Security cameras have evolved significantly from the days of grainy footage capturing thieves at gas stations and department stores. Back in those days, motion was primarily detected through independent motion sensors within the store, which transmitted analog signals to an alarm panel. But as computers and software got better over the years, digital video recorders started to include the ability to detect motion directly from the video feed by looking for changes in pixels that set off alarms.

Despite revolutionizing and automating surveillance for many years, video-based motion detection has consistently grappled with the issue of false alerts. Due to its basic method of detecting pixel changes in video, almost anything moving within the camera's field of view—from leaves, insects, and small animals to shifting shadows from clouds—could activate motion detection alerts and recording. Although video-based detection usually offers the ability to tweak sensitivity and threshold settings, fine-tuning may not be enough.

Fortunately, if you find yourself frustrated by a constant barrage of unnecessary alerts and recordings of insignificant motion events, there is good news. Some smart security cameras from CCTV Camera World now feature Smart Motion Detection (SMD), a technology that significantly reduces false alerts. SMD leverages the latest advancements in edge-based video analytics to accurately identify the presence of humans or vehicles in the footage. This enhanced precision in detection results in fewer false motion alerts, sparing you from annoying alerts of no significance and recordings of irrelevant activity.

Don't forget to checkout the cameras that offer Smart Motion Detection. You can click on them below.

Contents

  1. What is SMD?
  2. Types of Smart Motion Detection
  3. How to Set Up Smart Motion Detection

What is SMD?

Smart Motion Detection, or SMD, is a surveillance method that uses AI-powered algorithms to carefully analyze video to find objects that look like people or cars. This state-of-the-art technique substantially cuts down on false alerts and unnecessary recording, bolstering the efficiency and dependability of your security setup.

Enhanced accuracy from this advanced technology translates to greater peace of mind and a more satisfying experience with the investment you've made in safeguarding your property. However, it’s worth noting that SMD is not perfect when it comes to filtering large animals, but it has completely eliminated false alerts from shadows and changes in lighting.

Types of Smart Motion Detection

Throughout the development of Smart Motion Detection technology, there have been remarkable advancements that have significantly improved its accuracy and efficiency. From SMD+ to the cutting-edge SMD 4.0, each iteration brings forth a wave of innovations aimed at mitigating false alerts and enhancing the precision of human and vehicle detection. In this overview, we delve into the unique features, capabilities, and strides made by each version of Smart Motion Detection, illustrating how they contribute to a more secure and reliable surveillance experience.

SMD+

Smart Motion Detection Plus, abbreviated as SMD+, offers a robust solution to the frustrating inaccuracies of plain video motion detection. SMD+ is very good at filtering out motion from the usual false triggers, such as shadows and leaves. This technology results in a staggering 98% detection accuracy for humans and vehicles. Potential false alerts with SMD+ are as low as 2% for small dogs or cats and up to 10% for larger animals such as deer, cows, or horses.

SMD 3.0

SMD 3.0 emerges as a substantial upgrade, boasting a remarkable 99% detection accuracy. It significantly improves the false detection rate for small animals, bringing it down to just above 1%, and for larger animals, reducing it to a commendable 5% or less.

SMD 4.0

SMD 4.0 takes the technology to new heights, refining the process to further minimize false detections caused by animals. Small animals have a negligible false detection rate of about 0.5%, and the false detection rate of larger animals is significantly reduced to approximately 2%. SMD 4.0 is a testament to the pursuit of perfection in motion detection technology.

How to Set Up Smart Motion Detection

Setting up Smart Motion Detection depends on the specific type and model of your security camera and NVR system. If your system includes an NVR and your camera is connected to your NVR, you can configure Smart Motion Detection via the NVR—whether it's connected to a TV or you access the NVR’s web interface. Regardless of the method, enabling and setting up SMD is a straightforward and user-friendly process.

Before you begin, it’s important to be aware that enabling Smart Motion Detection means you must disable the Smart Plan and IVS rules like digital tripwire, intrusion detection, or people counting. Also, it should go without saying that the camera and NVR you’re attempting to enable SMD on must have the feature for it to be enabled.

Enabling Smart Motion Detection in a Security Camera System

In a PoE security camera system that has an Avalonix Premium NVR (Network Video Recorder), you have two options for activating Smart Motion Detection. You can either use a computer monitor/TV along with a USB mouse or opt for a PC and navigate through the web interface. Both methods are viable and cater to different preferences and levels of expertise.

Using a monitor or TV

The easier method for our users who aren’t tech savvy is to manage the NVR connected to their HDTV or a computer monitor using a USB mouse.

  1. Access the main menu by right-clicking on the screen.
  2. Log in as the admin user, utilizing the graphical user password. Alternatively, click on "Switch User" if you prefer typing in your credentials.
  3. Navigate to "AI" from the main menu.
  4. On the AI page, select "Parameters" from the menu on the left-hand side.
  5. Choose the "SMD" option within the Parameters submenu.
  6. Identify and select the channel (e.g., "D1," "D2," etc.) for which you wish to activate SMD.
  7. Click on the "Enable" button to turn on SMD, ensuring it turns blue to indicate activation.
  8. Specify your "Effective Targets," choosing whether the camera should detect Humans, Motor Vehicles, or both.
  9. Adjust the "Sensitivity" settings according to your preference:
    • Choose "Low" for shorter detection distances and minimized false alerts.
    • Opt for "Medium" for a balanced approach between detection range and alert accuracy.
    • Select "High" to maximize the detection range, albeit with a potential increase in false alerts.
  10. Lastly, at the bottom of the SMD page, you'll find options for scheduling and alert settings. Here, you can tailor the system to trigger specific actions when an SMD event is detected on the chosen channel.
  11. Be sure to click the Apply button at the bottom right-hand side to save your changes.

Using the NVR web interface

For our more technical users, the web interface is a convenient and powerful way to manage their NVR from any computer in their local computer network.

  1. To begin, open your preferred web browser and type in your NVR’s IP address in the address bar.
  2. If the IP address of your NVR is unknown to you, you can find guidance in our “Using the ConfigTool Software” tutorial. Alternatively, access the Network TCP/IP settings page directly from your NVR after logging into the mouse and monitor interface.
  3. Input your NVR’s username and password, then click the login button or press Enter on your keyboard.
  4. The NVR’s default login credentials are located on a label attached to the top of the device. If you have changed the password from the default, make sure to enter your custom password instead.
  5. Navigate to the AI section in the main menu.
  6. Select the Parameters menu found on the left side of the AI page.
  7. Choose the SMD option in the Parameters submenu.
  8. Ensure the SMD Enable checkbox is selected and displays a blue checkmark.
  9. Determine your "Effective Targets," deciding whether the camera should detect Humans, Motor Vehicles, or both.
  10. Adjust the "Sensitivity" settings to your preference:
    • Select "Low" for shorter detection distances and fewer false alerts.
    • Choose "Medium" for a balanced compromise between detection range and alert accuracy.
    • Opt for "High" to extend the detection range, though this may result in more false alerts.
  11. Finally, at the bottom of the SMD page, you will find scheduling and alert setting options. Configure these settings to define the actions that should be triggered when an SMD event is detected on the selected channel.
  12. To save your changes, click the OK button located at the bottom right of the AI page.

Matt Rossi is a Technical Support Manager at CCTV Camera World, a leading CCTV Camera distributor located in Buffalo, NY. He is a technical support expert for everything video surveillance related.

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