Setting up a VSS system in Singapore on a live construction site comes with its own set of network problems [1]. Your video surveillance’s reliability depends entirely on a strong network backbone because of changing power, harsh environments, and changing layouts [2]. This guide goes over the most important infrastructure choices, like planning bandwidth and designing the uplink, for a system that won’t fail when you need it most.
Core Principle: Don’t just plan for connectivity; plan for resilience.
A network on a construction site is not the same as an office network. Your design must put autonomy, redundancy, and environmental hardening at the top of the list [2]. The goal is to make sure that recording and monitoring are always going on, no matter what happens outside.
Step 1: Bandwidth and uplink strategy—the base
Everything depends on which primary internet uplink you choose. Here is a comparison of the three main choices for Singapore sites:
Option A: A Dedicated Fibre Leased Line
- Best For: Sites that are big, last a long time (18 months or more), and have a lot of cameras (30+) that need to be monitored in real time 24/7 [3].
- Pros: Guaranteed symmetrical bandwidth (e.g., 500Mbps up/down), low latency, and the highest level of reliability. Necessary for cloud-managed AI monitoring systems that send analytics all the time [4].
- Cons: It’s expensive, it takes a long time to install (weeks), and it won’t work if the layout of the site changes.
- Vendor Tip: Get in touch with VSS vendors in Singapore early to make sure that the fibre termination point (FTP) is in the right place for your site offices [1].
Option B: LTE/5G Cellular Primary Link
- Best For: Short- to medium-term sites, projects that need to be set up quickly, or places without fixed-line infrastructure [5].
- Pros: Can be set up quickly (within days) and is inherently mobile if site cabins are moved.
- Cons: Bandwidth and latency can vary depending on tower congestion.
- Important: You need to set up cellular data budgeting [5].
Formula for budgeting data:
*Monthly data in GB = (Number of Cameras) x (Stream Bitrate in Mbps) x (Seconds in a Month) / 8*
For example, 20 cameras at 2Mbps would use about 12,900GB of data per month for streaming all the time. Not possible to handle.
Solution: To keep costs down, use edge recording (store footage on-site NVR) and only stream sub-streams or clips that are triggered to the cloud [5].
Option C: The Hybrid Approach (Recommended)
This is the most common and durable model for professional VSS systems [3].
- Design: A primary fiber line does the heavy lifting of cloud AI processing and real-time remote access. A failover SIM in an LTE/5G router automatically backs up the main line if it goes down.
- Uplink Design: Set up your business router to automatically switch over if it fails. The system switches to cellular without any problems during an outage, keeping an eye on things until the main line is back up.
Step 2: On-Site Network Architecture—Building the Nervous System
The network inside your site fence is just as important as the uplink [2].
Edge Recording & Processing: Don’t only use cloud recording. Put a tough, industrial-grade Network Video Recorder (NVR) in a safe, temperature-controlled site office. This takes care of all the main 24/7 recording, which cuts down on WAN bandwidth needs by a lot [5].
Choosing a PoE Switch: This is the main power and data source for your system.
- Pick Industrial-Grade Switches: They can handle a wider range of temperatures (-40°C to 75°C), vibration, and dust [2].
- Over-Provision Ports: For a system with 10 cameras, use a switch with 16 ports. Make sure there is space for radios, access points, and other IoT devices.
- Put Managed Switches First: They let you set up VLANs (to separate VSS traffic from guest WiFi), Quality of Service (QoS to prioritize video packets), and troubleshoot problems from afar [6].
Secure Connectivity (VPN): A secure, encrypted VPN tunnel should be used for all remote access to your on-site NVR. This stops people who shouldn’t be able to get in from doing so, and it’s a best practice that many corporate IT security policies require [6].
Step 3: Things to think about when using AI and advanced systems
If you want to use an AI monitoring system in Singapore for safety analytics (like detecting PPE and zone intrusions), your network needs more [4]:
- Edge AI vs. Cloud AI: Edge AI appliances process video on-site and only send alerts and metadata over the network (which uses little bandwidth). Cloud AI sends full video to a data center over a high-bandwidth connection that needs fiber [4]. Your choice here will have a direct effect on your uplink plan and budget.
- Bandwidth for Real-Time Analytics: Make sure your local network (from the camera to the NVR/AI server) has enough room. A 4K camera that sends video to an AI server for live analysis can use 8 to 10 Mbps [4].
Implementation Checklist for IT Managers
- Have your VSS vendor do a site survey before you move [1].
- Choose the main uplink (Fibre/LTE/Hybrid) based on how long the project will last and how many cameras there are [3].
- If you use LTE or 5G, figure out how much cellular data you can afford and choose business-grade SIM plans [5].
- Choose industrial, managed PoE switches with 30–50% spare ports [2].
- Require a secure VPN for all access to remote systems [6].
- Find a safe, locked, and ventilated cabin for the network rack/NVR [5].
- Write down the whole network topology, including IP schemes and failover plans.
A strong network is the hidden base of a successful VSS system in Singapore. By putting money into durable design from the start and focusing on hybrid uplinks, edge intelligence, and industrial hardware, you make sure that your surveillance system is a reliable tool for safety, security, and project management, not something that keeps breaking down [1], [2].
References
[1] Shunamite Pte Ltd. (2023). Consultation Framework: Site Survey and Security Planning
[2] International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). (2021). IEC 60529: Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures (IP Code)
[3] National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2020). Guidelines for Managing and Securing Networked Devices
[4] Shunamite Pte Ltd. (2023). AI-Powered Video Analytics for Construction Site Safety
[5] Shunamite Pte Ltd. (2023). Technical Specifications: Network Architecture for On-Site VSS
[6] Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore (CSA). (2023). Cybersecurity Best Practices for Critical Information Infrastructure
