IPVM Camera Calculator User Manual / Guide
Author: IPVM Team, Published on Mar 09, 2018Learn how to use the IPVM Camera Calculator. The guide below includes instructions, images, gifs, and videos demonstrating and explaining the Calculator's features. It will be updated periodically and you can ask questions or request new sections added in the comments.
Setting Up Your Project
- Changing / Setting Location
- Selecting Map vs Satellite vs Blank Display
- Adding / Using Floor Plans
- Rotating Floor Plans
- Uploading & Rotating Satellite Image as a Floor Plan
- Maximum Zoom Limits
- Locking Floor Plans
Configuring Cameras and Views
- Adding Cameras
- Positioning Cameras
- Setting Measurement System (Imperial vs Metric)
- Setting Latitude and Longitude
- Selecting Specific Camera Models
- How to Add a Camera (If Not In Specific Models)
- IR Display Line
- Using Simulated Person (PPF / PPM)
- Naming Cameras
- Toggling IR Range Display
- Adjusting and Locking Cameras
- Deleting Cameras
- Duplicating Cameras
- Simulating Repositionable Multi-Imager Cameras
- Switching Between Cameras
- Adding Markup Shapes
- Using Polyline as a Ruler
- Adding Labels
- Using Simulated View (Google Streetview and Scenes)
- Adding Your Own Simulated View
- Calculating Lens Requirements using Advanced Settings
- Simulating (Wireless) Network Links
- Simulating Radar Sensor Coverage Areas
Managing Projects
- Renaming Projects
- Opening Projects
- Cloning Projects
- Exporting Projects
- Sharing Projects Via Permalinks
- Deleting Projects
Calculator Introduction
The video below overviews the calculator:
Setting Up Your Project
Click on "Change Location" and enter the desired address or landmark then press enter. This is shown below as we navigate from Allentown, PA to Honolulu, HI.
Selecting Map vs Satellite vs Blank Display
The Camera Calculator has three canvases to select from: Map, Satellite, and Blank. These are options are located in the top left corner of the canvas.
Floor plans are adding at the top center of the calculator.
The floor plans can be rotated to align the building. Move the cursor to the edge of the floor plan and click the arrow appears, then drag to rotate and release when in position.
Uploading & Rotating Satellite Images as a Floor Plan
The calculator cannot be rotated, but a screen shot can be imported and rotated to achieve a similar result.
There is a zoom limitation in the Google Maps API when in the satellite view. That limit varies depending on the imagery in any specific area. In most countries, major cities have much higher quality images and zoom capabiliies than in rural areas. You can use a separate image as a floor plan (see: Uploading & Rotating Satellite Images as a Floor Plan), and using the Map or Blank background. In the lower right-hand corner on the below animation, you can see the zoom/scale limits by the red arrow. In this area, the closest Satellite scale is 5m, 2m for Map view, and significantly smaller for Blank.
After a floor plan has been added and positioned, it should be locked so that it will not be moved. Just right click the floor plan and select lock floor plan.
Camera and Design Configuration
New cameras can be added to a project in 2 ways
- Clicking the Add Camera Button
- Right Clicking on the map and selecting "+ Add Camera Here"
Cameras can be dragged to the desired location, and then positioned / aimed by dragging the subject at the edge of the Coverage Cone as shown below.
Setting Measurement System (Imperial vs Metric)
The measurement system will be automatically set to Imperial if your login is detected from with the US, and Metric if outside of the US. To toggle between Imperial and Metric Units, click the drop down menu and select the Unit type you need. The Calculator will remember your selection the next time you log in.
Setting Camera Latitude and Longitude
Lattitude and Longitude coordinates can be edited on the lower right side control panel of the Camera Calculator.
Selecting Specific Camera Models
Changing from a generic camera to a specific model (out of 6000+ models) is done by clicking on "Select Model" and then either browsing to or searching for the desired model.
Your search can be filtered by:
- Brand (60+ Manufacturers)
- Resolution
- Form Factor
- IR Range
- Field of View
How to Add a Camera (If Not In Specific Models)
If there is a specific camera model not in our database of choices, click on the "Want us to add a missing camera? Let us Know" Link. It will open a new browser tab where you can request the manufacturer and model you need added. This is usually completed within 1 business day.
If you add a specific camera model that has integrated IR, the Calculator will display a red line the distance that the IR is effective.
Using Simulated Person (PPF / PPM)
The Camera Calculator automatically displays example images (daytime, dark with IR, dark without IR, and super low light) that load automatically based on the selected camera's details. For a more detailed look at this, see our guide on PPF/PPM.
There are 3 ways to change the name of a camera:
- As soon as you add a camera, you can immediately type in the name of the camera
- Right click the camera, select rename and enter the new name and hit Enter
- Left click on the camera that you want to rename and then in the name text box to the right enter the new name
The manufacturer's specified IR Range is shown by default in the Camera Calculator. You can toggle this by using the control on the right side of the screen.
The distance and direction of the camera can be adjusted by clicking and the subject at the edge of the Coverage Cone. The Field of View (FoV) width can be adjusted by clicking and dragging a corner of the Coverage Cone. The camera can be locked by right clicking and selecting lock camera.
There are 2 ways to delete a camera from your project
- Right Click on the Camera and Select "Delete Camera". If you choose this method, the system will not prompt you if you are sure.
- Click on the Trash icon in the upper right hand corner of the screen while you have the camera selected
When working on a project with multiple cameras the same model it can save time to duplicate a camera. Right Click on the camera you wish to duplicate and Left Click "Duplicate Camera"
Simulating Repositionable Multi-imager Cameras
The Calculator does not currently support repositionable multi-imager cameras (e.g. Avigilon 9W-H3-3MH, Axis P3707-PE, etc), it will only place 1 camera on the map, not 4. The quickest way to have the remaining 3 cameras on the map is to duplicate the original camera 3 times:
When using multi-imager cameras, keep names consistent by naming them <Camera Name> N.1,( N.2, N.3, etc) will help your projects stay organized in your exports.
PDF Export Results:
Use the All Cameras Menu to quickly switch between cameras in your project:
There are several markups that can be added to projects: circles, polygons, poly lines, rectangles, labels, and color coding.
The Polyline tool will display the total length of the line when you draw it and have it highlighted. To use it like a ruler, select the Polyline tool, click where you want to start your measurement, and then click twice where you want to measure. The Calculator will display the length in meters. Currently you can not change it to show the distance in feet, and it does not support a multi-segment line, just a single line.
On the top right of the canvas there is a label button. Click the button and then move the crosshair to where you would like the label placed and click. You can then click and hold to drag the label to another location or double click to edit the label.
Using Simulated View (Google Streetview)
Using Google Streetview, the Calculator provides panoramic street views for many locations. Additionally, several Scenes have been added for parking lots, conference rooms, entrances, hallways, and more.
Adding / Using Your Own Simulated View
Images of the site can be uploaded if you want a view of what the camera will be seeing when installed (using a picture taken at the install location). You can select the image and give it a name. The Uploaded Scene is per camera. You will also need to set the Angle of View of the picture. If taken with a cellphone, the average FoV is between 50-70 degrees, so move the slider below 90, but not more than halfway to 0.
Calculating Lens Requirements using Advanced Settings
The Camera Calculator can be used to calculate the required lens length by clicking on the Gear for Advanced Settings. By adjusting the Width of FoV and the size of the image sensor, it will return the length of lens required in millimeters.
Simulating (Wireless) Network Links
Use the polyline tool along with the label markup tool to show a wireless or fiber network link to a camera:
Simulating Radar Sensor Coverage Areas
Radar Sensors like the Axis D2050-VE have a coverage area that is different to the coverage cone of a camera. You can use 2 generic cameras and the polyshape tool to simulate the coverage.
First place a 180 Degree Generic Camera, a 120 Degree Generic Camera onto the map where the Radar detector will be located, and set the distance of coverage to 50m (or the distance of coverage for another detector):
This overlap area is the coverage zone of the camera. Use the polyshape tool to draw the coverage zone of the detector:
You can now delete the 2 generic cameras. You can also change the color of the coverage area, and add a label if you want:
Managing Projects
To rename a project click on the current project name, when the field becomes editable type the new name.
Existing projects can be opened clicking on "Open Projects" at the top center of the canvas.
To make an exact copy of a project (i.e. to create 2 similar designs with optional cameras), click the Clone button
The Calculator can export to PDF, PowerPoint, Word, Snapshot, ZIP, and CSV. The export feature is located at the top left of the Calculator. Exports can be found in the downloads folder.
Sharing Projects via Permalinks
Permalinks are used to share projects. It will provide the recipient with a replica of the original.
To delete a Project, click on the "All Projects" button, and then click on the "Trash Can" next to the project Date. The system will prompt you to confirm the deletion.
Is there still a feature or function of the Camera Calculator that you would like more details on? Post your comment or question on our Dedicated Discussion Post, or email info@ipvm.com
Comments (9)
Any additions, or issues with the guide please comment here or email me at sean@ipvm.com
Also, general Calculator questions can still be posted, or review other "FAQ" type questions in the Discussion Post
Updated Projects Section with Cloning Project instructions.
Updated Adding / Using Your Own Simulated View instructions
Added a section on using the polyline and label tools for Simulating Network Links
Added a section on Simulating Radar Detectors like the Axis D2050-VE
Added a section about Using Polyline as a Ruler.
Is there a way to export just a floorplan with camera locations and coverages, rather than including the camera details? Looking for an overview of a single building. Also, is there a way to select the area to export? When I zoom out and export to JPG, it's a bit small. When I zoom in the next increment, it doesn't get the whole building. I can work-around using Snipping Tool or screenshot, but would be nice to keep as much resolution as possible.
And when I export the whole project to PDF or DOC, the blueprint on the first page is only covering about 20% of the page, lots of white space.
Thanks!
Kathleen,
Currently the first exported image is the overview of the entire project. If you have multiple floor plans or buildings, your best option is to create different projects for each building.
In regards to the export, if you export as a DOC, you can reformat the page to Landscape instead of portrait to have the blueprint cover more of the page. As an integrator I prefered the PPT export because it is formatted landscape by default.
We are looking into different additional options when exporting, but I do not have any specific details
Thanks,
Sean
Added a Section about Maximum Zoom Limits
useful and informative article.
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