ADT Control Video Analytics FAQs

Video Analytics enables you to get smarter alerts from your ADT HD Pro video cameras on your ADT Command platform. It actively detects and distinguishes between people, animals and vehicles to reduce nuisance alerts.

Combined with new virtual tripwires and fenced-in activity zones, you can improve perimeter security and gain more insight into what happens around your home.

When a person, vehicle or animal is detected, you receive an enhanced alert with a thumbnail image of what was caught on camera. You control what should trigger a video alert and what can be ignored.

For example, when a:

• Person enters their yard at night, but not animals
• Car pulls into your driveway, but not when it drives past
• Pet gets on the sofa, but not when it walks around the room
• Person loiters on your porch, but not when your mail is delivered

Video Analytics rules can be configured using the Control Portal and Control App. You can create up to three Video Analytics rules on the same camera. For instructions on how to configure a new rule, check out the Quick Start Guide here. If you want more advanced tips and tricks to make the most out of Video Analytics, check out our Best Practices guide here.

A Ground Zone rule lets you set a time period for how long someone can be in a designated space before it transitions to lingering or even loitering. You set up the space – like a front porch – and acceptable length of time. If someone lingers in the space for longer than the designated time, the camera records a clip and sends an alert.

You just need to verify that the Ground Zone is fitted to the ground or floor where the feet (or paws) or wheels will be.

A Tripwire rule is pretty much what it sounds like: a virtual tripwire that triggers an alert if someone or something passes through it. Use a Tripwire rule create a virtual perimeter for specific spaces. Then, when a person, animal or vehicle passes through that space, your camera will send an alert and record a clip.

You just need to verify that the Tripwire is placed where the feet (or paws) or wheels will cross the threshold.

Avoid intersecting Tripwires or overlapping Ground Zones with objects that are prone to movements, such as trees, bushes or other things that move in the wind.

Only draw the rule where the feet or wheels of an object are likely to cross.

• Don’t increase the size of the Ground Zone or Tripwire to cover the whole of the target.
• Don’t include furniture, walls, trees or other structures in the rule/selection.

After observing what the rule detects over a few days, consider adjusting either the Minimum Object Detection Size slider or recalibrating the camera.

When adjusting the Minimum Object Detection Size slider:

• Increasing the minimum object size can reduce false detection.
• Decreasing the minimum object size can detect smaller targets.