Camera Mount Height Calculator

Why mount height matters on construction sites

Mount height drives what the camera sees and how usable footage is. On active builds, low mounts get blocked by plant, stacked materials, and temporary fencing. Very high mounts reduce facial detail and increase cable runs. Many perimeter installs sit around 2.7–4.5 m, depending on reach, lighting, and tamper risk. Use the calculator to test heights against your near and far ground points.

Balancing near and far ground coverage

Near and far distances define the ground band you must cover, such as a gate threshold to a driveway bend. With downward tilt, the upper view ray lands farther away and the lower ray lands closer. If the far edge is missed, raise height or reduce tilt. If the near edge is missed, raise height, increase tilt, or widen vertical angle. Checking both edges prevents blind spots at wall lines and approach paths.

Selecting tilt and lens angles for safety zones

Tilt and lens angles must be selected together. A narrower vertical angle concentrates pixels and improves recognition, but shortens coverage. Wider angles expand coverage but reduce detail. If you use a pixels‑per‑meter requirement, the calculator estimates the maximum distance that meets it. For the same sensor, pixels per meter drop roughly in proportion to distance. Use the horizontal angle to confirm width across a gate at key distances.

Clearance, vandal resistance, and maintenance access

Minimum clearance is a field constraint. Higher mounts reduce vandal reach and impacts from ladders, forklifts, and swinging loads. But mounts that are too high may require lifts for servicing, raising maintenance cost and downtime. Choose clearance to match access control and public exposure. Also enter mounting surface height above grade, such as a parapet, so computed height reflects the ground reference.

Documenting assumptions for permits and commissioning

Capture inputs and results for review and commissioning. Note near and far points, lens angles, tilt, and assumptions about grade, bracket offset, or future landscaping. CSV export supports comparing multiple poles, façades, and interior bays. PDF export suits submittals, method statements, and handover packs. A consistent method aligns installer placement with security intent and reduces rework during final testing. Confirm day and night lighting.

FAQs

1) What is a common mount height for site entrances?

Many projects start around 3–4 m to reduce tampering while keeping usable detail. Validate against your near and far distances, tilt, and lens angles, then adjust for lighting, ladder access, and local code requirements.

2) What should I change if the near edge is not covered?

Increase tilt downward, increase vertical lens angle, or raise the mount height. Recheck that the far edge still lands within view and that clearance and access constraints remain acceptable.

3) What should I change if the far edge is not covered?

Raise the mount height or reduce downward tilt so the top ray reaches farther. You can also narrow the vertical angle to push the top ray outward, but confirm you still capture the near zone.

4) Why enter minimum clearance?

It sets a practical lower bound for height to reduce vandal reach and accidental impacts. The recommended height is never lower than this value, even if geometry alone suggests a smaller height.

5) Should I include parapets, beams, or plinths in the height?

Yes. Use mounting surface height above grade to reflect the true camera elevation. This avoids underestimating coverage when the camera is fixed to raised structure elements.

6) How do pixels per meter help my design?

Pixels per meter links coverage to detail. Enter sensor width pixels and a minimum target to estimate the maximum distance that still meets the detail requirement. Use it to balance wide coverage with recognition needs.