#Construction Site Monitoring by Camera in Real Time – What Must I Pay Attention To
Construction Site Monitoring by Camera – Advantages and Information
Monitoring a construction site with mobile video cameras can effectively protect against theft and vandalism. The advantages of such monitoring and whether purchasing or renting makes more sense
Construction Site Monitoring in Real Time
Real-time monitoring is often considered a must. Effective construction site security and monitoring can positively influence insurance premium rates. Construction delays or other disruptions can also be ideally documented via camera and addressed promptly.
Advantages – Construction Site Monitoring in Real Time
Cameras for construction site monitoring allow control of the site 7 days a week, around the clock. Unguarded construction sites invite thieves and other unauthorized persons to steal building materials and machinery. Additionally, there are often people who vandalize construction sites and act out destructive tendencies. Particularly the night hours, when work on the construction site is at rest, are historically attractive to thieves and vandals.
Every year, damages in the millions of euros occur for builders – in 2016 alone, it was 52 million EURO in damages. Many damages are also consequential damages from theft, because missing materials, for example, delay construction progress. Here, site monitoring with cameras is an effective preventive measure.
Disputes between builders and contractors also frequently arise over the actual status of construction work. Real-time camera monitoring fulfills an important documentation function in all cases, which can help identify offenders and prevent construction delays. Additionally, many camera systems are designed visually such that their installation alone has a deterrent effect on potential offenders. Interesting alternatives to cameras permanently installed for a certain period are construction site drones, which can monitor construction progress from a bird's-eye perspective.
Discover Construction Site Monitoring
Construction Site Monitoring Cameras – Rent or Buy?
Particularly builders of smaller projects benefit from renting mobile cameras for construction site monitoring. These systems can be rented for short periods, are very quick to install, and reliable in function. Depending on requirements, this offers a very cost-effective way to keep the construction site under observation at all times and prevent damage. Larger construction companies that want to continuously monitor their sites may be better served by purchasing mobile camera systems. The systems can be set up quickly and thus can be used repeatedly at different locations.
However, a camera system is only as good as the data storage system connected to it. After all, only with reliable storage can processes be precisely reconstructed later. High-quality camera systems for rent or purchase work very reliably at night even without light. Many systems can be connected to alarm centers or radio alarm systems and feature virtual fences that precisely limit the recording area. This is particularly important, for example, for compliance with data protection regulations in real-time construction site monitoring.
Legal Aspects of Construction Site Monitoring with Image Capture Systems
The use of cameras must be strictly purpose-bound in terms of data protection law. Camera surveillance must not extend into the wider public space and include uninvolved parties in the recording. Employees on the construction site must not get the impression that construction site monitoring is primarily aimed at controlling them. For this reason, and also with regard to possible uninvolved parties, notification signs must be posted indicating the installation of cameras. According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the notification sign must also contain the contact details of the person responsible for camera monitoring and provide information about rights of affected parties.
Regarding employee data protection, works agreements on the topic of real-time camera construction site monitoring may be necessary to ensure legal compliance. The monitoring areas of cameras should also be technically limited, which is now possible through virtual fences. When using drones for construction site documentation, the corresponding regulations must be observed regarding air traffic law. Even if the legal regulations for site monitoring may initially seem complex, they do not present insurmountable obstacles to setting up camera systems for real-time observation. They should not discourage any builder from protecting their construction site and documenting construction progress.
This page was automatically translated from German.