Quick answer: For a small contractor or a single construction site, remote video monitoring means an operator watches the site cameras you already have live after hours and alerts you when someone enters, goes near the material yard or tool storage, or a vehicle arrives at the gate. During the day it can also confirm when the site opened and which crew members were present. Digital EYE monitors existing cameras — it does not supply camera towers or trailers. The standard plan is $600/month for 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, up to 4 cameras; bigger sites are quoted.
What is different about construction sites
Our construction site video monitoring guide covers the basics. In short:
- The site changes every week, so camera views that worked last month may now face a wall.
- Valuable, easy-to-sell materials: copper wire, tools, appliances waiting for install, fuel.
- Open perimeters with temporary fencing.
- Long quiet periods at night, weekends and holiday shutdowns.
- Internet and power may be temporary, which affects whether cameras can be viewed remotely at all.
What our operators watch
| Area | What the operator looks for |
|---|---|
| Gates and fence lines | People or vehicles entering after hours, gates left open |
| Material yard | Anyone loading materials, vehicles parked next to stock |
| Tool storage / conex | Doors opened, locks tampered with |
| Building under construction | Movement inside after hours |
| Morning arrival | Site opened on time, deliveries received by crew |
| Crew attendance (optional) | Who arrived and left, matched against the schedule |
When activity matches your escalation rules, we alert your contacts with time, camera and what we saw. You decide whether to call the police or send someone. Digital EYE provides monitoring and alerts, not on-site guards or patrols.
Camera and connectivity checklist
Before monitoring starts, check:
- The recorder can be viewed remotely over a stable connection (cellular or site internet).
- Each camera works at night — test with a screenshot after dark.
- Gates, the material yard and tool storage are covered, not just the building.
- Someone owns re-aiming cameras as the site changes.
- Signs stating the site is under video monitoring.
If your site has no remote-viewable cameras yet, you will need an installer or a camera-trailer provider first; we can then monitor the feed if their system allows view-only access.
Guard, monitoring or both?
Many sites combine both: monitoring for most nights, a patrol or guard for the highest-risk periods. Our guides on virtual guard vs security guard and remote video monitoring vs security guard cost compare the options honestly.
Crew attendance and reports
Digital EYE's workforce software can verify crew arrival and departure on camera, schedule crews across sites, turn verified hours into payroll and keep incident reports with clips. Free for 6 months, then $50/month.
Choosing hours
Common choices on the 8-hour plan: evening to early morning on weeknights, or overnight hours that cover the quietest period. Weekend and holiday coverage, more cameras or 24-hour watch are quoted. See pricing.
Sample escalation rules
Every client agrees escalation rules in writing before monitoring starts. A typical starting set:
| Event | Who is alerted | How |
|---|---|---|
| Person or vehicle inside the gate after hours | Site supervisor, then owner | Call immediately |
| Gate found open after hours | Site supervisor | Call |
| Activity at tool storage or material yard | Site supervisor and owner | Call |
| Camera offline | Site supervisor | Message |
| Site not opened on a work day | Project manager | Message |
You can change who is alerted, and in what order, at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Do you provide cameras or solar towers?
No. We monitor existing cameras that can be viewed remotely. If you need towers or new cameras, use an installer or rental provider first.
Can monitoring cover weekends and holidays?
Yes. Your 8 hours a day apply 7 days a week, so weekends are included in the standard plan. Extra hours during shutdowns can be quoted.
What if the site's internet goes down?
We can't watch a camera we can't reach. We tell you when a feed drops so you can fix it.
Can you check which crew members were on site?
Yes, if a camera covers the entry point and your crews clock in with Digital EYE's software.