GPRS / GSM Remote Site Mobile Wireless Internet Snapshot Camera & Webcam   -   Observer IV
Colorado Video’s Observer IV Remote, Mobile GPRS, GSM, Wireless, Internet, Snapshot camera enables you to get pictures from remote sites or locations, such as construction or oil & gas sites with maximum ease. Its simple installation makes it ideal for monitoring temporary or distant sites or mobile assets. The Observer IV is well suited for monitoring current pictures from mobile assets such as ferryboats, dredges, busses, railcars, and trucks, and/or for monitoring work progress. The Observer IV can keep web pages fresh by providing continuously updated JPG images to your server for your web surfing audience to view.

Compare Observer-IV and Lookout-V.
GPRS GSM Remote Mobile Wireless Internet Snapshot Camera
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Applications

Remote Site Monitoring & Surveillance

Monitoring remote or mobile sites or locations can seem like an insurmountable task. Areas without Internet connectivity, telephone or electric service have previously been considered inaccessible with traditional monitoring techniques. With the widespread deployment of cellular phone networks with Internet connectivity, viewing these areas is now possible. The GSM cellular network has recently become established in the United States. Along with the familiar voice service, this network also incorporates a data path directly to the Internet. This pathway, called General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), provides access to the Internet from anywhere within the broad cellular coverage area.

Coupling a battery-operated design with GPRS connectivity in a weatherproof case, the Observer IV Remote, Mobile, GPRS, GSM, Wireless, Internet, Snapshot camera from Colorado Video is an ideal solution for many monitoring and security situations. Once configured and installed, the camera can place snapshot images of remote locations on a desktop computer. The camera can be easily interfaced to door and gate switches as well as motion detectors, and can transmit images on a scheduled and event-driven basis. These images are accessible both as an email attachment and via automatic downloading from an FTP server. Images can be permanently archived on the server or the user's computer. Real time notification of camera activation can occur either through a custom desktop application or via personal email.

No external power, no phone lines, no computer, and no wired Internet access, is required. With the appropriate cellular service and an Observer IV camera, you can receive snapshot images along with real-time notification from remote areas. This camera provides an ideal solution for remote site monitoring, event promotion, and unique security problems. The best way to understand the capabilities of the Observer IV Remote Site Camera is to consider a few of the many potential applications.

Power Substation Surveillance
Copper theft prevention is more important than ever for power substation operators. Property loss and loss of life can both be prevented with relatively inexpensive automated surveillance. More GPRS GSM Remote Substation Monitoring Wireless Internet Camera

Wildlife Surveillance
Wildlife personnel or land managers often wish to monitor remote locations. The Observer IV provides an ideal solution for this situation. The camera can be configured to turn on during daylight hours, take a pictures and send them with an email or by FTP anywhere on the Internet. Once installed, the Observer IV can deliver images unattended for up to a year on a single set of batteries. The picture at right is from a remote site, home to Burrowing Owls, and was updated every 1/4 hour between 4AM and 9:45PM during the summer of 2005. GPRS GSM Remote Wildlife Monitoring Wireless Internet Camera

Geology and Forestry
Geologists, Forest Service personnel or land managers often wish to monitor natural hazards at remote locations. Areas of interest at such sites may include stream levels and associated flooding, landslides, or snow pack at mountain passes. The Observer IV provides an ideal solution for this situation. The camera can be configured to turn on daily, take a picture and send it with an email anywhere on the Internet. Once installed, the Observer IV can deliver daily images unattended for up to a year on a single set of batteries. GPRS GSM Remote Geology & Forestry Wireless Internet Camera

Special Events and Resorts
The Observer IV camera can be used for the promotion of special events. The lack of required cabling and quick setup makes it an attractive solution for both indoor and outdoor activities. A corporate awards ceremony held at a mountain resort provides a perfect example. The Observer IV can be setup to periodically capture images of the event and place them on the corporate web server. Web pages that link to these pictures are easily constructed. Employees, relatives, or anyone not in attendance, will still be able to view images of the proceedings. If AC power is available, the camera can be configured in continuous mode and the pictures will be updated every few minutes all day long, otherwise a single set of batteries can provide hundreds of images over the course of the day. Multiple cameras will provide complete coverage of the event. All that is required for the easy promotion of special events is appropriate cellular coverage and the Observer IV camera. GPRS GSM Remote Special Events & Resorts Wireless Internet Camera

Oil & Gas Production
Oil and gas drilling in remote locations provides a unique set of security problems. In addition to the landowner, multiple persons have access to the area. Employees of the drilling company and its subcontractors may come and go on a daily basis without any accounting of their activities. Theft or vandalism may not be a primary concern, however a visual record of persons and vehicles entering and leaving the gated property is desirable. When properly configured, a switch on the gate will trigger the Observer IV to turn on, take a picture of the area, and turn off. The picture is immediately transmitted to an FTP server. The image can remain on the server or be downloaded via a utility for viewing or archiving on a desktop computer. Additionally, configuring the camera for a scheduled email with image attachment can provide assurance that the gate has been left closed at the end of the day. Using the internal battery pack, hundreds of accesses to the property can be recorded. Using an external solar panel and battery combination the unit will work indefinitely without service. The availability of interchangeable lenses from wide-angle to telephoto, insure that the camera can be located in an appropriate location yet still provide an acceptable view. GPRS GSM Remote Oil & Gas Site Monitoring Wireless Internet Camera

Temporary Surveillance
The freedom from required cabling and ease of installation makes the Observer IV a convenient tool in the security consultant's repertoire even for non-remote applications. For the situation where the permanent installation of a wired CCTV system is not appropriate, the Observer IV can provide a quick and easy solution. A retail store experiencing periodic after-hours theft provides such an example. An employee is suspected of returning at night, and either entering the store to steal, or retrieving merchandise hidden behind the store during the day. This situation can be difficult and expensive to deal with using conventional security monitoring. An Observer IV can be temporarily installed along with a door switch or motion detector to cover the area of interest. The camera can generate a signal to control external lighting if nighttime images are required. Once triggered, the image is sent to an FTP server and can be immediately downloaded via a custom desktop application. If the computer is being monitored, the user is notified of the event. Configuring the Observer IV to generate a pager alert via an email message is another method that will provide instant notification that the event has occurred. Not only will there be a visual record of the incident, but due to real time notification, an appropriate response by security personnel can be undertaken. Once the situation is resolved the Observer IV is easily removed for service elsewhere GPRS GSM Remote Monitoring Wireless Internet Camera

Construction Site Monitoring Camera
Observer IV offers a sensible means to visually monitor construction sites with a wireless camera on a continuous basis. Simply mount the camera in a location suitable for acquiring the pictures you require.

Keep a watch over work progress, valuable construction equipment and workers compliance with federal and state government regulations.

Observer is easily moved as construction progresses and your visual monitoring needs change. Observer can easily move with you as you complete jobs and start new ones.
GSM GPRS Remote Construction Site Monitoring Wireless Internet Camera

Ferryboats, Dredges and other Marine Craft
Observer IV is ideal for installation on boats because it uses wireless service that covers an extended region, as much as 40 miles out to sea! Simply position Observer in a location suitable for acquiring the pictures you require from your vessel. Observer can help you monitor dredging progress.

Law Enforcement
Observer can help you watch for graffiti, vandalism, marijuana cultivation, and trespassing incidents. Law Enforcement organizations use Observer to "stakeout" remote sites.

Aviation - Airport Monitoring & Surveillance
Aircraft are valuable assets, frequently left unattended at General Aviation airports. Observer-IV can help you keep an eye on your airplane. Observer can also supply pilots making a difficult go/no-go decision with a helpful picture of the current weather conditions at a distant airport.

Pipeline Monitoring & Surveillance
Frequently, pipelines are located where wiring for conventional video cameras isn't practical. Observer can let you view a pipeline where you otherwise might not be able to.

Gain Peace of Mind
View remote assets such as vacation homes, aircraft, oil wells, utility infrastructure, or parking facilities with Observer IV. An external event, such as motion, can trigger Observer IV to snap and send pictures to your server or it can send snapshots on a scheduled basis.



Viewing Pictures using Your Computer
There are many ways to view pictures after Observer IV has automatically uplaoded them to an FTP server. Included with Observer IV is FTP client software that automatically checks the FTP server for new pictures from up to four cameras simultaneously at user selected time intervals. You may download Colorado Video's FTPJPGReader software now and try it by following these instructions.

A browser, like the one your using now, may also be used to view pictures. For instance, just type "ftp://www.colorado-video.com/incoming/" into your browser's address bar to see a list of files on Colorado Video's FTP server. Click on a ".jpg" to view it. If you're using the Opera browser, you can set it to automatically update the picture periodically. Simply click "Navigation" then "Reload Every" and then select your desired update time interval. Opera has a great feature here because it can be used to update any web page automatically at any time interval you desire.


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