Crane OCR Image Storage: Retention, Retrieval and Disk Planning
Crane OCR recognises container details during loading and unloading and passes them to the crane control and terminal systems. Each read also leaves images behind. Those pictures are useful evidence, but they take space, so storage needs planning like any other part of the system.
Key takeaways
- Each container move can produce several images, so storage grows quickly.
- Set a retention period by purpose: operations, claims and audits can differ.
- Make images easy to find by container number, crane and time.
- Back up the store and test restoring a sample.
How image storage grows
Storage depends on the number of cameras per crane, the number of cranes, the image size and the moves per day. Work out a rough figure with your supplier from these inputs, add room for growth, and decide whether images are kept at full size or reduced after a few weeks. Local disks near the crane buffer the images; a central server holds the long-term store.
Deciding how long to keep images
Different uses need different periods. Day-to-day checks need images for a short time; damage claims may need them for months; audits may ask for longer. Agree the periods with operations, claims and legal teams, write them down and automate deletion so the store does not fill silently.
| Purpose | Typical need |
|---|---|
| Daily checks | Short, quick access |
| Damage claims | Medium, linked to the container record |
| Audit and legal | Per policy and contract terms |
Finding the right image quickly
An image is only useful if it can be found. Index each one by container number, crane, move type and time, and let users open it from the terminal record. Crane OCR integration with the TOS shows how the data and images are linked.
Backups and access control
Copy the store to a second location, restrict who can view or export images and log each access. Test restoring a sample at least once a year. Hardware choices are covered in crane OCR cameras, sensors and the crane PLC.
Planning crane OCR storage with Suraj Informatics
Suraj Informatics supplies crane OCR services with image storage sized for your crane count and retention needs. Tell us your moves per day and we will estimate the storage plan.
Crane OCR images: common questions
How many images per move?
It depends on the camera setup. Your supplier can give a figure for your design.
Can old images be compressed?
Yes, many sites reduce image size after an initial period.
Who should access the images?
Operations, claims and security staff, with logins and a record of access.
Are images needed for claims?
They are strong evidence of condition at the time of the move, so keep them as long as claims can arise.
Talk to our crane OCR team
Tell us your crane count and moves per day and we will size the image storage.
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