Prepare my site brief: worksheet and printable PDF
01
Write the intended result before the camera count.
Start a project document with the premises, owner, survey date and people approving the selection. Describe the problem in one sentence: understand movement, check a passage or retrieve an authorised sequence. “Put video everywhere” is not a testable acceptance criterion.
Use three columns: essential, optional and unknown. An unknown becomes a question to resolve, not an invented specification. For refurbishment, also record what must remain operational and information the installation owner needs to provide.
02
Build a record for each zone.
This table is a survey template, not a standard installation. Use stable identifiers such as ENT-01 and RSV-01 to link plans, photos and equipment lists.
Scroll the table horizontally to compare all three columns.
| Field | What to record | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Image purpose | Required result and who will validate it. | Confusing visible presence with usable detail. |
| Geometry | Estimated distance, area width, height and obstacles; mark unconfirmed measurements. | Treating a photo estimate as a measured survey. |
| Light and environment | Critical periods, existing light, reflections, rain or dust as relevant. | Checking only an indoor daytime image. |
| Connection and mounting | Route, known cable type, power point, mounting and maintenance access. | Omitting accessories or assuming PoE without checking. |
| Operation | Authorised people, intended search and handover documents. | Sharing one administrator login with every user. |
03
Separate optical, network and operational decisions.
Camera and lens
Record the full reference, including focal length and suffix where relevant. Motorised zoom does not mean the camera can pan remotely. Request actual required functions rather than inferring them from appearance.
Recording
Compare signal types, streams and required functions with recorder inputs. For an ONVIF combination, verify the registered model, version and profile, then the required behaviour of the assembled system.
Available power
List each powered device. Record its documented maximum demand, then compare per-port power and the switch’s total budget. Keep the source datasheet reference and devices planned for future expansion.
Viewing and permissions
Describe who views, searches, exports or administers. Specify workstations and remote-access needs without requesting automatic network port exposure. Actual design determines the access method and safeguards.
04
Understand a storage calculation without treating it as a guarantee.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
Arithmetic example only: four cameras, each at a constant 4 Mbit/s, recorded 24 hours/day for 7 days. These figures recommend neither quality, bitrate nor a lawful retention period.
From bitrate to volume
Raw video bytes = cameras × Mbit/s × 1,000,000 ÷ 8 × hours/day × 3,600 × days. This example gives 1,209,600,000,000 bytes, or 1.2096 decimal TB.
What the calculation excludes
It adds no audio, metadata, system reserve or redundancy. A drive’s nominal capacity is not the same as usable space after configuration.
Replace assumptions with measurement
Bitrate can vary with scene and settings. Keep the initial calculation, then measure representative operation. For cameras with different bitrates, calculate each group separately and add volumes.
Any technical reserve must be stated by the designer; no universal percentage is applied. Purpose and applicable requirements separately determine permitted retention.
05
Turn the survey into a versioned equipment list.
Tie each row to a use
Exact reference, quantity, zone and role. Separate selected product, alternative and unconfirmed accessory. A “4 MP camera” row cannot validate lens, power and recorder.
Document uncertainty
Link each question to its reference and source document. When a fact is missing, record “to confirm” and its impact on selection. A catalogue title is not manufacturer evidence.
Keep revisions
Date the list, mark changes and attach the correct plan. In the workspace, distinguish a saved draft from an actually submitted request. A CSV or PDF export is not a submission.
06
Define acceptance checks before installation.
Image and search
Check each view under agreed conditions, then search for and export an authorised sequence. Record date, settings and result; a live view does not prove recording availability.
Access and configuration
Check roles and permissions with suitable accounts. Hand over inventory, diagram, software version, configuration backup where available and a secure recovery method.
Outstanding issues and follow-up
Record what passed, what remains to test and who owns it. Handover documentation must not conceal missing functionality. Support and warranty terms are those confirmed for the case.
07
Common issues that hold up a brief.
Is seven days appropriate for my site?
That figure is only for the arithmetic example. Define purpose and applicable requirements separately with competent people. In Morocco, CNDP publishes information specific to video surveillance.
Can I use a similar model’s documents?
Only to identify questions, not to populate the selected product’s specifications. Suffix, lens, region or revision can change the details. Request the document matching the full reference.
Does every function need Internet?
List local viewing, remote viewing and external services separately. Clarify behaviour when a link is unavailable. Do not infer offline operation from a product name alone.
When is my enquiry actually recorded?
Selection and project creation are preparation. After submission, check the confirmation and durable reference shown by the quotation workflow. If an error occurs, retain your content; a button click is not receipt evidence.
Does this guide replace an installer or a design?
No. It makes requirements precise and assumptions visible. Design, installation safety, protection, compliance and testing remain responsibilities to define with the professionals handling the actual project.
Technical sources
External reading references. These documents explain principles; they do not certify catalogue products or their combination.
- Typical and maximum power consumption in Axis camerasAxis Communications · Sources consulted on
- Bitrate control for IP videoAxis Communications · Sources consulted on
- Conformant ProductsONVIF · Sources consulted on
- VidéosurveillanceCNDP — Maroc · Sources consulted on