Avigilon "Self-Learning" Analytics And VMD Tested

By IPVM Team, Published Jul 23, 2018, 11:55am EDT

Avigilon is a popular choice for video analytics, offering "self-learning" analytics built into their cameras as well as appliances.

We tested their self-learning analytics indoors and out on Avigilon's H4 dome cameras, as well as their standard camera VMD, to see how it performs in real applications.

Inside, we look at:

  • Self-learning vs. calibration
  • False alert performance
  • Detection range
  • Analytics compared to camera VMD

Note that this is the first of our updated tests of Avigilon's analytic offerings. Tests of Appearance Search and Unusual Motion Detection will follow in upcoming reports.

This report continues our recent series of updated analytics tests. Readers should also see our tests of Axis Guard Suite, Axis VMD4, Bosch IVA, Dahua Intrusion Analytics, Hanwha Wisenet X Analytics, and Hikvision Intrusion Analytics.

*******

** *** *****, ********'* ****-******** analytics worked **** **** **** properly **********, **** *** ** no ***** ******.

  • ** ***** ****** **** common *******: ******* *****, ***** animals, ***** *******, *** shadows did *** ***** ***** alerts ****** *******, ******* or ***.
  • ** ***** ****** **** rain: ******** ******* ****** from *** ********* ** rain, *-* ****** ******* from ***** ** *****, one ** *** **** common ******* ** ***** alarms ****** **** *********** analytics.
  • ***** *** ******** ** well *** ******: ** *** *******, ******** ******** ******** human ******** ** ~*-** PPF, ************* ****** **** most ****** *********, **** as ******, *********, *** Dahua (**-** *** ** average), *** ******* ** slightly ***** **** **** Guard ***** (~**-** ***) and *****'* *********** ** (~10 ***).

******** *** **** *** shortcomings ******:

  • ********* ******** ********* ***** * lux: ********* ******** ** ******** cameras ******* *********** ** low ***** ****** (lux), **** ~***' ******** at ***** ** *** 5MP *** ** ****** (7/10 ***, ************) ** ~55' (~**/** ***). ********* were **** ******* ** the *** *****, ******** to ~***', ********** *** required **** ~* ** 10.
  • *********** ***** ******** *** best ***********: ***** **** *** ****** "self ********", ********'* ********* require ****** ******* ** ***** the ***** (****** ** vehicles). **** ***** ** static ****** **** ****** or ******** *** *** normally *******, ***** **** see **** *********** ** manually ******* ** ******* through *** ***.
  • ******* *********** ****** ******** period:*********** ** ******* ** these ******* *** *** present ** *** ***** for *** ****** ** learn, **** ****** ** small ******* ****** ** *** testing ****** **** ******.

************

******** ****-******** ********* *** available ** **** **********'* *** ****** *******, ********* ***,****, ******, ***,*** ******(**/** ****), ***, *** thermal *******. ********* *** not ********* ** *** SL ******,** **** ****, ******* ********** ** *********** (****** **** *** ********** ***** ******** ********* multi ******).

Calibration / ****-******** *******

***** ********'* ********* *** self ********, **** ***** require ***** *********** ** order ** *********** ******* desired ******* (****** *** vehicles) *** ******** ******, such ** ***** *******. According ** ********, **** amounts ** ***** *** *********** ** *******, .

******** ************* *** *** require *** ****** *******/******* through *** ***** ** many ***** ***** ***** is ******* ********. *******, in **** ****** ******, such ** **********, **** fields, "** ***'* ****" areas, ***., ***** ******** are ****** ******* ***** normal *************, ******** *** take *****, **** *********** reduced ** *** ********.

*** *******, ***** ** calibration, *** ******* ******* a ********* *** * vehicle. ***** **** ******* calibration, ***** ******* **** reduced ** **********.

Solid ******* ***********

******** ********* ******* *********** was ************ ***** ********** testing, ******** *** ********* of ******* ***** / foliage ****** **** *** weeks ** *******, **** during **** **** ****, below.

********'* ********* **** ******* alarms **** ***** *******, another ****** ******* ** many *********** *********. **** that **** ******* ********* were ***** **** ** properly ********* (*** *****).

*******, ***** **** ***** analytics ********* ********** ** rain/droplets ** ****** *****, Avigilon *** *** ***** during *** ******* ** rain **** *** ****** of *******.

Indoor ***********

*******, *** ********* ******* false ****** **** ******* such ** ******* ***** changes, **** *****.

***** *******, **** ** light ******* ** ***** rooms *** ******** ******* on/off **** **** *******.

Vs. ***** ****** *********

** *** *****, ****-******** analytics ****** ************ ********'* standard ****** ***, ***** Avigilon ***** "***** ****** Detection", ***** ******* ** practically *** ******** ** the *****, ********* ******* cars, ***** *****/*******, ***. Sensitivity *** ********* *** be ******** ** ****** these ******, *** **** caused * ***** ******* to ** ********** ****** walking ******* *** ***** (shown *****).

Detection ******** ******* ***** * ***

******** ********* ************ ******* on *** ******* ** ~7-11 *** ****** *** day *** ********* *** drastically ******* ****** ***** testing ** ~**-** *** which ******** ** *** following ***** ** **** widths / *********:

  • *.**-***-***-** (***/*:*): ~***' ****/~***' Distance ** ******** *** ~250' ****/~***' ******** ** night
  • *.*-***-***-** (***/*:*): ~***' ****/~***' Distance ** ******** *** ~90' ****/~**' ******** ** night
  • *.*-***-***-** (**/**:*): ~***' ****/~***' Distance ** ******** *** ~95' ****/~**' ******** ** night

********** **** ******* **** using **** ****** ** view, ****** ****** ** view, ******** ** ** and ***, **** ***** filtering ** *** ***, sensitivity *********, ***. ******** changes *** ** ********* effect ** **** ********* range.

** ******** ***** ********** with ******** ******** *********** who ********* **** **** either **** ********* ** brighter ****** (*.*. *** parking ****) ** ***** supplementary ********, **** ** external ** ************ ** additional ******* *****.

**** ******** ** ******** was *** ******* ** other ******* ******, ***** saw **** ****** ** moderate ********* ** ********, but *** ** ****** as ** **** ****. For *******, ****' ***** Suite ********* **** **** to ****** ** ************* the **** *** ****** *** *** night (************* **-** ***), as *** ***** *** (~10 ***). 

Only ********* **** ***

********'* ********* *** ********* when ***** ***** *** Avigilon ******* ****** ***, which ** ******** *** event *************. ***** ** no *** ********* *** event ***** *** *** camera ** ** ****** in **** ***** ****** analytics. ************, ******** **** not ********** ********* ***** analytics **** *** ***** party *****, ****** **** point *** **** **** use *** ***** ***** framework, ***** ** ********* to ****** ** ******* these ******** ******. *******, ACC ***** ***** ** required *** ************* ** ***** cases, ****** ******** ********* and ***** ***** *** an ******** ***********.

Versions ****

*** ********* ******** **** used ****** *******: 

  • *.*-***-***-**: *.**.*.**(*****)
  • *.**-***-***-**: *.**.*.**(*****)
  • ******** ******* ******: *.*.*.*

Comments (27)

Itamar Kerbel

07/24/18 05:29am

This report is very consistent with our findings.

At the moment Avigilon has the best Analytics system our there.

The only problems are price and 3rd party integration...

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Luca Fogliati

07/24/18 05:46am

Great review really.It would be interesting also (i know it sounds funny)to "test" how the camera performs under spider web.It happens so frequently if the site is not supervised by 24/7 guard that some insect especially spiders can build their web on camera's glass.Especially in winter time and that might stay for hours untill somebody cleans it. That's the most challenging thing for analitics especially at night time with IR on and i've never seen a camera without millions of false alarms under that condition

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Louis van Daalen

In reply to Luca Fogliati | 07/24/18 10:09am

From our own experience in our Avigilon demosite, I can confirm that spiders/ spider webs in combination with IR and wind did not have any effect, while it was still capable to detect persons and vehicles. The camera used was a 2.0C-H4A-25G-B01-IR. 

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Luca Fogliati | 07/24/18 08:35pm

In case I see that there is high risk of spiders and insects, I always recommend to my customers to install separate IR illumination 50 cm to 1 m away from the camera, and of course use box camera or turn of IR on bullet camera

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Luca Fogliati

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 07/25/18 05:38am

Well i don't know if it's because here we're in the countryside but EVERY outside installation sooner or later has problems with insects.I'd rather choose box camera (also for better performance compared to compact) but that's a lost battle (aesthetic,price,smaller range of products,ecc. ecc.)Funny as it sounds i personally spray every camera's body with anti insects spray (the same you use to keep them out of the house)...it works for a while then customer must take care...

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Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Luca Fogliati | 07/27/18 07:29pm

Luca what a great idea.  We have that problem and I never though of that.  In fact, I think they make a sticky paper like fly paper that you could put on the camera that might last even longer than the spray given weather issues.  Hmmmm

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Luca Fogliati

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 07/30/18 05:47am

Yeah that could be an idea...never tried it but i guess that sun and rain make that paper less and less sticky day after day...spray works fine the point is you can't put it on the glass in front of the lens but i think that the smell of that spray all over the camera is just enough to take the animals quite far away...the idea came from my older collegue who is a specialist in automatic gates a field that has big issues with ants,lizards and even small serpentines in the control panel that is usually placed close to ground level...the basic point is someone has to take care of a periodic maintenance even in terms of cleaning when you place electronics in the outside

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Undisclosed #4

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Luca Fogliati | 07/30/18 06:20am

Solar powered bug zapper, hat tip U1.

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Itamar Kerbel

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 07/25/18 07:02am

This is absolutely correct for every analytics installation including Avigilon.

They all have problems with insects and spider webs just plain dust.

Use box cameras with the IR installed 50cm below the camera and you'll eliminate most if not all of these problems.

 

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Michael Miller

In reply to Itamar Kerbel | 07/25/18 01:17pm

Why use a Box camera when you can just turn off the IR on the bullet and dome cameras?

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Luca Fogliati

In reply to Michael Miller | 07/25/18 01:25pm

Like i already wrote the box camera/non box camera topic is not even considerable...i am in this market since 20 years i started when cameras where only box black and white CVBS 300 TV lines. I'd personally choose box camera on every site since i exactly know all the benefits of using a box camera with separate IR the fact is….box cameras have been outwon by compact cameras.Maybe in some specific installations end costumer would allow the isntallation of a box camera but box cameras are ,unfortunately,stone age

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Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Michael Miller | 07/27/18 07:31pm

You'd still have to use a separate IR light then and he's saying put it under the camera.  You wouldn't just turn off IR and not add light another way or you won't achieve the picture that drove you to use the IR functionality to begin with.

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Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 07/27/18 07:39pm

Sorry, I thought the adding a separate IR unit was a given. 

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Fabian Muyawa

LONTECH SYSTEMS
IPVMU Certified | 07/25/18 07:48am

Avigilon analytics appears to be reliable and the fact that it in compasses calibration/self learning features, this indeed is great tool for reducing false alarms. Also the outdoor and indoor performance in the above video tests are quite impressive as they are stable.

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Igor Falomkin

AxxonSoft | 07/26/18 08:00am

Thank you for this interesting report. A couple of questions:

- Did you compare CPU load of standard motion detector and this algorithm (during the self learning process and after it)?

- Does it require GPU or not?

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Igor Falomkin

AxxonSoft | In reply to Igor Falomkin | 07/26/18 09:55am

The questions are not actual. I've missed that this algoritm works on-board of the camera.

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Murat Altuev

AxxonSoft | 07/26/18 08:12am

Great achievement, Avigilon!

Respect!

Such a good quality of tracker means very effective archive searching functions.

We need to check if integration with 3rd party software allows to transmit this tracks to server for further storing and analyzing during archive investigation.

Our typical problem is that server analytics is too havy for processing - means too expensive. If now cameras can provide such quality tracks, than problem solved!

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

07/26/18 05:43pm

I would like to see Avigilon amend its classification to "human", "vehicle" or "other" or something of the like. I run into a number of applications where alerting on "threats to infrastructure" are commonplace. Knowing that a family of rats, or groundhogs, which can damage property are also interesting to some customers.

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Terrence Harless

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 07/26/18 08:33pm

Snakes and squirrels...

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #5

07/31/18 10:00am

Any idea about avigilon camera (/w self-learning capabilities) pricing ranges comparing to legacy VMD cameras?

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #5 | 07/31/18 10:39am

What do you consider a 'legacy VMD camera'? Old cameras from a few years ago? New Dahua and Hikvision cameras with poorly performing analytics or?

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #5

In reply to John Honovich | 07/31/18 11:31am

VMD which is based on pixel changes without any "learning" capabilities. once you can find in almost every surveillance camera.

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Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #5 | 07/31/18 03:28pm

Avigilon H4 outdoor domes run from about $800-1,200, depending on the resolution. That's estimated street price, not dealer price. 

I'd say that's fairly comparable to VMD only outdoor domes from years past, but on the high end of pricing in 2018. For example, you can get a Hanwha Wisenet Q 4MP dome with motorized zoom and no analytics for ~$300-350. But, if you look at the Wisenet X series, which includes analytics, pricing is more comparable, in the $700-800 range.

Hikvision's 4 series domes, their higher end models, are notably less expensive (~$550 for Darkfighter 1080p and up) and include analytics (though performance is questionable in many scenes). 

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #5

In reply to Ethan Ace | 07/31/18 07:32pm

Thank you Ethan, very helpfull?

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #5

In reply to Ethan Ace | 07/31/18 07:33pm

Sorry , meant very helpfull!

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Murat Altuev

AxxonSoft | 07/31/18 06:12pm

Interesting what ASIC they use, which allows deep learning classification on edge.

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Paul Steenkamp

10/07/20 07:58am

Can somebody please clarify the distances. Is it Yards, Feet, Meters?

  • 8.0-H4A-D01-IR (4K/16:9): ~340' HFOV/~200' Distance in daylight and ~95' HFOV/~55' Distance at night

Thanks

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