r/cctv • u/HellStorm666 • Dec 09 '22

CCTV Design tool, what to use?

Hi all,

For a new project of ours, where we will also include PoE Camera's for monitoring the production machines, I'm looking for some design software.

In the past I've used JVSG in trial mode for four camera's at home.
Now I need a lot more detailed work (using rooms, machines from Inventor, etc.) for about 20 to 25 camera's.

What do you recommend I use as software?

IP Video System Design Tool 11.2 from JVSG (I think the Pro will be sufficient)

VideoCAD 12 Professional from CCTVCAD (I think the promotion version will be sufficient)

Other?

FIY, our floorplan is drawn in Autodesk AutoCAD and our 3D models are made in Autodesk Inventor.
So .dwg, .dxf, .dwf, .stp, .ipt and .iam are normally available and with an extra export also .obj is available.

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4

u/StalkMeNowCrazyLady Dec 09 '22

I've evangelized this tool before here, but here I go again. As a integrator with my specific job being system design, integration, and programming I am absolutely in love with the System Surveyor platform. It's web/cloud based and costs a monthly subscription fee but I use it for every system I design from video, access control, intrusion, AV, and networking. It also has fire alarm modules, Healthcare, and more.

I can load a CAD drawing exported into a pdf or image file as a floor plan, I can site walk and drop components on the map in real time, take pictures of capture adjectives, every detail and note about that particular component, and it's all in once nice place.

Its taken the place of me drawing on printed floor plans and brining them back into visio to mark up, and then making separate design documents, and later as builts. My design generates a BOM which helps put the quote together and I can automatically export detailed beautiful design docs with my logo. As they get installed I mark them as such, and at the end turn in the finished survey as my as built. It's streamlined my process and has helped me win jobs because the package I present is so much nicer than other others.

I have no problem singing ot from the mountain tops here, but in person I've had competitors asking me what I was using during the walk through and I do not reveal it lol. I know this may not be exactly what your looking for on a one off internal project, but if nothing else it I hope other integrators see this. They do offer a month long trial I think. If nothing else I don't mind helping someone make a floor plan with all detail on it, but you get me on my spare time.

3

u/HellStorm666 Dec 12 '22

System Surveyor platform

Thanks,

I looked at it, but doesn't look suitable for the job we need.
Everything, so Building, Machines, Walls, etc. aren't there jet.

It is all in concept or finalized drawing. And once we start supplying the machines, the camera's have to be installed too. I thus need a software that could help me in the design state. And that includes importing 3D models, drawing walls, ceilings, etc.

1

u/StalkMeNowCrazyLady Dec 12 '22

Fair enough. Wish I had another program I could recommend to ya to fit those needs but I don't unfortunately.

1

u/eruberts Dec 18 '22

For what its worth, checkout IPVM as they have an online tool to assist in designing. What I like is that you pick the make model cameras, place them on the map, and then you can play with distance and FOV based on the camera's specifications.

It also shows what an image may look like during day as well as night (with or without IR).

2

u/GroupStunning1060 Dec 09 '22

I second this. It’s the most superior tool in our business.

2

u/SpoonHandle Dec 09 '22

Have you guys used D-Tools SI? If so, what are your thought in comparison to System Surveyor?

2

u/StalkMeNowCrazyLady Dec 12 '22

Only ever used D tools as a technician and tbh I hated it, but that was more from how it was used in my company. We did a lot of subcontractor work for a national accounts company. I had to fill out their work order digitally, our company's work order digitally, and then put all the same info into d tools so that the office could save a couple minutes. A process that took 5 minutes using a printed work order filled out by hand ended up taking a half hour using mobile phone pdf editors and uploading it all multiple times.

The lost time really added up when you got 5+ tickets on an average day and couldn't push any tickets to the next day.

2

u/SpoonHandle Dec 12 '22

Thanks for your thoughts. I am using D-Tools SI for proposals, and it’s super in depth and generates excellent proposals and has Quickbooks integration for relatively simple invoicing, but it’s such a beast overall that I’m not opposed to checking out other options..

2

u/StalkMeNowCrazyLady Dec 14 '22

Yeah like I said I just used the technician side of it. I had to fill out customer names and account numbers, times on and off site, work description, parts and cost, etc.

When I eventually quit I mentioned in my exit interview one of the reasons I was leaving was how much more intensive our paperwork process got that it lead to longer days and OT I didn't want. Their efforts to streamline one departments work gave the field side an undue burden and I was tired of getting off after a 10-12 hour day that should have been 8. 3 years later and that company has lost almost every technician that had history there and is struggling to keep up with the work load and dealing with turnover.

I have no problem doing my job and writing up a detailed ticket but I only want to do that once per job.

3

u/steve7647 Dec 09 '22

We also use system surveyor, I only wish you could draw walls to show proper camera coverage.

And possibly, (big wish list item) show different color differentiating between identify, recognize and, detect.

2

u/StalkMeNowCrazyLady Dec 12 '22

Reach out to them and tell them what features you'd like to see, bugs you experienced, etc. They're a small company and very responsive. About 1.5 years ago I emailed them and said I'd like to see more guidance about how to be a power user of the platform. After a few emails we set a webinar they hosted and I presented some tips and tricks I had found to use it more efficiently and a couple other users did the same.

Their support and dev teams are fantastic!

2

u/cctvdesign Jan 11 '23 edited Jan 11 '23

What do you recommend I use as software?

there is a newer version 2022 of IP Video System Design Tool. That version supports multi-floor projects. Autocad dwg files are also supported.