Avigilon Motion Detection Not Working? | Pro Guide

Professional Guide to Troubleshooting Avigilon Motion Detection

An Avigilon security system is a powerful tool, but if it's not detecting or recording motion events, its value is severely compromised. This guide is designed for operators and administrators to diagnose and resolve common motion detection issues within the Avigilon Control Center (ACC) environment.

We will cover both traditional pixel-based motion detection and Avigilon's advanced video analytics.

Step 1: Verify the Camera's Recording Schedule

First, ensure the camera is actually configured to record on motion.

1. Log in to the ACC Client: Access your Avigilon site.
2. Select the Camera: In the system explorer tree on the left, find and select the camera in question.
3. Go to Setup: Click the 'Setup' button in the top toolbar.
4. Open the Recording Tab: Navigate to the 'Recording' tab.
5. Check the Schedule: You will see a timeline for the week. The camera will only record based on the colours shown.
   • Green: Record on motion.
   • Blue: Record continuously.
   • No Colour: Do not record.
   • Red: Record on alarm.

If the desired time is not coloured green, the camera will not record on motion. Click and drag on the timeline to set the correct schedule.

Step 2: Configure Motion Detection Settings

This is where you define what constitutes 'motion' for the camera.

For Pixel-Based Motion Detection:

This method looks for changes in pixels between frames. It's effective but can be prone to false alarms from things like shadows or rain.

1. Navigate to the Motion Detection Tab: In the camera's setup menu, select the 'Motion Detection' tab.
2. Enable Motion Detection: Ensure the checkbox to enable it is ticked.
3. Draw Motion Zones: A grid will be overlaid on the camera's view. Select the squares (regions) where you want to detect motion. Do not select the entire screen. Only select the specific areas of interest.
4. Adjust Sensitivity and Threshold:
   • Sensitivity: Determines how much a pixel needs to change to be considered motion. Higher sensitivity means smaller changes will trigger an event.
   • Threshold: Determines how many pixels need to change within a region to trigger an event.
   • Best Practice: Start with default settings. If you get too many false alarms, slightly decrease sensitivity or increase the threshold. If you are missing events, slightly increase sensitivity or decrease the threshold.

For Avigilon Video Analytics:

This is the preferred method, using AI to classify objects like people and vehicles.

1. Navigate to the Analytics Tab: In the camera's setup menu, select the 'Analytics' tab.
2. Enable Analytics: Ensure the feature is enabled for the camera.
3. Calibrate the Scene: You must run the 'Calibrate Analytics Scene' tool. This helps the camera understand perspective and the ground plane, which is crucial for accurate object classification. Follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Configure Analytic Events: Go to the 'Analytic Events' tab. Here you can create rules, such as "trigger an event when a person crosses a beam" or "when a vehicle enters a region". Ensure these rules are correctly configured and enabled.

Step 3: Check for Live View vs. Recorded View Discrepancies

Sometimes, motion detection settings are applied in a way that affects recording but not live view.

• Motion Highlighting: In the live view, enable motion highlighting. You should see green boxes appear around moving objects. If you see the boxes but get no recordings, the issue is almost certainly with the Recording Schedule (Step 1).
• No Motion Highlighting: If you see motion with your eyes but no green boxes appear, the problem lies with your Motion Detection or Analytics Settings (Step 2). The sensitivity is too low, or the analytics rule is not configured correctly.

Step 4: Rule Out Environmental and System Issues

• Lighting: For analytics to work best, good lighting is essential. In very low light or with strong glare, the camera may struggle to classify objects. Ensure IR illumination is working correctly if applicable.
• Firmware and Software Versions: Ensure both your camera's firmware and your ACC Server software are on recent, compatible versions. Mismatched versions can sometimes cause unexpected behaviour.

By methodically working through these configuration steps in the ACC software, you can pinpoint the exact reason why motion detection is failing and restore the full operational capability of your Avigilon security system.