Comparison
RTLS vs cameras for personnel accountability (2026)
Cameras show you what a lens can see; RTLS accounts for everyone, everywhere, all the time. For evacuation and personnel accountability, RTLS such as The Salvus Network produces an auditable, timestamped head count across the whole site — including smoke-filled or out-of-view areas — which no camera array can guarantee.
| Capability | CCTV cameras | RTLS (Salvus) |
|---|---|---|
| Works in smoke / no line of sight | ||
| Automatic head count | ||
| Auditable timestamped record | ||
| Whole-site coverage | ||
| Visual incident review | ||
| Privacy-by-design |
What the table means.
CCTV is essential for security and incident review, but it depends on line of sight, lighting and someone watching the feed.
RTLS tags every worker and reads them continuously, so accountability does not depend on visibility.
The verdict
Use cameras for security and forensic review; use RTLS for accountability and evacuation. On a major-hazard site the two are complementary, but only RTLS can guarantee you know who is still inside when the alarm sounds.
Frequently asked questions
Can we keep our cameras and add RTLS?+
Yes. Most sites run both — cameras for security and The Salvus Network for real-time accountability and mustering.
Book a live evacuation demo
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