Before installing the camera, first determine its main objective and the area you want to capture. This will help you position the camera in the right spot and configure the appropriate settings.

For full coverage of an area, make sure to position the camera in the right spot for optimal coverage. If the objective is to detect people, vehicles, or specific events in an area, you may need to use an additional camera to monitor a specific capture point that allows for clear capture of the intended objective.

Place the camera where you want to capture the image. You can mount the camera on a wall or ceiling or place it on a flat surface. Ensure that the camera is pointing in the right direction and the angle of view is correct. To check whether the position the camera is mounted can meet your purpose and capture the area you want, check the camera’s DORI.

Camera DORI #

DORI stands for “Detection, Observation, Recognition, and Identification”. It is an industry standard used to specify the performance of surveillance cameras in terms of the level of detail they can capture at specific distances.

For more information about Synology Camera DORI, check your camera’s datasheet.

Detection: The detection level that allows for reliable and easy determination of whether a person or vehicle is present.

Observation: The observation level that gives characteristic details of an individual, such as distinctive clothing, while allowing a view of the activity surrounding an incident.

Recognition: The recognition level determines with a high degree of certainty whether an individual shown is the same as someone that has been seen before.

Identify: The identification level enables the identification of an individual beyond a reasonable doubt.

Adjust the angle of the camera to capture the desired area. Make sure the camera is not pointed excessively at the sky or the ground, or too high or low. The greater the angle, the more difficult it is to recognize specific facial features. The ideal view for facial recognition is at an angle of 10-15°. If your camera is in a high-risk area, placing a camera higher up puts it out of reach for vandals.

For example, if your camera is set up in a corridor-like location, you can manually roll the camera lens to a corresponding 90 or 270° and use the Rotate function to digitally rotate the image for optimal viewpoint.

Positioning the camera for detection #

To detect people and vehicles, we recommend positioning the camera at the height and angle shown below.

• Installation Height: 2.4 to 4 meters
• Camera Tilt Angle: 30°
• Longest Detection Distance: See the camera’s specifications for more details

After verifying the height and angle, triggering mechanisms for People and Vehicle Detection, Intrusion Detection, or Counting are also important to obtain accurate detection results.

People and Vehicle Detection supports specified detection for people, vehicles, or both.

People #

People detection events are triggered when 10% of the height from the bottom center of a person’s bounding box enters the detection zone and meets one or more of the following pre-configured conditions:

• When at least one person is detected.
• When the number of people detected reaches the set number.
• When the occupancy time of at least one person reaches the set time.

Vehicle #

Vehicle detection events are triggered when 10% of a vehicle enters the detection zone and meets one or more of the following pre-configured conditions:

• When a vehicle is detected.
• When the occupancy time of a vehicle reaches the set time.

Intrusion Detection #

When people or vehicles enter the camera view, a midline is defined to mark their heights. When the bottom 10-percent-mark of the midline crosses the detection fence, an event will be triggered. 

Counting #

Counting tasks are triggered differently depending on the detection method chosen.

• Line crossing: When people and vehicles enter the camera view, a midline is defined to mark their heights. The count increases when the bottom 10-percent-mark of the midline crosses the detection line, based on the specified entry or exit direction.
  
• Area:
  • People: Changes in the number of detected bounding boxes in the area are tracked. A detection is registered when 10% of the height from the bottom center of a person’s bounding box enters the detection area.
    
  • Vehicle: Changes in the number of detected vehicles in the area are tracked. A detection is registered when 10% of a vehicle enters the detection area.
    

While Synology Camera is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, additional lighting may be necessary to achieve optimal image quality in low-light environments. Test the camera in various lighting conditions to see how it performs and adjust the settings as needed.

Avoid backlight #

Backlighting can cause the subject to be underexposed and difficult to see in the image. Position the camera so that the subject is not directly facing bright light sources.

Consider the direction of the sun #

When mounting cameras outdoors, consider how the light will change during the day. Avoid direct sunlight, as this can blind the camera and reduce the performance of the image sensor. Position the camera so that the sun is behind it.

Other considerations #

• Avoid direct reflections from nearby objects and direct the IR beam away from walls, ceilings, windows, and other highly reflective surfaces.
• External light, such as from another camera or a white light lamp, pointed towards the camera can cause reflections.
• Even small water droplets, dust, and other objects such as spider webs on the bubble can significantly deteriorate image quality by reflecting IR light. If possible, the camera should be mounted in a location less exposed to the weather. Regularly check and clean the camera lens to prevent lens contamination and dust accumulation.

Image Optimization #