Abstract
Abstract Background Nowadays, the use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems is effective for monitoring traffic, preventing crime, and ensuring safety in many public spaces. However, the effectiveness of CCTV coverage is often achieved through design experience and trial-and-error, instead of being evaluated and visualized using a robust approach. Methods Firstly, a method for simulating varifocal CCTV lenses in order to attain different fields of view was developed, allowing real CCTV views to be approximated by adjusting the parametric properties of simulated CCTV cameras in the 3D BIM model. Secondly, an API (Application Programming Interface) plug-in program for a commercially available BIM tool was developed to facilitate the parametric modeling of CCTV systems and the evaluation of the CCTV coverage. Results A complete BIM model of an MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station was chosen as a case study to apply the developed approach to the examination of CCTV coverage. Finally, the overall coverage of the CCTV systems for the MRT station were demonstrated visually and studied in the station's BIM model. Conclusions This research has developed a robust visualization approach for evaluating the coverage of CCTV systems in public building spaces. The developed approach is based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology and is capable of simulating CCTV systems in a 3D virtual environment in order to evaluate the CCTV coverage.
Highlights
Nowadays, the use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems is effective for monitoring traffic, preventing crime, and ensuring safety in many public spaces
To make the Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based virtual environment correspond better to a real situation, a BIM design model of an MRT station under construction in Taipei city was adopted for the case study
The application of CCTV systems in public spaces, especially mass transit facilities, for surveillance and protection purposes has grown at a considerable rate (Sanderson et al, 2007; March Networks News, 2008)
Summary
The use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems is effective for monitoring traffic, preventing crime, and ensuring safety in many public spaces. In the 1990s, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems were used for public security and crime prevention in urban cities in England. CCTV is widely used in many public spaces in order to prevent crime, monitor traffic events, and ensure public safety A thorough design of CCTV layouts should be conducted in advance of positioning in order to ensure proper siting and mounting (Lee et al, 1995). The positions and orientations of most CCTV systems are designed based on 2D diagrams such as floor plans. This may cause many spatial design conflicts
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