User Guide

May 2023

Introduction

The Geotab Camera Add-In for Order Now camera partners allows users to view live video feeds and video recordings, create rules and exceptions to detect distracted driving behavior and harsh driving conditions, and much more.

The Add-in is only available for Customers enrolled in the Order Now program that ordered their Surfsight or Sensata cameras via Order Now on the Geotab Marketplace. Currently, the Add-in is not available for Customers who purchased Surfsight or Sensata cameras through a Partner.

Get started

Before you can use the Geotab Camera Add-In, you must install the Add-In on MyGeotab, and add a camera to an asset in the MyGeotab database.

For steps to install the Camera Add-In on MyGeotab, refer to How to add the Camera add-in to MyGeotab.

Installation Instructions

For the various options on installing your camera and the steps to follow, please review the following documents:

Adding cameras to assets

1. Navigate to the Cameras page. The Cameras page can be found under Safety > Cameras & Video > Cameras.
2. On the Cameras page, click the Add camera button.
3. On the Add Camera page, enter the required information.



✱ NOTE: To add a camera to an asset using the Geotab Camera Add-In, the camera must be ordered through the Geotab Marketplace using the Order Now program, and the serial number must match a GO device that has already been added to the database.

4. Click Save to add the camera.

Adding cameras to assets in bulk

1. Navigate to the Cameras page.
2. On the Cameras page, select Bulk import cameras from the Add camera dropdown menu.
3. In the Bulk Camera Import pop-up window, enter the required information for each device on a separate line.



✱ NOTE: To add a camera to an asset using the Geotab Camera Add-In, the camera must be ordered through the Geotab Marketplace using the Order Now program, and the serial number must match a GO device that has already been added to the database.

4. Click Import to add the cameras.

Unpairing cameras from assets

Before removing assets from MyGeotab, you must first unpair any existing cameras from the assets. After it is unpaired, the camera can be paired with another asset, either in a new asset or by installing another telematics device in the asset within the same database.

✱ NOTE: If the asset is removed from MyGeotab while the camera is still paired or if you would like to move a camera that has been unpaired to a different database, you must contact the Support team for assistance.

1. Navigate to the Cameras page.
2. On the Cameras page, select a camera from the list.
3. On the Asset Edit page, select the Camera Settings tab.
4. On the Camera Settings tab, click Unpair.
5. Click Save to save the changes.

Viewing installed cameras

Navigate to the Cameras page. On the Cameras page, the table displays a list of currently installed cameras, the current assigned driver, the associated IMEI or DRID numbers, and the serial number of the paired GO device.

Configure default settings

1. Navigate to the Cameras page.
2. On the Cameras page, click the Fleet-wide camera settings button.

* NOTE: If you do not see this option or are unable to make changes, please confirm with your administrator that your user has the appropriate permissions to edit settings. More information on security clearances can be found in the Security Clearances section of this document.

3. On the Fleet-wide Camera Settings page, you have the option to select a default configuration for event capture, including units of measure, live recording and audio recording. These values will apply to all current and new cameras on the database.

Modifying camera settings

1. Navigate to the Cameras page.
2. On the Cameras page, select a camera from the list.
3. On the Asset Edit page, select the Camera Settings tab.

* NOTE: If you do not see this option or are unable to make changes, please confirm with your administrator that your user has the appropriate permissions to edit settings. More information on security clearances can be found in the Security Clearances section of this document.

4. On the Camera Settings tab, modify the settings as needed.
5. Click Save to save the changes.

For customers using Surfsight AI-12 cameras within the EMEA region, an additional privacy option is available to enable blurring of faces & license plates. This setting will only be available at the database level and will apply to all cameras and all videos requested once turned on. This setting is listed in this menu as Concealment

* NOTE: Concealment is done as video is processed into the cloud platform and not by the camera itself. Due to this post-processing, real-time footage (live view) cannot be concealed and will show raw/unblurred video. Additionally, video retrieved from the SD card manually without being processed by the platform will also not be blurred.

Viewing camera data usage

1. Navigate to the Cameras page.
2. On the Cameras page, select a camera from the list.
3. On the Asset Edit page, select the Camera Settings tab.
4. On the Camera Settings tab, click Data Usage.

Tips for Data Management

Cameras ordered via Order Now offer a fixed data plan which, in most circumstances, should provide enough data to capture the risk events needed to support a fleet’s safety program. If you are a fleet who finds themselves running out of data, this guide provides the tips to help you make the most of your data.

Tip 1: Decide on your video telematics goals

You may have had one or more of the below goals in mind when you considered adding video telematics to your safety program. Deciding which is a priority is a first step in making the most of your data.

1. What safety objective are you trying to achieve and what does the baseline look like?
2. Are you trying to gather data to set up an incentive program?
3. Are you seeking to uncover problematic drivers?
4. Do you want video to provide a safeguard for liability?

Tip 2: Align the use of video with your goals

​There's always a temptation, especially in the beginning, to capture video for every event. This will most certainly deplete your data quickly, leaving you without video for when you actually need it. ​Instead, use the different types of functionality and integration with MyGeotab to work for you, so you can gather the data and video you actually need to meet your goals.

Tip 3: Considering adjusting your Geotab camera Event Settings to Manage Data

Limiting the amount of video saved to the cloud can help you to stay within your allotted data. One way to limit these uploads is by adjusting the settings under Camera Settings → Event Settings. Fleets can choose from three settings:

1. Automatically creates an event and uploads the video footage to the cloud (Automatic Upload option) - Best to use only for events that are of greatest concern
2. Creates an event and only uploads the data to the cloud with the video footage available upon request (Video on Request option) or
3. No video footage or event recorded (Off option)

The second option, Video on Request, is great to use for capturing data to understand safety trends and opportunities. This will help you determine which video footage you should be capturing and help answer the question “what are my largest safety issues?” For example, if you see a driver is setting off an event at a higher rate than their colleagues, this may be a time to start capturing video for that event.

Limiting the amount of video saved to the cloud can help to manage your cellular data use.

Tip 4: Using Geotab’s Rules to Capture Videos

Geotab offers an out-of-the-box ruleset, which can be adjusted as in Tip 3, but you can also leverage any Geotab Rule to capture important videos by using a “Web Request”. For example, a fleet or safety manager may want to capture video for excessive speeding or harsh braking. You may decide that these events should take priority over the “out-of-the-box” rules.

Tip 5: Remote Access to Camera Footage

As mentioned in Tip 2, you can change the settings to upload only the event data to the cloud. But what if you decide you would like to obtain that video after all? Also, what if you need video that was not uploaded for other reasons, such as not having a rule applied to trigger the upload?

Geotab offers several ways to remotely access the video on the camera. These ad hoc video requests are typically used in the cases where you may want video to exonerate a driver in a liability situation. Once a request is made, the video is uploaded to the cloud where it can be shared with other team members, eliminating the need to transfer the file.

Tip 6: Leveraging Geotab’s Exception Reporting

Creating Camera Rules will automatically create a Geotab Exception rule. If you no longer feel you need video for this rule but would like to continue to track it, remove the “Web Request” within the rule to make the most of your data. A reason a fleet may choose to discontinue recording video is when a type of risk is deprioritized. Even if the type of risk has moved down in priority, the associated data may still be relevant for your safety program.

Tip 7: Safety Scorecard

Geotab offers a Safety Scorecard. The data from the Exception Reporting in Tip 6 can also be incorporated into a customized Safety Scorecard. Your reseller or PAM can provide you with more information.

Viewing camera status on map

To view the camera status on the map, hover over the asset on the map. In the pop-up window, the Camera feed field displays Live if the asset is moving and camera footage is available, or Offline if the vehicle is not moving.

Viewing Camera Faults

1. Navigate to Maintenance > Diagnostics > Faults.
2. On the Faults page, select the Options.
3. In the Options menu, select the faults that you would like to review from the following list, and filter for specific vehicles:

1. Camera issue detected
2. Camera SD Card Not Mounted
3. Camera Recording Failure
4. Camera Hardware failure: unable to start camera imager and record video
5. Camera reset due to app freeze
6. Camera Recording failure 2 times in the last 24 hours
7. Camera constantly resetting
8. Driver camera recording failure
9. Driver camera recording when it should not be
10. SD card may be fragmented or corrupt

Note that faults can be used to create rules or in reports. These faults can be used to identify cameras with issues and common causes for issues.

View camera footage

There are various options to view camera footage, outlined in the sections below.

Viewing live camera footage from the map

1. Navigate to Map > Map.
2. From the Map, select the asset.
3. From the dropdown menu, select Live video. The camera footage opens on the right side of the page.
4. Click the Play icon to start viewing the live camera footage.

Viewing camera footage for a specific time period

1. Navigate to Map > Trips History.
2. On the Trips History page, use the Search bar to search for the asset.
3. On the map, select a point from the highlighted trip.
4. From the dropdown menu, select one of the following:
5. 1. Request 30s video recording — Shows camera footage of 30 seconds after the selected time period.
   2. Request custom video recording — Allows you to choose a custom time period, using the panel on the right side of the page.

Viewing camera footage for exception events — Trips History page

1. Navigate to Map > Trips History.
2. On the Trips History page, use the Search bar to search for the asset.
3. In the Camera Captured Exceptions panel, located on the right side of the page, select an exception event to view the camera footage.

Viewing camera footage for exception events — Exceptions page

1. Navigate to Rules & Groups > Exceptions.
2. On the Exceptions page, click the Camera exceptions.
3. On the Camera Exceptions page, click Options and modify the filters, as needed.



4. Select an exception event from the list. A panel opens on the right side of the page to display the video.

Viewing camera-specific events

1. Navigate to Engine & Maintenance > Engine and Device… > Measurements.
2. On the Engine Measurements page, select the Options.
3. In the Options menu, select the diagnostics that you would like to review from the following list, and filter for specific vehicles:
4. 1. Driver drinking or eating detected (1 = detected)
   2. Driver smoking detected (1 = detected)
   3. Driver handheld mobile device usage detected (1 = detected)
   4. Uncategorized driver distraction detected (1 = detected)
   5. Driver seatbelt status from camera system (1 = unbuckled)
   6. Other general driver concern detected (1 = detected)
   7. Camera fault: all power removed - device restarted (1 = fault occurred)
   8. ADAS Lane Departure Indication
   9. ADAS Forward Collision Warning
   10. Camera SIM cover opened (1 = opened)
   11. ADAS following distance
   12. Camera Lens Obstruction Detected (1 = detected)
   13. Camera vibration while in standby mode (1 = vibration occurred)
   14. Camera unauthorized access (1 = detected)
4. Click Apply changes.

Viewing Video Gallery

1. Navigate to the Cameras page.
2. On the Cameras page, click Video Gallery.
3. In the Video Gallery, select filters for date ranges, rules or exceptions, asset and/or driver to review events of interest.

✱ NOTE: While reviewing video related to an exception event, you can change the status and leave comments that appear on the Exceptions Detail page for the specific event. You cannot change the status or add comments for any custom videos requested from the Trips History page.

Create rules

You have the option to create rules and record camera footage for certain driving events.

Enabling default rules for video events

1. Navigate to Cameras page.
2. On the Cameras page, click the Add camera dropdown and select Video Rules.
3. On the Camera Rules page, select the event types of events and click Apply .
4. On the Video Rules page automatic upload settings can be enabled for existing rules through the on/off toggle.

✱ NOTE: The Camera Rules page only displays the rules that work with the cameras from the provider you are currently using. In the event the fleet is mixed with solutions from multiple providers, some rules may have a disclaimer that they will not apply to one or more of these cameras. Additionally, you will need to ensure the event capture is enabled for these specific events. Please refer to the Modifying camera settings section or the Configure default settings section for more information.

Creating custom rules for video events

1. Navigate to Rules & Groups > Rules.
2. On the Rules page, click Add.
3. Under the Name tab, enter the required information, then select the Conditions tab.
4. Under the Conditions tab, click Engine data. For Type, click Measurement or Data.



5. For the Diagnostic: field, click Display All Diagnostics, then select an event from the dropdown menu located above the button.



6. In the Value field, select Over and enter the value 0.
7. Click Add.
8. Next, go to Notifications.
9. Open the Move options menu and select Web Request. 
11. Once complete, click Save.

✱ NOTE: You can add conditions as needed to create complex rules.

Camera diagnostics

Tailgating settings

1. On the Cameras page, select a camera from the list.
2. On the Asset Edit page, select the Camera Settings tab.
3. Under the Camera Settings tab, expand the Event Settings section.
4. In the Event Settings section, enable Tailgating and click the gear next to the event for configuration.
5. Modify settings as needed. When modifying the setting, keeping the following in mind:
6. 1. Continuous time to collision is the duration for which the asset must be closer to the vehicle in front of it than the time to collision threshold. For the example below, the asset must be closer than 2 seconds time to collision to the vehicle in front of it for 3 seconds or longer to trigger an event.
   2. Time to collision during day and Time to collision during night can be different to help account for changes in visibility and road conditions. 
6. Click Save.

✱ NOTE: This setting only applies to Surfsight cameras. This can also be done through the Fleet-wide camera settings page and will apply to all cameras on the database.

ADAS Calibration

1. On the Cameras page, select a camera from the list.
2. On the Asset Edit page, select the Camera Settings tab.
3. On the Camera Settings tab, select Calibrate ADAS
4. Follow the instructions on screen and complete the calibration process.
5. Click Save.

✱ NOTE: This calibration only applies to Surfsight cameras.

Creating rules for video events with OEM telematics

Although the process to create rules and record camera footage for certain driving events for OEM telematics devices is the same as Geotab telematics devices, please ensure the rule conditions take the reporting frequency of the OEM into account.

✱ NOTE: Camera events will not be affected by OEM reporting frequency.

Expected reporting frequency can be found in the individual OEM data sets — listedcf below:

1. Ford Data Set
2. GM Data Set
3. Volvo/Mack Data Set
4. International/Navistar Data Set
5. Hino Data Set
6. John Deere Data Set
7. Caterpillar Data Set
8. Vermeer Data Set
9. PSA Data Set
10. MBCS Data Set
11. Renault Data Set

For OEMs that are not currently included in the list, contact your Partner for more information.

1. Navigate to Rules & Groups > Rules.
2. On the Rules page, click Add.
3. Under the Name tab, enter the required information, then select the Conditions tab.
4. Under the Conditions tab, click Add engine. For Type, click Measurement or Data.



5. For the Diagnostic: field, click Display All Diagnostics, then select an event from the dropdown menu located above the button.



6. In the Value field, select Over and enter the value 0.
7. Click Add.
8. Once complete, click Save.

✱ NOTE: You can add conditions as needed to create complex rules.

Support

Please refer to the Community Topic & Knowledge Base Articles for the Geotab Camera Add-In (For Internal use only).

Security Clearances

Similar to most functionality in MyGeotab, access to various parts of the Add-In is controlled using MyGeotab’s security clearance system to provide different levels of access to users.

By default, all functionality is enabled for the Administrator role. Once the Add-In is installed, all functionality is enabled for the remaining clearances. To provide access to specific user roles, follow the steps below.

1. Navigate to the Administration > Users page.
2. On the Users page, click Clearances.
3. On the Clearances page, select the user clearance level for a list of Camera Add-In security identifiers.

✱ NOTE: Most of the MyGeotab options are unavailable for default user clearance levels (Administrator, Supervisor, Default User, and more. Only add-in clearances will be editable for these levels. For more information on custom clearances, refer to the How to Create a Security Sub-Clearance community article.