To collect the most accurate data for Vision Analytics, use cameras that capture natural bottlenecks (aka choke points) where people in the store must pass through or lanes where vehicles drive through.
Ideal camera placement should be nearest the choke point, which may differ depending on the use case.
Examples of choke points include:
Line Cross Choke Points = Entrance/exits, aisles, sidewalks, vehicle lanes
Zone Tracking Choke Points = Vestibules, queue areas, waiting room
The further the camera placement is away from the choke point, the harder it will be for the AI to detect people/vehicles.
Camera Placement for People
The information below provides guidance on camera placement for tracking people with Vision Analytics.
Line Cross: Best Field of View for Occupancy Counting (Good)
To get the most accurate data when using Line Cross, choose or position cameras to the height and angle as outlined below:
Height: Install the camera between 2.5 to 4 meters above the ground.
Angle: Tilt the camera downward at a 30-45 degree angle for optimal coverage.
Fig 1
Fig 1 shows the camera pointed outside of a vestibule where people will enter the store. This is an ideal place to draw your line because there is plenty of time to detect people as they enter the frame.
Customers who enter through the door and cross the line should appear “big enough” to detect.
Zone Tracking: Best Field of View (Good)
To get the most accurate data for Zone Tracking, choose or position cameras to match the following guidelines:
Coverage: Ensure the camera's field of view encompasses the entire area where people pass.
Positioning: Center the camera to avoid blind spots.
Fig 2
Fig 3
In Fig 2, the camera is pointing at the customer queue and there are no obstructions present, making this an ideal camera angle for Zone Tracking.
In Fig 3, the camera is facing display shelves and is placed ideally to capture a zone placed in front of the shelves (people standing in front of the shelves/browsing within the zone).
Optimal Lighting Conditions
For all AI features, ensure optimal lighting in the camera view as outlined below:
Avoid Glare: Position the camera away from direct sunlight or reflective surfaces.
Consistent Lighting: Ensure the area is evenly lit for accurate counting.
Optimal Lighting (Good) | Poor Lighting (Bad) |
| 
|
Avoid Obstructions
For all AI features, ensure obstructions in the camera view are minimal as outlined below:
Clear Path: Keep the camera's view free from obstacles like signs or decorations.
Regular Checks: Inspect the area periodically for new obstructions.
Obstruction Example 1 | Obstruction Example 2 |
|
|
Camera Placement for Vehicles
The information below provides guidance on camera placement for tracking vehicles with Vision Analytics, specifically for oil change services.
The following image provides a bird's-eye-view of a 3-bay oil changer site, along with optimal camera placements (further outlined in the following sections):
Line Cross: Drive Off Tracking
In the oil change industry, vehicles waiting in the queue outside may sometimes "drive off" for a variety of reasons (waiting too long for service, arriving too early before the business opens) instead of entering one of the bays. You can track drive-offs with Solink's Line Cross feature.
The optimal camera placement pictured below will provide better drive-off data with Line Cross (avoid the sub-optimal camera placement pictured):
Optimal Camera Placement (Good) | Sub-Optimal Camera Placement (Bad) |
| 
|
Zone Tracking: Bay Entrances
Use Solink's Zone Tracking feature to measure waiting times at bay entrances.
Note: Optimal camera angles for Zone Tracking at bay entrances may vary based on the number of bays/lanes.
The examples below show 3-bay lanes; you may need to adjust the camera/zone(s) based on the number of lanes your site has.
Optimal Camera Placement (Good)
Fig 4
Fig 5
The camera angle in Fig 4 is ideal - it is facing towards the front of the cars and captures two lanes while avoiding zone overlap. It is also positioned to capture multiple cars per lane.
The camera angle in Fig 5 is also ideal for capturing the third lane only. If the camera angle is positioned slightly from the side, as shown in Fig 2, it is ideal for capturing one zone (more than one zone at this angle risks zone overlap).
Sub-Optimal Camera Placement (Bad)
This camera angle is not ideal for capturing multiple zones. If using a side-view, try to limit to just one zone/lane and compensate with an additional angle, as shown in the previous section.
Zone Tracking: Bay Interiors
Use Solink's Zone Tracking feature to measure waiting times within bay interiors.
Note: Note: Optimal camera angles for Zone Tracking in bay interiors may vary based on the number of bays/lanes.
Optimal Camera Placement (Good)
Fig 6
Fig 7
Camera angles are similar to the optimal camera placements outlined in the previous section (Bay Entrances).
Fig 6 shows ideal camera placement because it captures two vehicles head-on and avoids zone overlap.
Fig 7 shows ideal camera placement because it captures one vehicle while avoiding zone overlap (however, the spacing is ideal in this bay interior and could allow for capturing at least one additional zone).
Sub-Optimal Camera Placement (Bad)
This camera angle is not ideal for capturing multiple zones. If using a side-view, try to limit to just one zone/lane and compensate with an additional angle, as shown in the previous section.