Site Survey

A site survey is a detailed technical assessment of the venue before event production. It's where engineers walk every inch of the space, measure distances, test network connectivity, plan camera positions, identify challenges, and develop service. A good site survey prevents surprises during the event.

Site surveys include multiple components. Physical assessment: Is there power available where we need equipment? Are there obstacles blocking camera sight lines? Can we run fiber cables between control room and stage without creating trip hazards? Do we need equipment lifts (cranes or scaffolding) to position cameras for proper angles?

Network assessment is critical for modern productions. We test internet bandwidth at each location where we'll place equipment. For a remote speaker location or field reporter position, we measure WiFi signal strength and compare it to cellular coverage. We might discover that the boardroom has terrible WiFi but excellent cellular, so we'll use 5G hotspot instead of venue WiFi. For the main control room, we verify fiber connectivity or plan for ISP redundancy.

We assess power distribution. Each camera needs power (or battery with swaps during the event). The vision mixer, encoder, graphics system, and monitoring equipment each need power. Are there sufficient outlets? Do they need UPS (uninterruptible power supply) backup? If the venue loses power for 30 seconds, will our streaming continue or drop?

For esports productions, site surveys include the gaming setup. testing consistency of network latency to game servers, verifying monitor refresh rates, checking for electromagnetic interference that might affect wireless microphones. Game tournaments demand precision that venue surveys can't replicate but that professional surveys can identify.

We document everything: floor plans with camera positions, equipment lists with serial numbers, network topology diagrams, power distribution maps, and contingency plans. During the actual event, these documents tell operators exactly where every cable should run and what to do if problems occur.

Site surveys typically require 4-8 hours depending on venue complexity and are scheduled weeks before the event. We charge for surveys because they require experienced engineers and are critical to event success. A survey identifies issues that would otherwise create disasters during the event itself.