Which construction camera fits depends on how long the project runs and how much work you want to do yourself. A standard webcam suits a short look at a small site with power and Wi-Fi. A DIY time-lapse camera suits one fixed view. A rented camera suits a single project. A managed system suits every site that needs documentation, a reliable archive and service.
This article compares the four categories, not brands, and names no prices: every setup is sized to its site.
What are the four options?
The four options differ in who installs the camera, where the images end up and who acts when something breaks:
- Standard webcam. A consumer or security webcam from a shop, connected to site power and the site Wi-Fi. Built for a house entrance, not for a building site.
- DIY time-lapse camera. A battery or solar time-lapse camera bought off the shelf. It takes pictures at a set interval and stores them on a memory card that someone collects and processes.
- Rented construction camera. A camera from a rental fleet for the length of one project, usually with mobile data and a simple online portal; mounting and alignment are often your job.
- Managed system. Camera, commissioning, platform and service from one partner. The hardware is rented or bought; the platform runs as a subscription per camera and month. This is how Arclap works.
How do the options compare?
The table compares the four categories on the points that decide in practice; the cells describe typical setups, not individual products.
| Standard webcam | DIY time-lapse camera | Rented camera | Managed system | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power & connectivity | Site power and Wi-Fi or a router required | Battery or small solar panel, often no connection | Mostly mobile data; power depends on the model | Site power or solar kit, 4G/5G built in |
| Image quality | Video resolution, built for short distances | Good on one fixed view, varies by model | Depends on the rental fleet | Capture Kits from 12 to 60 MP, chosen per view |
| Archive & time-lapse | Short ring memory, time-lapse by hand | Images on a memory card, time-lapse by hand | Portal archive for the rental term | Dated archive and automatic time-lapse on the platform |
| Data protection & hosting | Manufacturer cloud, often outside Switzerland | Local card, no access control | Depends on the provider's portal | Hosted in Switzerland, nDSG-compliant |
| Installation effort | Your own: mounting and network | Your own: alignment and battery changes | Delivered; mounting often your own | Mounted by your crew, commissioned remotely |
| Service if something breaks | You replace it yourself | A gap in the series until someone notices | Swap via the rental company | Monitored; the same partner replaces it quickly |
| Best for | Short, small sites with power and Wi-Fi | One fixed view with someone on hand | One project with a clear end | Documentation, time-lapse films, several sites |
When does a webcam or DIY camera make sense?
A webcam or a DIY time-lapse camera makes sense when the project is short, the view is simple and someone on site looks after the device. The limits show on real sites:
- Power and network. A greenfield site has neither at the start, and a webcam stops when the site Wi-Fi does.
- Gaps found late. A full memory card or an empty battery is noticed when the images are collected – the missing weeks do not come back.
- Manual work. Sorting images and assembling a time-lapse film is left to you.
More on the difference in construction camera or webcam.
When does renting make sense?
Renting makes sense when the camera is needed for one project with a clear end and the cost should sit in the project, not in fixed assets. Before you rent a site camera, check three things:
- Who mounts it. A camera delivered in a box still has to be mounted, aligned and connected.
- Where the images are stored. The portal and its hosting location decide on data protection.
- What happens to the archive. Make sure the images and the time-lapse stay available after the rental ends.
With Arclap, renting is possible per camera, for the duration of the project, commissioned remotely by us.
When does buying make sense?
Buying makes sense when a company documents project after project and moves the same cameras from site to site. The hardware stays yours and pays off over several projects. What buying alone does not cover is everything that runs after mounting: storage, software, updates and repairs. That is why a managed system separates the two – you buy the hardware and use the platform per camera and month. See the Live & Timelapse Kits for the options.
What does a subscription include?
A subscription covers what runs after the camera is mounted: platform, live view, dated archive, automatic time-lapse, hosting and support. It is billed per camera and month in three plans – Basic, Pro and Enterprise + CSI – while the hardware is rented or bought separately. How the pricing logic works is explained in what a construction camera costs.
What applies to data protection?
A construction camera records people, vehicles and neighbouring property, so the Swiss nDSG applies. Three points count:
- Proportionate view. The camera covers the site, not the street or the neighbour's garden.
- Signage. Workers and visitors know the site is filmed.
- Storage location. Consumer webcams often store in a manufacturer cloud abroad; ask where the data sits before you buy or rent.
With Arclap, images and time-lapse films are hosted in Switzerland, nDSG-compliant.
What happens when something breaks?
With a webcam or a DIY camera you find out yourself – often only when the series already has a gap. With a rented camera the rental company swaps the device, but mounting the new one may again be your job. With a managed system the camera is monitored: the monitoring usually spots a fault before you do, and the same partner who commissioned the camera replaces it quickly.
Is it cheaper to rent or to buy a construction camera?
It depends on duration and reuse. For one project with a clear end, renting usually fits; if you move cameras from site to site, buying pays off over several projects. The platform runs per camera and month in both cases.
Can I use a normal webcam on a construction site?
For a short project with site power and Wi-Fi, yes. For long projects, sites without power or images needed as documentation, a construction camera with 4G/5G, a solar kit and a dated archive is the safer choice.
Does a construction camera need site power?
No. With a solar kit and 4G/5G, a construction camera runs without site power or a site network; where site power exists, it uses it.
Where are the images stored?
That depends on the provider, so ask before you sign. With Arclap, images, live view and time-lapse are hosted in Switzerland, nDSG-compliant.
How quickly is a managed camera running?
Your crew mounts the camera; we align it remotely and configure interval and time-lapse; it is live the same day.
Read on:Systems · Live & Timelapse Kits · What a construction camera costs · Request an offer