$1,100–1,700
Unit Cost
Camera + 4G router + install
25x
Optical Zoom
Covers entire site from one point
Live + TL
Dual Mode
Timelapse snapshots + live stream
4MP
Resolution
Hikvision DS-2DE4425IW-DE
Capture Pipeline
PTZ Camera
Hikvision 4MP, 25x zoom, ONVIF/RTSP
RTSP Snapshot
Every 5 min timelapse + live stream on demand
4G Router
Teltonika RUT241 cellular uplink
Worker
Cloudflare Worker → B2 + live viewer
Display
Camera Wall (timelapse) + live web viewer
Hardware
Camera
- Model: Hikvision DS-2DE4425IW-DE
- Resolution: 4MP (2560×1440)
- Zoom: 25x optical zoom
- PTZ: 360° pan, 90° tilt, 16 presets
- Price: $600–900
- IR: 100m night vision
Connectivity
- Router: Teltonika RUT241 (4G LTE Cat 4)
- Price: $250–400
- VPN: Built-in OpenVPN / WireGuard for remote PTZ
- Bandwidth: ~2Mbps for live view, snapshots minimal
- Port forward: RTSP + ISAPI via VPN tunnel
Power
- Camera: PoE (802.3at, max 30W during movement)
- Router: 9–30V DC input (12W typical)
- Option A: Mains power (preferred)
- Option B: 100W solar + 200Wh LiFePO4 battery
- Daily use: ~40–50Wh (camera + router)
PTZ Control
- Protocol: ONVIF PTZ + Hikvision ISAPI
- Web UI: Remote pan, tilt, zoom via browser
- Presets: 16 saved positions (corners, gates, cranes)
- Tours: Automated patrol between preset positions
- Home: Returns to default timelapse position
Software Stack
Camera-Side
- Timelapse: RTSP snapshot every 5 min via cron on router or Pi
- Live stream: RTSP main stream (H.264, 4MP) on demand
- PTZ control: ISAPI HTTP commands via VPN tunnel
- Presets: Stored on camera, recalled via ISAPI
- Upload: curl POST snapshots to Cloudflare Worker
Server-Side
- Upload Worker: Cloudflare Worker (TypeScript)
- Storage: Backblaze B2 (timelapse images)
- Live viewer: Web-based RTSP relay (WebRTC or HLS)
- PTZ proxy: PHP API proxying ISAPI commands to camera
- Monitoring: PHP cron — heartbeat checks, alerts
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Live client access — huge perceived value for stakeholders
- 25x zoom covers entire site from a single mounting point
- Timelapse + live inspection in one device
- Preset positions for consistent timelapse framing
- IR night vision for 24/7 site security overlap
Weaknesses
- Moving parts fail in harsh construction site conditions
- Power hungry — needs mains or serious solar (100W+)
- Expensive — $1,100–1,700 per unit fully deployed
- Hikvision geopolitical risk (Chinese surveillance company)
- 4G bandwidth required for live streaming
Comparison vs Production DSLR
| Attribute | PTZ Live View | Production DSLR |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Cost | $1,100–1,700 | $600–800 |
| Image Quality | 4MP (2560×1440) | 18MP (Canon DSLR) |
| Live View | Yes (RTSP + WebRTC) | No (snapshots only) |
| Zoom | 25x optical zoom | Fixed lens |
| Reliability | Moving parts risk in harsh conditions | DSLR shutter wear only |
| Power Draw | ~40–50Wh/day | ~12Wh/day |
| Upload Pipeline | Same (Cloudflare Worker → B2) | Same (Cloudflare Worker → B2) |