Configure a Video Analytics rule

Camera placement

1. Position the camera so that targets can be fully seen inside the camera’s field of view and not farther than 25 feet away (15 feet at night).
2. The camera should be positioned 8-16 feet above the ground, angled downward between 30°-60° with a level horizon line.
    
   Note: This recommended angle should provide for an ideal field of view while avoiding clouds and trees. Video Analytics is designed to work with an angled-down perspective; not horizontal, and not top-down.
    
   Important: The camera should be mounted in such a way that a vehicle’s headlights do not shine directly into the camera, affecting exposure and IR settings.
    
3. Verify that the camera is clearly facing the ground or floor of the area being monitored.
    
   Note: Video Analytics operates by tracking a target’s feet or a vehicle’s wheels.
    
4. Be aware of any bright lights (i.e., motion-triggered flood lights) near the camera that may attract insects or affect exposure and IR settings.
5. If the camera is repositioned, recreate all of the rules.

Camera location

Video Analytics detects objects and classifies them as people, animals, and vehicles. Position the camera with a clear view over an area of interest.

Successful camera positions include:

• Overlooking a driveway
• Overlooking a front porch monitoring or wherever packages are dropped off
• An area of interest around a yard, where kids or animals are sometimes seen
• Indoor entryways, exit ways, or hallways of interest

Avoid:

• Areas with constant or uninteresting motion (e.g., roads with regular vehicle movement, trees constantly swaying in the wind, etc.)
• Pointing cameras out a window, as screen interference and reflections cause Video Analytics performance issues

Add the Video Analytics rule

A Video Analytics rule can be created using the Alarm.com app and Alarm.com customer website.

Rule selection

1. Click to select the desired camera.  If the camera needs to be calibrated, you are directed to the Calibrate page. For more information about camera calibration, see Calibrate a device for Video Analytics.
   
   
    
2. Click to select the rule type.
   • Use a Tripwire rule when you expect a target to cross through the camera’s field of view or when objects enter or exit an area (e.g., a car pulling into or backing out of a driveway).
     
     
      
   • Use a Ground Zone rule when you expect a target to loiter in the camera’s field of view (e.g., a person delivering a package on your front porch).
     
     
      
3. All Video Motion Detection (VMD) schedules associated with a camera must be deleted before setting up a Video Analytics rule. When prompted with this warning, click OK to continue.
   
   
    
4. Click Next.

Select the camera scene

1. In Scenery, click to select Indoors or Outdoors based on where the camera is installed. The camera should be marked outdoors if it will be exposed to rain, snow, spider webs, or moving trees and set to indoors if in a controlled outdoor environment (e.g., a screened-in porch).
    
   Note: This selection must be the same across all recording rules associated with a specific camera.
   
   
    
2. Use the Minimum Object Detection Size slider to adjust how small an object can be and still trigger a recording. It is recommended to keep this at its suggested value upon initial rule creation. Very Large captures the fewest recordings only of the largest objects, and Very Small captures the most recordings including large and small objects.
   
   
    
   Note: The Minimum Object Detection Size does not appear for cameras that are calibrated. For more information about the calibration process, see Calibrate a device for Video Analytics.

Configure the Video Analytics rule

Once the rule type and scene are selected, you can configure the rule settings.

To ensure rule accuracy

• Avoid drawing Tripwires or Ground Zones over objects that might move by themselves (e.g., trees, bushes, or other objects that move in the wind).
• Only draw the rule where the feet or wheels of an object should cross.
  • Do not increase the size of the loiter zone or tripwire to cover the whole of the target.
  • Do not include furniture, walls, trees, or other structures in the rule/selection.
     

    Bad ground zone example	Good ground zone example
    Including the bush and garage door in the ground zone can make it difficult for the Video Analytics to positively classify subjects. In this case, reduce the size of the ground zone to only cover the driveway.	This is a properly drawn ground zone that only covers the driveway, and excludes the bush and garage door.

    
     
• Create up to three Video Analytics rules to capture separate areas of interest (e.g., a camera that monitors two entrances might need two tripwire rules, each one covering one of the entrances).
• After observing what the rule detects over a few days, consider adjusting either the Minimum Object Detection Size slider or recalibrating the camera.
   

  Note: Certain video devices have a calibration process that replaces the Minimum Object Detection Size setting. Minimum Object Detection Size will not appear on this page for those cameras. For more information about the calibration process, see Calibrate a device for Video Analytics.

   
  • When adjusting the Minimum Object Detection Size slider:
    • Increasing the minimum object size can reduce false detection.
    • Decreasing the minimum object size can detect smaller targets.

Rule scheduling and notifications

1. Using the Set Minimum Delay Between Clips dropdown menu, select the desired timeframe. This setting determines how long the camera must wait after beginning a clip to trigger another recording.
   
   
    
2. In The Rule will run..., click to select At all times or Only during the following times.
   • If Only during the following times is selected:
     1. Click to select the days of the week to record on.
     2. Using the Begin dropdown menu, select the time for the recording rule to start.
     3. Using the End dropdown menu, select the time for the recording rule to stop.
        
        
         
3. In Except when..., click to select any available exceptions that turn the rule off regardless of the schedule. Options depending on the equipment include: the panel is armed away, the panel is armed stay, and Geo-Device is inside a specified Geo-Fence.
   
   
    
   Note: If the location has a security system with multiple partitions, the at-home settings only apply to the first/main partition.
4. In Send notification for clips containing..., click to select the types of clips that the user wants to be notified about. The camera records and uploads all motion it detects but only sends a notification to the user based on the selected notification options.
   
   
    
   Note: Clips included in the Other category are when the camera detects an object but is unable to determine which type of object it is. For more information about how a clip is classified as Other, see How does a Video Analytics clip get classified as Other?.
    
5. Click to select the desired notification recipients. It is recommended to use push notifications to a phone using the dropdown option to attach a thumbnail. The timing of the notification is based on the notification type. For more information, see How do Video Analytics notifications work?.
   
   

Create a light automation rule

Camera-driven light automation rules require at least one light device enrolled on the account.

Note: Lights cannot be enabled during a time when the Video Analytics rule is not set to record (e.g., if a tripwire rule is drawn on a driveway and set to record only at night, lights cannot be set to turn on during the daytime because no clip would have been recorded).

1. Using the Turn on selected lights for dropdown menu, select how long the lights should turn on for.
2. Select which lights to be automated by the rule.
3. Select which events should turn on the lights when triggered.
4. Select a time frame for the rule to occur.

Perimeter Guard^™

Perimeter Guard^™ sounds an alert and flashes the camera's status LED when unwanted visitors are detected.

For more information about Perimeter Guard^™ and compatible video devices, see Perimeter Guard^™ for video devices.

Package Alerts for the ADC-VDB770

You can be the first to know when a package is delivered to your home or business with Package Alerts for the Alarm.com Video Doorbell (ADC-VDB770). Using Video Analytics, the ADC-VDB770 can identify when a visitor leaves a parcel on your doorstep—notifying you immediately.

Package Alerts can be configured to notify you right when a delivery is made, remind you if the box is not picked up, or alert you if it goes missing. 

For more information about Package Alerts, see Package Alerts fortheAlarm.com Video Doorbell (ADC-VDB770).