Four Places that You Might Not Expect to Find CCTV Systems

Security cameras, especially CCTV systems for security, have become nearly ubiquitous in some parts of the world. In Great Britain, for example, you can’t walk down the street in most larger cities without being recorded along the way on any number of CCTV security systems. Here in the U.S., most people think they are free of such surveillance, but that’s not necessarily true. In fact, CCTV systems have become the norm for many businesses and in places that many people don’t expect to find them. Here are just a few of the places you might find a CCTV camera pointed in your direction.

At Traffic Signals

It is becoming more and more common for large and medium size cities to install a CCTV camera at traffic signals to help them monitor traffic and catch offenders that might otherwise go unnoticed. In addition to providing law enforcement with information on people who don’t stop for traffic signals, these security camera systems also provide traffic pattern data to the city’s planning department that can result in improvements to the city’s infrastructure.

At the Club

Smile pretty for the camera when you’re dancing at the club. Today, it’s not unusual for entertainment venues and dance clubs to have a surveillance camera trained on the dance floor and surrounding tables. The footage from those cameras can help business owners determine usage patterns, spot potential trouble brewing and provide evidence in case of crimes or complaints.

On the Job

Security-conscious companies have been installing CCTV systems to monitor employee behavior for years, but the practice is spreading to smaller and smaller companies. With the advent of reality shows that hinge on employees stealing from employers and goofing off whenever they’re not watched, the trend for employers to install a surveillance camera in the workplace has grown significantly. On a more positive note, a security camera on the worksite can help bosses spot places where improvements can be made and gives them footage to defend employees against complaints.

In the Home

Once the province of the uber-wealthy, CCTV systems are now found in many middle-class homes where they provide security and peace of mind for homeowners. Many security companies will install video security systems that only turn on when the system detects a breach in the perimeter or when activated by the homeowner.

CCTV systems provide security, peace of mind and information to home and business owners. They are becoming more and more common in our everyday lives, a trend that some find troubling, but that many others find encouraging and comforting.

Unusual Uses for CCTV Systems

We’re used to seeing CCTV systems used for security and surveillance purposes, but we’ve also seen CCTV camera systems used in creative and unusual ways. A CCTV camera can be installed to monitor just about anything, and can transmit the signal to linked monitors or to an Internet feed, where it can be viewed by others. CCTV systems are much sturdier and often offer better capabilities than your typical webcam or nanny cam, making them the perfect choice for some of these CCTV applications we’ve seen recently.

Polar Bear Cub Cam

When the Buffalo New York zoo acquired a newborn polar bear cub, the staff wanted to show her off – but she was far too young to be let loose to play in the standard polar bear exhibit that awaited her. The solution? The staff set up a CCTV camera to allow zoo visitors to “meet” the three-month-old cub via video feed. Little Luna, named because she was born on the night of the full moon, will be viewable via CCTV camera periodically until she is old enough to move into the zoo’s polar bear exhibit.

Of course, this isn’t the first time that zoo staff has used a CCTV camera to keep an eye on newborns inside den areas in zoos around the world. Mothers and nursing cubs need privacy, but staff needs to be able to monitor for any potential problems. Entering the den with a nursing mother bear, wolf or other animal is a poor idea, but a surveillance camera can be installed well in advance and be used to monitor progress and reassure zookeepers that everything is going well.

City View Cams

The city of Worcester, Massachusetts allows city residents and others to get a glimpse of the most popular views in the city with a series of CCTV camera setups that transmit pictures to a network. Homesick former residents can log into the city government website and watch the sun rise over the Quabbin Reservoir or view the holiday lights on Worcester Common behind City Hall. Of course, Worcester isn’t the only city in the country that shows off its views via CCTV. Many cities maintain CCTV systems with similar capabilities.

A Peek Behind the Scenes

Ever want to see what the executives at your favorite company are doing at work? Want to watch workers assemble a car? While many companies use CCTV surveillance camera setups to monitor their workers, a few have put their CCTV systems to use for something a little different: giving the public a peek behind the scenes at their operations. Customers and clients can check in to see the staff at work – or at play – fostering a closer connection and relationship.

CCTV systems are great for security and surveillance monitoring, but they also can be used in more fun ways. These are just a few examples of ways that creative organizations have put CCTV systems to work for purposes other than security.