A temporary camera setup that moves with the job, plate reading at the access point, and alerts to your phone after hours. On a site that changes every few weeks, that beats a fixed system bolted to a building that isn't finished yet.
What makes a job site different from a shop?
Picture a commercial build on the edge of Steinbach. There is a gravel access road, a construction fence, a site trailer, a light tower, and equipment parked wherever the last shift left it. Next month the walls are up and the layout has changed.
A permanent system assumes a building with walls, power and internet. A job site often has none of those at the start. That shapes every choice below.
Where should the cameras go on a job site?
- The access point. Most sites have one or two ways in for a truck. A camera set up to read licence plates goes here, plus a wider view of the gate.
- The equipment parking area. Ask the crew to park machines in one spot at the end of the day, inside the camera's view. That one habit does more than adding cameras.
- The material laydown. Copper, tools and stacked material are what walk away.
- The site trailer door. Keys, laptops and tools are often stored inside.
Skip trying to cover the whole fence line. A camera on every corner of a large site gets expensive fast, and most people and vehicles still come in through the same gaps.
How do you power and connect cameras with no building?
This is the hardest part, and it is worth asking about before you sign anything.
- Power. Cameras need steady power. A temporary power pole works well. A generator that shuts off at night does not. Solar with a battery can work, but short winter days and deep cold limit it.
- Internet. Most sites have no wired internet. A cellular connection carries alerts and live view, and how well depends on the signal at that spot.
- Recording. A recorder in an empty trailer can be stolen with everything else. Recording to the cloud keeps the footage safe off site, but it has a monthly fee and depends on the cellular connection.
What happens when the job moves?
A temporary setup is built to come down. The cameras mount on poles or the fence, not on the new building. When the phase or the job ends, the gear moves to the next site.
There is a trade-off. Each move takes a visit to take it down, set it up and re-aim each camera. Plan for it in the job budget.
Is an equipment yard the same problem?
No. A contractor's home yard, say on the edge of town, doesn't move. It has power, a building and usually internet, so it is closer to a shop with a yard. It gets a fixed system: cameras on the gate, the equipment rows and the shop doors.
Many contractors end up with both. A fixed system at the yard, and a temporary one that follows the current job.
How do alerts help after hours?
The cameras know a truck or a person from a stray dog. After the crew leaves, a vehicle at the gate or a person near the equipment sends an alert to your phone, or to more than one person in order. That gives you a chance to act while it is happening.
What does it cost?
A fixed equipment yard is a bigger job than a small office. A temporary site setup depends on power, connection and how often it moves, so it is quoted after the site walk. See all starting prices and what moves them.