Set start, end, and pre‑event buffers quickly. Choose capture mode, interval, and expected playback speed. Get total recording hours, clips count, and export instantly.
| Scenario | Inputs | Key Outputs |
|---|---|---|
| Incident review window |
Start 08:00, End 12:00, Events 1 Breaks 15 min, Buffers 20s + 20s Capture: Motion, Activity 35% Bitrate 4 Mbps, Overhead 1.15 |
Total coverage: 03:45:40 Recorded content: ~01:18:59 Storage: ~2.22 GB Clips (15 min): 6 |
| Time-lapse progress capture |
Duration 6h, Events 1 Buffers 10s + 10s, Interval 5s Playback 30 fps, Bitrate 6 Mbps Overhead 1.10, Clip 10 min |
Total coverage: 06:00:20 Frames: 4,321 Playback length: 00:02:24 Storage: ~0.12 GB |
On active sites, recorded evidence is useful only when cameras run at the right times. Use start and end times to define the monitoring window for inspections, deliveries, concrete pours, or incident investigations. When events repeat across shifts, increase the event count to model multiple windows. Break time per event subtracts planned downtime such as lunch or equipment relocation. It helps justify staffing and camera placement decisions today.
Pre and post buffers add context that is often missing in short clips. A pre buffer captures approach paths, setup actions, and worker positioning. A post buffer captures the immediate outcome, cleanup, and handover conditions. Buffers apply per event, so small values can add meaningful minutes across many windows. For high‑risk tasks, increase buffers to reduce disputes and improve root‑cause analysis.
Continuous capture treats the full coverage window as recorded content, ideal for critical operations and compliance. Motion‑based estimates reduce recorded time by applying an activity percentage, fitting low‑traffic zones and after‑hours monitoring. Interval capture calculates frames from the capture interval and converts them to playback length using playback fps. This supports progress documentation and client‑ready time‑lapse summaries.
Storage planning depends on bitrate, which varies with resolution, compression, and scene complexity. The calculator multiplies recorded seconds by bitrate, then applies an overhead factor to cover metadata, redundancy, and operational variance. Use a higher overhead when you keep dual copies, transmit to cloud storage, or encrypt archives. Align gigabytes with retention rules to size SD cards, NVR drives, and upload budgets.
Clip length and clip count help structure review workflows. Short clips speed navigation during audits, but create more files to manage. Long clips simplify file handling, but slow searching when an incident occurs late. Set clip length to match supervisor review habits, then use the clip count to forecast indexing and handoff time. Consistency improves traceability across subcontractors and project phases.
Total coverage is the full scheduled window including buffers. Recorded content is the estimated footage length after applying capture mode rules, such as motion activity percentage or interval playback conversion.
Start with observed traffic patterns for the area and time. For quiet zones, 10–25% is common. For busy access points or active trades, 40–70% is more realistic.
Use 2–10 seconds for fast-moving tasks like lifts and pours. Use 15–60 seconds for slow progress like masonry or framing. Shorter intervals create smoother playback but increase frames and handling.
Real storage includes more than raw video. Overhead accounts for file containers, metadata, redundancy, encryption, and operational variance. Increase it when you keep dual copies or upload to cloud storage.
Use the camera or recorder’s actual configured bitrate, not the maximum marketing value. If unknown, check the NVR settings or sample file properties. Higher resolution and motion typically increase bitrate.
Ten to fifteen minutes is a practical default for navigation and file counts. Use shorter clips for high-risk operations needing quick review. Use longer clips when storage indexing and file management are limited.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.