Camera setup

Last modified: Friday February 21, 2025.

camera masking example

Cameras and video recordings are an integral part of Alta Protect. Onboard AI-powered video analytics can identify people, sounds, and vehicles. The setup and configuration of your cameras are critical to the performance of your system.

Camera position

Create a suitable field of view by carefully choosing the mounting location, angle, and height.

  • Avoid looking into off-site areas where people or vehicles can move.
  • Use privacy masks to stop video analytics from processing unsuitable parts of the viewport.
  • To improve the likelihood of catching intruders moving through the site, use masks so only floor areas are visible.
  • If you use other sensors and access control devices, ideally position them in a camera's field of view.
  • If your cameras have microphones, avoid placing them near fans, ventilation, or other environmental noise sources.

Image quality

The accuracy of Protect’s AI video analytics depends on the quality of the footage captured by each camera.

  • Use camera parameters to optimize image quality, such as resolution and exposure. See Adjust camera video parameters from Alta Video and Alta camera bandwidth usage, video quality, and video storage.
  • Avoid reflective surfaces. Reflections can trigger false detections and overexpose infrared imagery.
  • Consider how lighting will change throughout the day or at particular times.
    • Check there is always sufficient lighting to capture a clear image of a person.
    • If required, use infrared cameras. Check IR illuminators do not create glare from reflective surfaces.
    • Adjust exposure settings to maintain consistent image quality.

Number of cameras

A key advantage of Alta Protect over traditional sensor-based systems is the ability to quickly review video footage and identify false alarms, preventing the unnecessary dispatch of emergency services.

  • Sufficient camera coverage is critical to providing reliable footage to distinguish valid alarms from false alarms.
    • Individual cameras and sensors can make false detections.
    • A sensor might make a valid detection, but the nearest camera might not capture the incident.
  • Ideally, a deployment should have more than one camera.
  • Additional camera coverage provides more viewpoints to help assess each incident.
  • Look for camera blind spots that intruders could exploit. Consider adding extra cameras or additional sensors in these locations.

For more information on selecting, installing, and using cameras, see Cameras for Alta Video.