowering resolution or FPS.
• Implement Motion Detection Recording: Instead of continuous 24/7 recording, configure cameras to record only when motion is detected. This can save immense amounts of storage, especially in low-activity areas.
• Adjust FPS and Resolution: For less critical areas, consider using lower FPS (e.g., 10-15 FPS) or slightly lower resolutions.
• Consider Variable Bitrate (VBR): Some systems allow VBR, where the bitrate adjusts based on scene complexity, saving space during static scenes.
• Cloud Storage: Supplement local storage with cloud-based solutions for critical footage or extended retention.

Use this calculator as a guide to plan your CCTV system's storage infrastructure effectively. Always consider adding a buffer to your calculated storage to account for potential increases in activity or future system expansions.