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- A Study of Webcamera Types and Costs
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- Gregg R. Corley, George H. Bunch, and
Christine Piper
- Clemson University
- Clemson, South Carolina
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The use of webcams (video cameras specially designed to capture
and transmit video and images over the Internet) is growing as evidenced by
the influx of webcams and after-market accessories in recent years. The
evolution of the technology and the surge in development has attracted a host
of new webcam manufacturers, vendors, and specialty contractors. This paper
presents an investigation of webcams and their use in the construction
industry. A literature review, an Internet search, and personal interviews
were conducted to evaluate the use of webcams, and to collect data about the
types, features, and estimated costs.
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Keywords: Webcams, information
technology, streaming video, network cameras
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- Introduction
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- The first webcam, developed by educators at Cambridge
University, was tasked to view a coffee pot and transmit video images. Using
a standard web browser, the researchers were able to monitor the coffee pot
remotely. Following that start, webcam use has expanded into many other
applications and into several industries including marketing, security,
traffic management, and healthcare (USA Today, 2001). With the
ability to transmit audio and video data, webcams have progressed from the
sole output periodic of still photographs. Initial webcams were designed for
indoor use only, but with the enhancements of external housings and
technology, outdoor and even underwater webcams are now available (Gordon &
Reed, 2004). The World Wide Web has many websites devoted solely to displaying
webcam output.
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- The construction industry has not overlooked the potential
of the webcam. Webcams are currently being used on construction sites for
numerous purposes. Contractors use webcams as a marketing tool to advertise
current projects and present their experience. Cameras function as project
management tools to monitor jobsite progress from the company home office.
Some large big box retail owners require webcams during the improvement stage
of development. There are a few webcam manufacturers that have targeted the
construction market with hardware and software packages developed for webcam
use on the construction jobsite.
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- The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the
current webcam market and identify products available for the construction
industry. Through a literature review, an Internet search, and personal
interviews, the researchers were able to evaluate the use of webcams and
collect data about their types and estimated costs.
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- Literature Review/Internet Search
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- A literature search of construction, engineering, and
technical periodicals for research on the use of webcams in the construction
industry yielded few results. There has been research published on the broader
use of webcams in other industries. An Internet search of webcam manufacturers
yielded a variety of data about the types, features, and costs of webcams.
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- Webcam Operation
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- The operation of webcams has not changed since their
inception. A specially designed camera is directed by software to capture
photographs at preset intervals. The data is transferred to a computer server
and broadcast over the Internet. The only requirement for viewing webcam
output is a web browser (i.e., Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape
Navigator). This fundamental sequence of operation does not change regardless
of the simplicity or complexity of the subject to be monitored (Brain, 2004).
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- Data Transfer
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- Personal webcams rest on top of or near a PC and are
plugged directly into the CPU through a USB connection or serial port. Webcams
on construction jobs are often placed hundreds of yards from the nearest PC.
In order to accommodate for these distances, new means to connect the webcam
and PC had to be developed. Contractors commonly use standard telephone
service, or POTS (plain old telephone service), to connect webcams on
jobsites. POTS run directly from a jack in the back of the webcam to a PC or a
router for Internet continuity. Within the last five years, webcam
manufacturers have adopted wireless technology. Networked webcams provide a
solution for monitoring jobs in remote locations. The networked webcam houses
the controlling software and the wireless hardware. It is programmed to
transmit pictures to a specified Internet IP address (WebCamStore.com,
2004-2). The IP address can be a PC, a router, or a secure website. The only
physical connection to a network cam is typically a power supply, and a
wireless bridge. The wireless bridge transmits the data collected by the
camera to an ISP. The range of the wireless bridge depends on the power
source and size of the antenna of the equipment. The cost of networking is
often less than hardwiring webcams because neither cable installation or
onsite computer infrastructure is needed (Oxblue.com, 2004).
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- Output – Streaming Video vs. Still
Photographs
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- Webcams deliver data over the Internet by either streaming
video or still photographs. Streaming video is actually thirty or more still
photographs captured per second. As the frame rate (photographs per second)
increases, the quality of the streaming video improves. The main consideration
for camera output is resolution, or picture quality, which is determined by
the number of pixels. A pixel dimension of 720 x 480 is considered good
quality, while dimensions greater than one megapixel will produce high-quality
output. The downside of streaming video is the large amount of data that can
be transmitted in a fixed amount of time, or bandwidth, required to achieve a
cohesive stream for the viewer. Higher costs are associated with adding
bandwidth. Viewers of the stream must also have adequate bandwidth through
their Internet connection in order to receive the data. Streaming video also
requires an additional step in data transmittal. Video data is encoded by
webcaster or mediacaster software before it is relayed to the Internet.
Streaming video can be seen in real time if conditions allow. A typical
photograph recapture rates are from 15 seconds to an hour (WebCam.com, 2004).
The most important considerations for selecting a webcam are the output,
available bandwidth, viewer bandwidth, and desired resolution.
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- Installation
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- Construction professionals have two choices for webcam
installation: self-installation or a third party. A handful of national
companies provide clients with turnkey webcam systems with installation
included in the pricing (Appendix A). The service these companies provide is a
user-friendly interface for viewing photographs or video presented on a secure
website. The alternative to a third-party system is self-installation. Webcam
location, enclosure, mounting hardware, and wire connections must be
considered during the planning of the installation. Typical webcams marketed
toward construction applications are manufactured with a waterproof enclosure.
Several indoor/outdoor webcam manufacturers produce matching enclosures. One
west coast contractor interviewed builds their own webcam boxes out of lumber
and plexiglas. Depending on the type of camera, wire connections will vary. A
camera equipped with robotic pan, tilt, and zoom capability requires a control
wire, power source, and data cable (WebCamStore.com, 2004-1). The cabling also
requires protection. Hard piping is suggested.
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- Maintenance
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- Turnkey installers admit that condensation develops inside
the enclosures. Blowers and thermostats have been added to high-end camera
housings to mitigate this issue. The webcam itself requires no scheduled
maintenance, but intermittent checks are recommended. Birds and insects build
homes in the webcam housing and can damage wires and the camera as well as
block the lens.
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- Hardware Requirements
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- The type of webcam and output dictate the hardware
selection. If a PC, router, and server are on the jobsite, the webcam would
connect to the onsite infrastructure. If the output is streaming video,
sufficient broadband is required and a high-speed connection (T1, DSL, or
cable) is warranted. Hardware includes power cable, data cable, and conduit. A
network webcam can send data to computer hardware in a job trailer and
transmit it offsite, or transmit directly from the camera to an ISP. One
vendor interviewed transmits all clients’ pictures to data warehousing servers
before directing it to a web server for viewing.
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- Security
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- The data provided by a webcam is often confidential to
certain parties and must be treated as such. Software provided by
manufacturers and after-market packages exists that allow password protection
to private websites for viewing webcam output or for controlling the webcam
itself. For example, a camera with pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities may have
different password levels to allow certain users control of these features
from a computer desktop.
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- Interviews
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All interviews were conducted by telephone.
Each interviewee was informed of the scope of the study, and the intent to
use information acquired during the interview. A list of those interviews
is shown in Appendix C. Candidates selected for interviews were broadly
defined as construction and webcam professionals. Employees of companies
discovered through the literature search represent three-quarters of the
interview pool. The remaining interviewees were located through personal
contacts and information provided by those interviewed. Construction
personnel consisted of project managers from various trades, managers from
different construction sectors, and contractors with interest in webcams.
Open-ended questions were not scripted but attempted to qualify
characteristics of webcams from two perspectives: the provider and the
end-user. Manufacturers were asked to explain technical features of their
products, and disclose necessary components for installing an operational
system. Manufacturers and vendors of after market products were asked to
classify purchasers of equipment: owners, architects, engineers, general
contractors, and/or subcontractors. End-users were asked to disclose
experiences with webcams: strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for
improvement.
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- Findings
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- Interview results revealed found that webcam manufacturers
agree there is not a dominant purchaser in the industry. Design professionals,
owners, and contractors all use webcams. Each user has a different purpose.
Design professionals and owners are primarily concerned with overall progress,
and webcams allow them to view projects from the office. One Seattle,
Washington, based contractor stated that a commercial client contractually
requires webcams. While some may view webcams as a novelty, many contractors
invest in webcams to facilitate project management activities, such as
measuring worker productivity, estimating project completion progress, and
monitoring what subcontractors and trades are currently on the jobsite.
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- Contractors interviewed communicated both positive and
negative feedback regarding the presence of webcams on jobsites. Contractors
realize that webcams contribute to day-to-day management, documentation, and
safety. They also relieve offsite management personnel from routine site
visits to verify progress. One manager of a southeast pre-cast concrete
facility wants to use webcams to assess production rates of concrete pours.
Another project executive in the electrical field desires a webcam on an
upcoming healthcare project as a courtesy to the owner. One thirty-year
veteran of heavy industrial work on the west coast expressed fears that
webcams will produce two negative effects: 1) the technology will replace the
need for management to inspect the job personally, 2) field managers might
potentially resent the constant presence of cameras.
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- Many webcam manufacturers and retailers disclose prices and
technical specifications on their corporate websites. Appendix A is a
comparison matrix that summarizes the features of several construction webcams,
including cost. Appendix B is a checklist of possible items needed and
relative costs for self-installation.
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- Conclusion
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- Results from the literature review and the interviews
reveal that construction professionals are aware of the use of webcams in the
construction industry and that their use is growing. IMS Research foresees
network camera sales tripling by 2008 (CNN.com, 2004). Several of the
contractors interviewed are planning to install webcams on upcoming jobs.
Costs vary from $500 to $6,000 depending on camera installer, output, and data
transmission.
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- Given the growing popularity and current use of webcams in
the construction industry, more research is needed to identify possible
applications and improvement for webcams in construction. Professionals
interviewed also identified a need for smaller and more mobile cameras. Webcam
manufacturers should investigate end-user attitudes to identify and develop
camera features sensitive to the needs of construction.
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- References
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- Brain, M. (2004). How webcams work [WWW document].
URL
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/webcam.htm/printable
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- CNN.com (2004). Big brother is getting a whole lot of
little siblings [WWW document]. URL
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/06/07/broadband.cameras.reut
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- Gordon, K., & Reed, K. (2004, Nov 1). Go deep: underwater
video camera housings. Digital Video Magazine, 24-28.
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- Oxblue.com (2004). System pricing [WWW document].
URL
http://oxblue.com/pricing/oxblue_pricing_2004.pdf
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- Webcam coffee pot sold for nearly $5,000. (2001, August
14). USA Today.
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- Webcam.com (2004). Webcams for construction [WWW
document]. URL http://webcam.com
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- WebCamStore.com (2004-1). Choosing a webcam solution
[WWW document]. URL
http://www.webcamstore.com/consumer/tutorial/choosing.php
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- WebCamStore.com (2004-2). Network cameras vs. streaming
media [WWW document]. URL
http://www.webcamstore.com/professional/tutorial/ntwkvsstream.php
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- Appendix A
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- Webcam Product Matrix
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