How camera metadata works in Security Center SaaS

2025-10-01Last updated

A camera analytics event is part of the camera metadata stream. Camera metadata is used by intelligent search to help identify people or vehicles that match specific characteristics.

Camera metadata is descriptive data generated by the camera’s analytics engine about what it sees, regardless of whether it triggers an alert. This is raw (or semi-processed) data, rather than a decision. For example, object classification such as “person”, “car”, “truck”, and so on. Think of camera metadata as the camera's observations, while camera analytics events are decisions based on those observations. In Security Center SaaS, these are currently used separately.

Camera metadata includes people or vehicle detection and are configured at the individual camera level. You can use camera metadata for monitoring activities or investigations in Genetec Operation.

Activating camera metadata

To activate or deactivate camera metadata, on the Devices page select a camera and then click the Settings tab. In the Events and metadata section, select or clear the Enable camera metadata checkbox.

Deactivating camera metadata in Security Center SaaS unsubscribes the system from listening to the camera metadata stream. The metadata collected on the cameras is unaffected.
Note:
The Enable camera metadata checkbox is only visible if the camera and its configuration support it. Turning specific camera metadata events on or off isn’t currently supported.

Supported metadata

Supported metadata varies depending on how the camera is added, the manufacturer, features that the camera supports, and devices that Security Center SaaS supports.

The supported metadata can include one or more of the following, depending on the previously stated dependencies:
  • People analytics
  • Vehicle analytics
  • Object analytics

Licensing

The licensing requirements vary depending on your camera manufacturer:

Axis
No additional licenses are required.
Bosch
Two Bosch licenses are required:
  • IVA Pro Perimeter - for vehicle search.
  • IVA Pro Appearance - for people attribute search.
Note:
Only one of these applications can be active at a time.
Hanwha
No additional licenses are required.
i-PRO
No additional licenses are required.

Manufacturer applications

The following manufacturer applications must be installed to take advantage of camera metadata and intelligent search investigation functions.
Hanwha
Hanwha P-AI series requires the WiseAI (WisenetAI application) for 2MP/4K Single-Sensor P Series Cameras.
Note:
Other Hanwha cameras that are supported might not require this application.
i-PRO
i-PRO requires AI People Detection or AI Vehicle Detection.

Monitoring events

You can use Genetec Operation to perform an intelligent search from a camera tile. You can also use the Investigation task to view past events for analysis and investigation purposes.
  • Camera metadata from compatible cameras can be used to monitor for events of interest: person, vehicle, and object.
  • Intelligent search can be used to query specific camera metadata using the Investigation task. For example, you can use natural language search and filters to find specific event types of interest: person of interest, vehicle of interest, similar people, and nearby activity.