Lens Size and Position Guide
A little preplanning can make all the difference when it comes to designing a surveillance system. Two cameras with the correct lens choice and correct installation position can be just as effective (or more effective) than installing more cameras.
After the decision to buy has been made, but before the purchase is complete, the most important step is to thoroughly determine what you want that system to see. There are no right and wrong answers when it comes to lens choice and placement.
Having clearly defined expectations will help Seon sales and installation reps determine the best plan for each individual fleet or bus.
Ask yourself what kind of surveillance coverage you want:
- the faces of everyone who enters and exits the bus?
- the backs of seats to monitor vandalism?
- stop-arm violators?
- the bus driver and the control panel?
- the outside of the bus and entry and exit points for liability?
- faces in low-light situations?
Other points to consider:
- Do all routes need the same set-up?
- Would long distance routes be served by using an IR camera for early evening and late night runs?
- Is there one route that consistently has stop-arm violators?
The first step is to determine potential camera locations given your answers above.
Potential placements for a school bus and a transit bus
The simplest installation is a system featuring one camera installed at the front and facing the back. For multiple camera systems, the current trend in the industry is to move away from mid-cabin camera placements because they are more susceptible to vandalism and blocking. Instead, two cameras placed up-front near the driver are proving just as effective. One camera has a wide 2.9 mm lens, while the other has a narrower 6 or 8 mm lens to capture the rear of the bus.
The desired locations combined with the type of lens will ultimately determine what is recorded.
Downloadable Guides
Lens Reference Guide (School Bus) (240KB)
Lens & IR Guide (School Bus) (230KB)
Camera Angles (Transit) (317KB)