Axis VMD3.0 Analytics Vs Avigilon Tested

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Jan 12, 2015

Axis has released the next generation of their advanced video motion detection application, VMD 3.0. It promises improvements in false alarm rates compared to its predecessor, with new features like swaying object rejection, object size and duration settings, and more.

The question is, how does this new version compare to full-blown analytics like the Avigilon H3A analytic cameras? Can it compete while giving users more options in cameras?

We tested Axis VMD 3.0 running on two cameras, the high end 1080p Q1615 and the 720p integrated IR P3364-LV, against Avigilon's 3.0W-H3A-BO1, to see how they compared in false alerts and coverage area.

**** *** ******** *** next ********** ** ************* ***** ****** ********* application, *** *.*. ** promises ************ ** ***** alarm ***** ******** ** its ***********, **** *** features **** ******* ****** rejection, ****** **** *** duration ********, *** ****.

*** ******** **, *** does **** *** ******* compare ** ****-***** ********* like *** ******** *** analytic *******? *** ** compete ***** ****** ***** more ******* ** *******?

** ****** **** *** 3.0 ******* ** *** cameras, ******* *** ***** ******** ******* ********** ** *****-**, ***************'* *.**-***-***, ** *** *** they ******** ** ***** alerts *** ******** ****.

[***************]

Key ********

** **** ****** **** our *** ******** **** these *** *****:

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

  • ** *** ******** ******** included ** *** *, short ***** ****** ******** (set ** *-* *******) proved **** ********* ** reducing ** *********** ***** alarms ******* ******** ****** on ******** ***** ** missed ***** ***********.
  • ***** ****** ******** *** be ****** ** **** scenes ****** ***** ****** be ******* *** ** set ******* **** *** small, ******* ***** ********* obscured ** ******* ******.
  • ******* ****** ******** ******* alarms ****** ** ****** brush *** ******** *** drastically ******* ******** ***** both *** *** *****.

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

  • ***** ******* ******** (** advanced ******** **** ** short *****, *******, ** small *******) ***** *********** caused ** ********* ****** and ****** ********** **** most ******, **** ******** of ***** *********** *** day *** ******, **** day *** *****.
  • ***** ********** ***** ***** lived ****** ******* *** exclusion *****, *** ******** of ***** ****** **** eliminated, ******* ** *-* false *********** *** ****** per ***, ******* ** both **** ******* (***** and *****-**).
  • **** *** * ***** experienced **** ***** *********** after ************ **** ********** resolution ******** *** ******** camera, *-* *** *** vs. *-*.

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

  • **** *** * ********* daytime ******** ***** ***** default ******** *** ******** smaller **** ********** ********** Avigilon ** ********* ******, ~175' ********** *** **. ~190'.
  • ********* ******* ******** ***** with ******* ****** ******** on *** ******* **** ~175' ********** ** **** ~35'.
  • ********* ******** ***** *** reduced ** ~**' **** in *** ***** **** Q1615 **. **' ** the ******** *** ******.
  • *** ** *** ********** IR, *** **** *****-**'* nighttime ******** *** ***** 50% ****** **** *** Q1615, ~**' **. **', despite *** ***** **********.

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

  • **** *** * ** integrated **** **** **** Camera ******* *** ******* Security ****** ********* ** Axis. [[******: ***** *** supports *** *.*/* ** an ******** ** ******* 7.4 *** *****.]]
  • *** ***** ******* ****** integration, ****** **** ** camera */* *** ** used ** ******* ****** upon *****.

VMD * ******** *** ************* ***************

**** *** * ** a **** ************ ****** application ********** **** **** current *** **** ********** Axis *******. ** ******** similarly ** *** *.*,***** ** ****** ************** ***** ******* ********. However, **** *** ***** three ******** ************* ******* intended ** ****** **** common ***** ***** *******:

*****-***** *******

**** ******* ******* ******* which *** ** *** scene *** * ***** period ** ****. ** found **** ******* **** to *-* ******* ********** many ***** ****** **** with ** ***, **** as **** ********* ** leaves ******* ******* *** scene, ** ********* *********** from **** ****** ****. Using *** ** ****** maximum ********* ** * defined **** *** **** serve ** * *********** loitering ***** ** ******** are ********* *******, *** should *** ** ********.

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

***** **** ******* ******* under * ******* **** are *******. **** *** be ****** ** ********* of ***** ******** ** desired, *** ***** ******* should ** *******. ** may **** ** **** to ****** ******* **** particles ** ******. *******, users ****** ** ******* to *** *** ******* object **** *** *****, as **** *** ******* valid ***** ******* ** the **** ** *** scene, ** ***** ********* obscured.

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

*******, **** ******** ***** users ** ****** ****** from ******* ***** ********** move **** * ***** distance, **** ** ******** or *******. ** ***** that ***** ******* **** setting ** *** ****** or ********* ****** **** these *******, ** ******* reduced ******** *****, ** much ** **-**% ********* on *** ***** ********.

******* ** **** ******* reduction ** *****, ** do *** ********* ***** this ****** ****** ********** necessary. ** ** ***** possible ** ******* ******* without ******* ******* ********, as **** ******** *** be ** *** **** of *** *** ** above *** ******* ***** subjects ***** *** ** present. ********* ***** ******* has ** ******** ****** on ******** ** ***** cases.

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

** ****** ***** ************* options ** *** ***** below:

Test *****/*********

*** **** ***** *** selected ** ** **** represented *** ** *** above ***** ***** ******, with ***** *** ******* traffic, *******, *** ***** animals ******* ** * typical ********** ***********.

** ******* ***** ** the **** ******** ***** causes ** ***** ******, such ** ****** **********, blowing ******, ***** ********, and ***** *******, *** secondarily ** ********* *****. Testing *** * *********** of ****** ******* **** human *** ******* ********, and ******* *******, ******* the ******* ** ***** to ***** *** ***** activations *** ********* ***********.

False ***** ***********

** ****** *** * installed ** ****' **** end ***** ***** *** camera, ** **** ** a *****-** **** ********** IR. **** **** ****** alongside ** ******** *.**-***-*** integrated ** ******.

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

***** ******* ******** (** short *****, *****, ** swaying ****** ******* ****** on), ***** ****** **** commonly **** **** ***** sources:

  • ****** ******** *** *****, both *** *** *****.
  • ********* ********** ** ******* cars ** *****.

***** ***** ******** ** saw ** ****** **** other ******** ***** ****** such ** ***** ******* or ******* ******.

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

** ***** *** ****** on ***** ****** ** set *** *'* ***** lived ****** ******* ** 2 ******* ** **** matched ********'* ******* ********, and ***** *** **** of *** **** ****, a ***** ****** ** the ***** ** **** would ** ******* *** at ***** **** ****** of ****.

** **** ***** ****** settings ***, ** ** wanted ** ***** ** distant ****** *** ******** which *** **** ***** this *********, *** **** swaying ****** ******** *** to ******** ********* *****.

***** ***** ********, ***** alerts ******* *************. ****** from ******* ***** *** branches **** ***** **** common, ****** ** * drastically ******* **** (*-* per *** **. *-** per ****). *** ***** below ********** ******* ***** which ********* ***** ******.

*** * *** *** activate ** ****** ****** due ** ****** ******* through *** ***, ******* below. *** ******** *** camera ********* ** ***** leaves *-* ***** **** the ****** ** *******.

***** ********* ********, *** 3 *** **** *** affected ** ********* ****** as ******** *** ** times. *** ***** *********** area ***** *** ********** of *** ********** **** the **** ******, ***** triggered *** *** ****** multiple ***** **** *** course ** *******. *** larger *********** ***** ************ triggered *** ******** ********* as ****** ****** **, though **** *** *** occur ** ****** ****** using *** *.

*******, ** ****** *** cameras ******* ******** ***** indoors, ********* ******* *** closing *** **** ** a **** ****, ******* lights ** *** ***, and *********** ********** ** the ***** ** *** scene. **** ** ***** issues ********* ****** ** the ******* ******* *** 3, *** ********.

Coverage ***********

** *** **** *****, coverage ***** ** *** 1080p **** ***** ******* VMD * *** **** slightly **** **** *** Avigilon *.**-***-*** ****** *** day, ~***' **. ~***' horizontal ***** ** ****. The **** **** *****-**'* coverage *** ~***' *** to *** ***** **********.

** *****, ******** ***** the ***** ***** ** only ***** * ~**' HFOV *** ** *** lack ** ********** **. The *****-** ******* ** ~44' ****, ~**% ****** than *** ***** *** to *** ***** ** IR. *** ******** *** camera ****** ****, ** about * **' ****.

***********

**** *** *, **** 2.1 ****** **, ********** only **** **** ****** Station *** ******* ******** Center *** ** *** box. ***** ***** **** two ********* ******* *** integrating ***** ******:

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

**** *****, **** ** ExacqVision *** ********* ********, accept *** ****** **** over *** ***** *** be **** ** ***** events. ***** ****** ** event ** *** ****** which ***** * ******** string **** *** * activation. *** *** ******* for **** ****** ** trigger ********* ***/** ******. This ******* ** ******** in ********* ******* ********.

*** **** ******** ** this ****** ** ****. Creating ***** ***** ** each ****** *** ************* actions ** **** ****** and ********** **** **** properly *** **** **-** minutes *** ******. **** quickly **** ** ** even ***-***** *******.

****** */* *****

* ****** ****** ** to ********* *** ****** to ******* * ***** output **** *** * alarm. **** ****** ** then ********** ** *** camera's *****. *** *** may **** ** ********** to ******* ********* ***/** alerts **** ********** ** the ****** *****.

**** *** ****** *********** described *****, **** ******** events ** ** ******* in **** ****** *** VMS, ***** *** ** time-consuming. ************, **** ****** assumes *** *** ******** the ******'* ***** ** an ***** *******, *** that */* ** *** required *** *** ***** purpose.

******: ***** *******

***** ******** *** * as ** ******** (***** with ***** **** ******** events) ** ******* *.* and *****. ***** *** configure *** ****** ** record ** *** * using ***** *******, **** here:

Firmware ********

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

  • **** *****-**: *.**.*
  • **** ***** : *.**.*.*
  • ******** *.**-***-***: *.*.*.**

Comments (16)

Luis Sadio

01/12/15 04:26pm

Ethan,

Will you make test with shadows or rain?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Luis Sadio | 01/12/15 04:32pm

We did see periods of time with shadows moving. VMD 3 didn't trigger on them in this scene. Avigilon did in only one instance over the course of testing.

As for rain, we would like to, it's just a matter of getting a reliably rainy day. We've tested some analytics in the rain in the past and found that false alerts weren't a problem, but not these specifically.

Undisclosed #1

01/12/15 05:58pm

A second option is to configure the camera to trigger a relay output upon VMD 3 alarm. This output is then connected to the camera's input.

Quite disappointing that Axis would make you give up 2 I/O ports to use what is essentially a 'paperclip shunt', instead of making a checkbox in the software.

Avatar

Ross Vander Klok

IPVMU Certified | 01/12/15 08:08pm

Does Avigilon analytics still only work if it is Avigilon from end to end? Or are other VMS' writing these Avigilon analytic cameras in now?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Ross Vander Klok | 01/12/15 08:44pm

I haven't seen any third parties integrate them as of yet.

Avatar

Brian Selltiz

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ross Vander Klok | 01/13/15 04:56pm

Ross I have been pushing Milestone to integrate the Avigilon analytics via OnViff but haven't gotten anywhere with them yet.

Anyone who is reading this who sells Milestone - give your RSM a call and tell them you want it!

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Brian Selltiz | 01/13/15 05:05pm

Brian, I sent an email to Milestone corporate asking for feedback. I'll update it here if I receive any news.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

01/13/15 03:17am

I cringe when I see the workarounds in the articles. That 10-15 minutes per camera somehow equates to "free" in sales lingo simply because it can be done.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 01/13/15 07:33am

To give context, the 10-15 minute reference is from here:

"The main drawback to this method is time. Creating event rules on each camera and corresponding actions in each camera and confirming they work properly may take 10-15 minutes per camera. This quickly adds up in even mid-sized systems."

We never said this was 'free' and we emphasized that this adds up.

Amos Wipf

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 01/13/15 01:53pm

While it certainly isn't free I have been able to implent the TCP work around in <5 minutes which to me is well worth the time spent for much more reliable motion detection. Hopefully the VMS folks will realize that tight integration is worth their efforts!

Undisclosed Integrator #3

01/13/15 11:09am

If I got it right, the VMD software has to reside on the VMS server or a separate server, its not running in the camera itself?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 01/13/15 01:27pm

No, the Axis VMD software resides on the Axis camera. However, the VMS server needs to know how to receive alerts from the camera. That's the issue / complexity discussed throughout the report.

Mike Davis

01/13/15 03:01pm

John,

You shoud have included a Mobotix M15 with MxActivitySensor, you can pick the lens type Color, B/W or Thermal. If you pick thermal you have VMD in complete darkeness. I know you have testes VMD on a Q24 in the past but from our experiece the M15 has been the best solution for most applications requiring outdoor VMD. Actvity sensor eliminates all wind, rain, leaves and reflected light issues. The only issues we have run into is animal detection which it cannot filter out and complete sun blow out of the image in the South Florida sun. The sun blowout can be reduced using advanced setup options to where it only happens on extremely bright days with moving clouds, maybe a couple of time a month. As far as setup is concerned the default settings are highly effective and only take a minute to enable. More extreme situations will take some added time, but not 10 to 15 minutes once your used to programming the camera.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Mike Davis | 01/13/15 03:30pm

Mike,

Thanks for the feedback.

For member's reference, we tested the Mobotix analytics here and Mobotix did well in that test. The one area where it did not was simply because the Q24, like most panoramic cameras is poor in low light.

The reason for not doing any further Mobotix tests is because it's Mobotix. The company has had significant internal issues and they have weak third party support (no ONVIF, proprietary CODEC, no H.264, etc.). If and when Mobotix adds ONVIF and H.264, not only will it be good for their business but we'd be much more likely to tes them more often.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

05/12/15 09:08pm

So, I tested Axis VMD3 last week as a potential VideoIQ alternative (I used VideoIQ a lot before the Avigilon Aquisition). My particular scene included leafy shadows from tall trees above, and it triggered VMD3 like crazy. I'm pretty sure VideoIQ would have rejected those correctly. Also, every freaking animal triggers VMD3. In my test scenes I could probably filter out the worst of this using minimum size restrictions, but for many perimiter protection scenarios I am often covering a VERY deep depth of field, and a possum in the foreground may appear bigger than a person in the background.

It would be nice if Axis offered a way to overlay the detection boxes on the recorded video. When you have multiple ignore regions, ignore small objects, and ignore swaying objects all turned on it can be difficult to tell which filter needs to be tweaked to eliminate a given false alarm. Does camera center play back the video with detection boxes?

From my perspective, VMD3 is still a LONG way from replacing VideoIQ as my goto analytic solution for perimiter protection. That said, it is a huge improvement over standard motion detection. VMS vendors could only benefit by adding support; less money on hard drives means more money for cameras and VMS licenses.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 04/04/16 04:35pm

Note: Exacq added support for VMD 3 as an analytic in recent versions. Recording can be set up using Event Linking, which we've added to the report above, as well.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
Milestone XProtect 2019 R1 Tested on May 15, 2019
For the past few years, Milestone has released quarterly software updates XProtect VMS platform. What is new and how much impact do the updates...
Bluecherry Open Sources Entire VMS on May 13, 2019
Bluecherry announced they have "released the entire Bluecherry software application open source with a GPL license". We spoke to Bluecherry's...
Mining Company Security Manager Interview on May 10, 2019
First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations...
Hikvision DeepinView Camera Analytics Tested on May 08, 2019
Hikvision is expanding its 'deep learning' offerings with a new camera series called 'DeepinView' claiming false alarm reduction and improved...
Aegis AI Gun Detection Video Analytics Startup on May 07, 2019
Gun detection analytic startups are increasing as the promise of AI and the threats of active shooters grow.  One company, Aegis AI, is being led...
Restaurant Security Manager Interview on May 06, 2019
Wright’s Gourmet House in Tampa, Florida has been around for over 50 years. During most of that time, there were no security measures in place. Now...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
ASCMA / Monitronics Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on May 22, 2019
Monitronics is entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, also called Ascent Capital Group Inc., aka ASCMA, aka Brinks Home Security,...
US Considers Sanctions Against Hikvision and Dahua on May 22, 2019
The US government is considering blacklisting "up to 5" PRC surveillance firms, including Hikvision and Dahua, Bloomberg reported, with human...
Dahua USA Celebrates 5 Years of Errors on May 21, 2019
Dahua USA is, in their own words, 'celebrating' 5 years in North America or as trade magazine SSN declared: Dahua Technology finds success in...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Covert Facial Recognition Using Axis and Amazon By NYTimes on May 20, 2019
What if you took a 33MP Axis camera covering one of the busiest parks in the US and ran Amazon Facial Recognition against it? That is what the...
Amazon Ring Public Subsidy Program Aims To Dominate Residential Security on May 20, 2019
Amazon dominates market after market. Quitely, but increasingly, they are doing so in residential security, through a combination of significant...
LifeSafety Power NetLink Vulnerabilities And Problematic Response on May 20, 2019
'Power supplies' are not devices that many think about when considering vulnerabilities but as more and more devices go 'online', the risks for...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Inside Look Into Scam Market Research on May 17, 2019
Scam market research has exploded over the last few years becoming the most commonly cited 'statistics' for most industries, despite there clearly...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact