SecurOS Traffic - Camera Install Guide

June 2012 New Jersey USA. ISS research & development

v.1.2

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Scope of Document
This document is intended to help with the installation of the camera(s) that will be used in conjunction
with the SecurOS Traffic Module. For additional information on this subject please contact the ISS
Technical Support team at support@isscctv.com.
NOTE: For actual deployment of the SecurOS Traffic module it is required to have an ISS engineer
present on site.

Type of camera
An analog or IP camera can be used. If analog camera is used, it must have at least 570TVL of
resolution with a ½” or ⅓” CCD matrix and with manual exposure set to 1/2000 or 1/5000 seconds. If an
IP camera is used it must be able to stream 25-30 fps and must also support shutter speed of 1/2000 or
1/5000 seconds. In addition, it must support RTP streaming, which is now commonplace and such
streaming for the camera must be supported by SecurOS (true for most of integrated IP cameras). When
in doubt, please consult with the ISS Technical Support team.

Camera lens type and zoom setting

Use a varifocal zoom lens with a maximum focal length of 80 mm or more. This feature normally makes
it possible to obtain high-quality images of vehicles at different distances from the camera.

Camera resolution / Frames per second

A camera resolution of at least CIF4 (NTSC: 640x480 / PAL: 704x576) is recommended to analyze 3
lanes of traffic. A camera resolution of CIF1 can be used for 1 or 2 lanes of traffic. Large resolutions are
generally superfluous. Recommended frame rate is 25-30 fps.

Camera features
Make sure that most of the intelligent functions or automatic options of camera and lens are disabled
(back-light compensation, auto focus, auto shaking compensation and others). Auto-iris, auto-gain, or
auto-shutter may be activated but preferably should be set to adjust to the viewing conditions at the
lowest possible pace (if this setting is available with the camera in question). Do not forget to turn off
any display/overlay of text data in the captured video (e.g. output of capture date and time, etc.).

Camera with auto‐shutter (ELC)

To adjust the iris diaphragm:
1) Switch on the auto shutter of the camera.
2) Set the iris in an almost closed position.
3) Record several samples of vehicles passing by.
4) Go to the video archive and evaluate the quality of recorded images.
5) If the vehicle images are a little dark, then open the iris a bit more and repeat the previous steps.
6) When you have sharp images of the vehicles, stop the procedure and fix the iris in this position.

Shutter speed
Camera should support shutter speed of up to 1/2000 or 1/5000 sec.

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The shutter speed should be set to a reasonably small value to prevent blurring (this is determined by the
traffic speed and the angle at which the vehicles are viewed). At a speed of 60 km/h a car passes 15
meters per second, and 1 mm—for 1/2000 second.

Camera angle
• The camera must be mounted so it is looking down at the lane(s) of traffic.
• Height of camera must be at least 20 feet (~ 6 meters).
• If there is only one lane, then the camera should preferably be centered in the middle of the lane.
• If there are multiple lanes the camera should preferably be centered in the middle of the lanes.
o
• Vertical angle (between camera and top of cars): at least 45
• Horizontal angle (between camera and center of lane(s)):
o
o Ideal: 0
o
o No more than: 30

o
At least: 45

Figure 1: Vertical angle

o
Ideal: 0
No More than: 30
o
o
30

o
0

o
30

Figure 2: Horizontal angle

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Camera position
• The camera should capture no less than 40m of the road length (recommended value is 60-80m).
• The camera should be positioned in a way that the vehicles in the observed area are separated
from each other (not merged in the video frame) for as long as possible.
• The camera height adjustment applies in this case.
• Best traffic environments are highways, bridges, tunnels.
• Below are examples of ideal and acceptable camera positions.

Figure 3: Ideal position

Figure 4: Acceptable position

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 Figure 5: Acceptable position

Minimum vehicle size

The minimum vehicle size within the observation zone should be at least 6--10 pixels.

Illumination
Natural lighting during daytime is enough. However at nighttime the observed road length should be
adequately illuminated to make shape of more of distant cars visible in the captured video.

Warning! There must be no glare on the receiving video and the image must not be exposed. 
At night time additional light sources can be used, e. g. searchlights with either 500–1000 watt 
incandescent lamp or 250–400 watt elements of diode‐resistor logic. Also use setting IR searchlight in 
case there is no place for additional illumination. IR searchlight is selected depending on necessary 
illumination angle and distance. With IR searchlight it is recommended to use cameras together with IR 
Corrective filter for glare and camera extra exposure compensation. 
Note: IR illuminators by Pelco are a good option. 

Lightning guard
Use lightning guard equipment to protect connected active devices from external natural interference.

Thermo‐box
Use thermo-boxes depending on climatic conditions of the region. Its size is determined by size of
camera and lens. It is recommended to use thermo-boxes with heating and blower functions.

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