Product Discovery and implementation of web-based CCTV solution for transport connectivity

Security system CCTV is critical for camera operators to control the recording, storage, and management of security, surveillance, or other video footage. Traditional systems have historically relied on a centralized network video recorder (and NVR software) or digital video recorder (and DVR software) to capture footage initially. But some modern systems feature cameras with internal recording capability that allows video to be routed directly into a centralized command center or dashboard managed with the CCTV.

Our client wanted to get an edge over their competitors that mostly use desktop or hybrid solutions. They needed to define the feasibility, budget, and timelines of developing a web-based CCTV for existing infrastructure.

We started our cooperation with Product Discovery to design the architecture, describe functional and non-functional requirements, understand constraints, and prepare the infrastructure of the solution. The following N-iX experts were involved in Product Discovery:

• Solution Architect;
• Embedded Engineer;
• DevOps Engineer;
• Project Manager;
• Business Analyst;
• UX Designer.

We conducted Product Discovery and the PoC phase simultaneously. The goal of Product Discovery was to refine product requirements and allow our development team to start the implementation phase, which included:

• Creating the backlog;
• Developing the architecture;
• Defining technical concepts;
• Designing the UI/UX vision.

The client prepared the basic feature prioritization and needed expert review. We arranged several rounds of customer interviews and prepared new prioritization of requirements. The next step was to translate the requirements into user stories and make prioritization by phases. Next, we created a backlog and a roadmap.

N-iX team has developed the cloud-agnostic transport CCTV solution with a web interface using the microservices-based architecture that we designed during Product Discovery. The solution’s key features include:

• Ability to stop and start video and audio feeds manually to give operators control of the video and audio that they are monitoring;
• Configuring a video wall of up to 20 videos;
• Opening specific video streams in another tab;
• Selecting and downloading parts of a video;
• Acquiring information about the transport’s location.

N-iX team has determined what the video delay should be and identified the transport protocols for communication between the central server and the transport. We have analyzed the use of hardware resources in the transport so the CCTV could function properly.

Additionally, we have created the solution’s UI/UX design using the client’s framework with UI components and considering the pain points and needs of the client’s customers. Our UX designer and business analyst worked together on the complex business logic of the solution. In order to prioritize all the necessary features, define the core functionality and the digital strategy for the product, we arranged stakeholder interviews. Finally, we have been maintaining and improving the solution to ensure its stable performance.