17  Virtual Fence

The Virtual Fence feature allows you to draw a fence line or an area detection to protect any border or area within the camera’s field-of-view. For enhanced security the system can be set to trigger alarms when an object crosses a designated virtual fence.
  • Fence Line: Fence lines are drawn within the camera’s image to define area boundaries and determine which direction a person and/or vehicle needs to travel to trigger an alarm. If an object crosses the fence line, an alarm is triggered. Fence lines are useful for monitoring when an object is entering/exiting an area, or to monitor areas with flow control.
  • Area Detection: Area detection is a designated area drawn in the camera’s image to detect motion and determine which direction a person and/or vehicle needs to travel to trigger an alarm. If motion is detected within the area detection, an alarm is triggered. Area detection can be used to protect areas where no one should be present or anywhere that should have no activity during non-work hours.
Virtual Fence is compatible with certain Lorex cameras. For a complete list of compatible cameras, navigate to your recorder series at .

17.1  Ensuring Virtual Fence Detection Accuracy

The following are important camera installation notes to ensure accurate virtual fence detection. Refer to the documentation that came with your camera or search for your camera model number at for full mounting instructions.
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Angle
Height
Minimum Distance
Maximum Distance
15°–45°
10–16ft
(3–5m)
16ft (5m)
72ft (22m)
  • Install the camera in a simple environment with low-traffic
  • Avoid facing the camera in areas with blockage or obstructions such as trees
  • Ensure that there is sufficient lighting around the area
  • Angle the camera towards indirect light; avoid locations with complex lighting, overexposure, low light, or strong background lights
  • If monitoring vehicles, install the camera parallel to roadsides to avoid headlights

17.2  Configuring Virtual Fence

Create fence lines or area detection rules to monitor protected areas and trigger intrusion alarms. Select channels that you want to enable virtual fence on and adjust preferences.
    To configure virtual fence settings:
  1. From the Live View display, right-click to open the Quick Menu, then click Main Menu.
  2. Click Events, then Event Settings. Click the Virtual Fence tab from the side panel.
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  3. Select a channel with a compatible camera.
  4. Click Add to create a virtual fence.
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  5. Check to enable the rule.
  6. Set a name for the rule by double-clicking the mouse over the Name of the rule.
  7. Select between Fence Line or Area Detection types.
  8. Click the Draw icon icon and customize the active area for virtual fence.
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    • Draw Rule: Select the draw icon icon and click on the camera’s live view screen. For fence line, draw a line around the border that you want to establish. For area detection, draw around the area that you want to protect. Continue to click to change the direction of the virtual fence and then right-click to finish. Click the delete icon icon to remove a drawn rule.
    • Action: Check Appear to detect if a person and/or vehicle appears in the defined area or check Cross to detect if a person and/or vehicle enters or exits the defined area, or check both.
    • Direction: Determine which direction an object needs to travel to trigger an alarm. You can select Entry for movement entering the defined area, or Exit for movement exiting the defined area, or Both for both types of directions.
    • Target Filter: Click to disable or enable the detection target filter. When enabled, check Person or Vehicle or both to enable each type of detection. When the target filter is disabled, virtual fence will not detect any movement.
    • Click OK to finish.
  9. Click the Trigger icon icon to adjust when and how the system will react to virtual fence detection.
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  10. Click Setup next to Schedule to choose which days and times of the week to enable virtual fence:
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    • Click or click-and-drag along each of the red timelines to quickly add or remove time from each day’s schedule in 30–minute segments.
    • Click icon beside 2 or more days to link schedules (icon ). This allows you to quickly change multiple schedules at once.
    • To make fine adjustments to a schedule, click icon . This will allow you to set exact start and end times for a schedule.
  11. Choose how the system will react when virtual fence is triggered:
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    • Show Message: Check to enable an on-screen pop-up when one of your cameras detects motion. On-screen pop-up shows the channels an event occurred on and the type of event.
    • Send Email: Check to enable email alerts. You must configure email alerts before you will be able to receive them (see 19.6.9 Configuring Email Alerts ).
    • Record Channel: Select the channels that will record when motion is detected on the selected channel. Set the length of recording following a motion detection event in the Post_REC field.
    • PTZ Activation: Set connected PTZ cameras to start a tour, pattern, or go to a preset location.
    • Sequence: Sequence mode will begin. Select the numbered tiles next to this option to include the corresponding channels in the sequence.
    • Snapshot: Select the numbered tiles next to this option to save a snapshot of the corresponding channels.
    • Buzzer: Check to enable the system buzzer.
    • Warning Light: Check to enable the warning light when motion is detected. Click Schedule to set the warning light schedule. To adjust the warning light settings, refer to section 14.1 Configuring Warning Light .
    • Dual Warning Light (White/Blue Light): Check to enable the dual warning light when motion is detected. Click Schedule to set the dual warning light schedule. To adjust the dual warning light settings, refer to section 14.2 Configuring Dual Warning Light .
  12. Click OK.
  13. Click Apply to save changes.
  14. To remove a virtual fence rule, click the Delete icon icon for that rule.

17.3  Searching for Virtual Fence Events (Smart Search)

Search for virtual events on a specific channel or the entire system. You can also choose to back up events (USB flash drive required – not included).
    To perform a smart search:
  1. From the Live View display, right-click to open the Quick Menu, then click Smart Search.
  2. Click the Virtual Fence tab from the side panel.
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  3. Select a camera to search for virtual events, or select All cameras.
  4. Choose the period for your search, then enter the start and time.
  5. Select the type of virtual fence for your search, or select All.
  6. Check the detection type or both.
  7. Click Search.
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  8. Events that match your search criteria are displayed. You now have the following options:
    • Click a thumbnail to preview the event. Double-click the preview window to view in full screen.
    • Check thumbnails to perform other actions:
      • Backup: Back up events.
      • Lock: Lock events.
      • Add Book Mark: Bookmark events.