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Introduction

This page covers the protocols by which different makes and models of cameras are integrated into the Witness™ system.

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Overview

Witness™ supports a variety of cameras for automatic control. Each camera is tested, calibrated and integrated by our software team. This ensures the camera operates correctly when controlled by our radar system. Where additional camera features, such as wiper and lamp control are available, we integrate these so the operator has full manual control through Witness™ if required. Each camera is tested for speed of response, quality of movement and accuracy.

ONVIF Support

Witness™ can support most ONVIF cameras not included on our supported camera list. However we still like to test all cameras for compatibility and most cameras will require a zoom calibration. So where possible, we like to test cameras at our UK office before installation. This will guarantee that the camera works as expected. If we find faults with a camera then we request support from the manufacturer to help us resolve the problem before returning the camera.

Custom Integration

Where appropriate we have used manufacturer specific protocols (i.e. FLIR). Sometimes the manufacturer's own protocol offers more features than standard ONVIF, or in some cases the camera may not support ONVIF. We can undertake integration of almost any PTZ camera as long as it is a network device (i.e. not serial) and supports accurate absolute positioning for pan, tilt and zoom through network communication. If you are unsure if your camera can be used with our software, please contact us to ask about integration.

Zoom Calibration and Testing

Zoom calibration is required to match the magnification of the camera lens to the range of the target. When automatically tracking targets, our software will always maintain the most suitable zoom level based on the size and distance of the target. If your camera works with our standard ONVIF driver, but you are unable to provide us with a device to test, then it may be possible to perform the zoom calibration as part of the on site commissioning. However, without testing there is no guarantee that the camera will respond as expected and we would strongly recommend all non-supported cameras are tested by our development team.

Supported Cameras

The table below shows, at a glance, which camera models have been integrated with Witness™ and the level of integration achieved. Integration is graded as follows:

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