Surveillance cameras are video cameras used for the purpose of observing an area. They are often connected to a recording device DVR or IP network, and may be watched by a security guard or law enforcement officer.
Probably the most widely known use of CCTV is in security systems and such applications as retail shops, banks, government establishments, etc.
The true scope for applications is almost unlimited. Some examples are listed below.
Monitoring traffic on a bridge.
Recording the inside of a baking oven to find the cause of problems.
A temporary system to carry out a traffic survey in a town centre.
Time lapse recording for the animation of plasticize puppets.
Used by the stage manager of a show to see obscured parts of a set.
The well-publicised use at football stadiums.
Hidden in buses to control vandalism.
The list is almost endless and only limited by the imagination.