5 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Using Mobile Surveillance
Crime and emergencies are unpredictable and can happen in the blink of an eye.
Law enforcement officials have to act fast when collecting evidence and taking control of a dangerous situation.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words — but what about real-time footage provided by video surveillance equipment?
Using mobile surveillance gives law enforcement officials the upper hand when solving and preventing crimes and ensuring public safety.
Don’t let unnecessary errors get in the way of capturing valuable footage.
Here are five mistakes to avoid when selecting and using mobile surveillance equipment.
1. Improper Positioning
This is one of the biggest mistakes agencies make when deploying surveillance equipment.
Limited vantage points lead to costly errors. Not only can limited visibility raise questions about the validity of the surveillance video, but it can put team members in harm’s way.
Fixed camera angles and unreliable footage provided by drones create unnecessary dangers.
Mobile surveillance is a valuable criminal investigation tool when conducting undercover operations. If your team is monitoring an undercover agent, they need to have a clear view of the entire surveillance area.
Most cameras are mounted in a single position, which means agents have to pick and choose which angle to record. Murphy’s Law indicates that important activity will no doubt occur outside of your chosen field of vision.
Positioning is key, which is why The RATT’s telescopic mast elevates to between 30 and 50 feet. This gives you the flexibility to see throughout the area and improves situational awareness.
You can also make important decisions in real-time.
Simply attach lights, cameras, or antennas to the mast to accommodate every situation. You can also deploy The RATT on uneven terrain, making it ideal for the unpredictable nature of emergencies.
2. Taking Too Long to Set-Up
Whether you’re dealing with a crime, a fire, or another emergency, time is of the essence. Seconds count when it comes to public safety.
Most mobile surveillance systems take far too long to set-up. They also require teams of trained professionals to deploy properly.
Mobile trailers don’t do well on uneven ground. Teams must perform routine maintenance to guarantee the tires are properly inflated and the trailer is in good working order.
This takes additional time that most agencies don’t have.
While drones offer a unique vantage point from above, they require trained operators. Weather is another factor that limits drones since most don’t work in the rain.
The RATT simplifies this entire process thanks to its ease of use. Rapid deployment allows anyone with a 2×2″ hitch to successfully deploy the telescopic mast in 5 minutes or less.
Anyone from your team can deploy The RATT, letting other trained professionals focus on what they do best.
This means fewer missed opportunities, quick action, and the ability to save more lives.
3. Lack of Flexibility and Control
When seconds matter, you can’t worry about the weather, positioning, battery life, and lighting conditions. Drones need the perfect conditions to work how, when, and where you need them.
While you can navigate a drone in most places, a strong breeze or poor lighting can make visibility nearly impossible.
For mobile trailers to work in less-than-perfect conditions, operators have to deploy lighting and find flat ground.
Choosing mobile video surveillance equipment that needs ideal conditions to work isn’t, well, ideal!
You can’t plan emergencies and emergencies don’t wait. That’s why you need surveillance equipment that gives you the flexibility and control you need when and where you need it.
The RATT allows you to deploy your equipment whenever, wherever, and by whomever in a matter of minutes.
Emergency teams can use The RATT day or night, regardless of terrain or weather conditions. Our equipment is compatible with any vehicle, ATV, or even a golf cart equipped with a 2×2″ hitch.
4. Inability to Live-Stream
Technology is everywhere — and both law enforcement and emergency services are recognizing and utilizing its benefits.
The ability to live-stream footage from your mobile surveillance equipment is an invaluable feature that most equipment doesn’t offer. What good is collecting data, information, and footage if you can’t use it in real-time?
Most mobile surveillance equipment records and stores footage for a specific period of time. While agencies can access this information when needed, they fail to receive it in real-time.
This is true across a variety of organizations from law enforcement and fire to state DOT’s (Department of Transportation). Think of it as having an “eye in the sky”.
While drones offer over-head video surveillance, we already covered their many short-comings.
The easy-to-deploy RATT allows drivers and vehicle operators to control and adjust their equipment from the safety of their vehicles. They can then live-stream the footage to law enforcement and other agencies.
These unique features can help a DOT and law enforcement officials keep roadways clear and safe while delivering emergency medical services to those in need.
5. Choosing Devices that Require Too Much Maintenance
Maintaining your equipment is a necessity. Whether it’s for emergency vehicles, medical equipment, or tech gadgets.
But how much maintenance is too much?
There’s no worse feeling than trying to deploy video surveillance equipment only to discover the drone batteries are dead or your mobile surveillance trailer has a flat tire.
Emergencies require fast action. Take control of any situation, anywhere, by using The RATT, which requires minimal maintenance and training to use.
Law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel have more important things to focus on than servicing generators, trailers, and drones.
The RATT provides fast, bulletproof solutions to keep both emergency personnel and citizens safe.
Using Mobile Surveillance Equipment Made Easy
No more missed opportunities. No more unsafe conditions.
With The RATT telescopic mast, you can safely and quickly deploy cameras, lighting, and other emergency equipment whenever and wherever you need it.
Using mobile surveillance equipment has never been easier. Anyone with a 2×2″ hitch can deploy this device — no special training required!
Say good-bye to low visibility and high-maintenance equipment and say hello to fast, efficient, and reliable mobile surveillance.
Here are some FAQs about The RATT.
When you’re ready to enter the new age of using mobile surveillance, contact us so we can deliver The RATT (and you can deploy it) as soon as possible!