Smart maps (configuration)

Change OpenStreetMap tile server

You can specify a different tile server for OpenStreetMap than the standard server specified in the configuration for your type of user profile. For example, if your VMSShort for "Video Management Software". is not connected to the Internet, you can use a local server. Or you can use a commercial server.

Requirements

If the tile server specified in the configuration has been locked for editing, the field is grayed out in XProtect Smart Client, and you cannot change the server. Please contact your system administrator to help you enable the feature on the Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. In the upper right corner, click and then Settings to open the Settings dialog.

   

2. In the left section, click Smart map.
3. In the Alternative OpenStreetMap tile server field, do one of the following: 
   • Enter the server address. If the field is grayed out, it has been locked in the configuration
   • To use the server specified in the configuration, select the Follow Server check box
4. Click OK. The geographic background changes.

Layers on smart map (explained)

Use layers to filter the information that the smart mapA map functionality that uses a geographic information system to visualize cameras, structures, and topographical elements of a surveillance system in geographically accurate, real-world imagery. Maps that use elements of this functionality are called smart maps. displays. There are three types of layers on a smart map:

• System elements - include cameras, links, and locations
• Custom overlays - bitmap images, CAD drawings, and shapefiles
• Geographic backgrounds - the basic world map, Bing Maps, Google Maps, or OpenStreetMap

Bing Maps and Google Maps are available as geographic backgrounds only if your system administrator has enabled them in Management Client. For more information, see Geographic backgrounds (explained).

Order of layers (explained)

All system elements of each type are on the same layerThe geographic background on a smart map, a custom overlay, or a system element, for example a camera. Layers are all the graphic elements that exist on the smart map.. For example, all cameras are on the same layer. If you hide the cameras layer, all cameras are hidden. From top to bottom, layers for system elements are arranged in the following order: locations, cameras, links, and geographic background. You cannot change this order.

The geographic background is always the lowest layer on a smart map. You can switch between geographic backgrounds, but you can select only one geographic background at a time.

Custom overlays are added as separate layers, and are stacked in the order in which they were added to the smart ap. You rearrange the order by configuring default settings for the map. For more information, see Manage default settings for a smart map.

Example

A city planner has a shapefile that shows the city boundaries, and a shapefile that includes all major roads within the city. The planner can arrange the order of layers so that the roads display on top of the city boundaries. This gives a general view of where cameras are in the city, and the ability to zoom in to see the name of the street that a particular camera is on.

Show or hide layers on smart map

You can show or hide layers on your smart map, including the geographical background. For example, this is useful when you want to focus on a particular element, or just simplify the content that the smart map is displaying.

Steps:

1. On the toolbar, click Show or hide layers and custom overlays.
2. To show or hide system elements and custom overlays, select or clear the check boxes.
3. To hide the geographic background, select None.

Selecting None hides the geographic background, but the geo-references still apply to the smart map. For example, if you add a new shapefile that contains spatial reference, the system will still use the spatial reference to place the file on the map.

Specify default settings for smart map

After adding a smart map to a view, and you have added the overlays, cameras, and links, you can specify the default settings for the custom overlays. You can also delete custom overlays to clean up.

Steps:

1. Click Setup.
2. Click Manage default settings.
3. Do any of the following:
   • To show or hide an overlay, select or clear the check box
   • To rearrange the order, use the drag handle in front of the overlay to drag it to a new position in the list. Layers are ordered from top to bottom in the list
   • To delete an overlay, hover the pointer over the overlay, and then click Delete
4. Click Save.

For more information, see Smart map default settings (explained).

Smart map default settings (explained)

In the Manage default settings window, you can specify the default settings for the custom overlays on your smart map. The default settings include:

• Whether to show or hide one or more custom overlays
• The order, from top to bottom, in which custom overlays display. The first custom overlayA user-defined, graphic element that users can add to a smart map, for example to illustrate a floorplan in a building, or to mark borders between regions. A custom overlay can be an image, a CAD drawing, or a shapefile. in the list is the highest in the order. For example, the order can be helpful when you want to stack overlays to represent levels on a building
• Removing custom overlays from the smart map

Custom overlays (explained)

You can add the following types of files as custom overlays on a smart map in XProtect Smart Client:

• Shapefile - can contain geo-spatial vector data, such as points, lines, polygons, and attributes that represent objects on a map, such as walls, roads, or geographical features like rivers or lakes. For example, city planning and administration offices often use shapefiles because they scale well when you zoom in and out, and their file size is often smaller than CAD drawings or bitmap images
• CAD - a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing is useful as an overlay because, like shapefiles, CAD data can use a coordinate system and spatial reference to provide accurate geographical context. For example, you can use a detailed ariel map or a road map of a location
• Image - if you have an image file, such as the floor plan of a building, you can add it as an overlay on the smart map. You can use the following types of image files: PNG, BMP, GIF, JPG, JPEG, PHG, TIF, and TIFF

Custom overlays and locations (explained)

You can quickly jump to custom overlays that you have added to your smart map as described in Jump to custom overlay on smart map. However, in the settings, you can establish a connection between custom overlays and locations. This means that whenever you add a new custom overlay, XProtect Smart Client creates a location with the same name as the overlay on the exact same spot on the map. The location of the custom overlay now becomes available in the Select a location list.

The overlay and location are not linked. For example, you can delete or rename the location without changing the overlay, and vice versa.

To turn on this feature, see Add locations to custom overlays (smart map).

Add custom overlay on smart map

Increase the level of detail on your smart map by adding custom overlays. When you add a custom overlayA user-defined, graphic element that users can add to a smart map, for example to illustrate a floorplan in a building, or to mark borders between regions. A custom overlay can be an image, a CAD drawing, or a shapefile., XProtect Smart Client creates a location with the same name as the overlay.

Steps:

1. Select the view that contains the smart map, and then click Setup.
2. Click Add a custom overlay:
   • If the overlay is geo-referenced, click anywhere on the smart map. XProtect Smart Client uses the geo-reference information to place the overlay in the correct geographic location. Additionally, the smart map will center on the overlay at a default zoom level
   • If the overlay is not geo-referenced, go to the point on the map where you want to add the element, and then click the point on the smart map

   Before you add an overlay, it's a good idea to zoom in to the place on the map where you want to put it. This makes it easier to accurately position the overlay.

3. Enter a name for the overlay.
4. Depending on the file type you select:
   • Image - select the image file, and then click OK
   • Shapefile - select the SHP file. If you have a PRJ file, XProtect Smart Client will find it, and you can just click OK. If you do not have a PRJ file, you can reposition the overlay manually after you add it. You can also apply a color. For example, adding a color can make the shapefile stand out more on the smart map
   • CAD - select the DWG file. If you have a PRJ file, click OK. If you do not have a PRJ file, and you want to use geo-referencing to position the file on the smart map, enter the spatial reference identifier (SRID), and then click OK. If you do not have a PRJ file or an SRID, you can reposition the overlay manually after you add it

   For more information about the types of overlays, see Custom overlays (explained).

Add locations to custom overlays (smart map)

You can configure XProtect Smart Client to automatically add locations to custom overlaysA user-defined, graphic element that users can add to a smart map, for example to illustrate a floorplan in a building, or to mark borders between regions. A custom overlay can be an image, a CAD drawing, or a shapefile. on your smart map. This allows you to jump to the custom overlays through the Select a location list.

Steps:

1. In the application toolbar, click and then Settings to open the Settings window.
2. Go to the Smart map tab.
3. In the Create location when layer is added list, select Yes.
4. Close the dialog to save the changes.

For more information, see Custom overlays and locations (explained).

Delete custom overlay on smart map

1. Select the view that contains the smart map, and then click Setup.
2. In the toolbar, click Manage default settings.
3. Hover the pointer over the custom overlay, and then click Delete.
4. Click Save to delete the custom overlay.
5. Optional: If a location was created for the custom overlay, you might want to delete that as well. For more information, see Adding, deleting, or editing locations on smart map.

Make areas in shapefiles more visible (smart map)

This topic is relevant only if you are using shapefiles with polygons.

If you want to use a shapefile on your smart map that consists of polygons in close proximity, you may need to distinguish the individual polygons from each other. You do that by decreasing the opacity of the color you pick for the shapefile. The borders of the polygons will stand out.

Steps:

1. Follow the steps described in Add custom overlay on smart map.

2. When selecting the color, drag the Opacity slider to the left until you are ok with the level of transparency.

   

3. Click Save.

Adjust position, size, or alignment of custom overlay

You can move an overlay to a different place on the map, make it larger or smaller, and rotate it. For example, this is useful if your overlay is not geo-referenced, or the overlay is geo-referenced but for some reason does not align exactly with the geographic background.

Steps:

1. Select the view that contains the smart map, and then click Setup.
2. Right-click the overlay, and select Edit position.
3. To resize or rotate the overlay:
   • Click and drag a corner handle

   • To rotate the overlay around a specific point, move the pivot point to that place on the map. Then click and drag a corner handle

     

4. To move the overlay on the map, click and drag the overlay.
5. To save the change, click Save.

Add cameras to smart maps

If the GPS coordinates of the camera has been specified in Management Client by your system administrator, automatically it will be positioned on the smart map when you add it. If not, you must position it yourself in its exact geographic location.

1. Select the view that contains the smart map, and then click Setup.
2. To add a camera, or a group of cameras:

   Before you add the camera, it's a good idea to zoom in to the location on the map. This makes it easier to accurately position the camera.

   • Expand the System Overview pane, find the camera or camera group, and then drag it to the point on the smart map where you want to display it. You can drag cameras afterward to reposition them
   • On the smart map toolbar, click Add a camera, and then select the camera
3. To save the change, click Setup to exit setup mode.

Change field of view and direction of camera

Once the camera has been added to the smart map, you can change field of view and direction by adjusting the camera icon.

If you are zoomed out on the map, you may have to zoom in until the field of view is displayed.

1. Select the view that contains the smart map you want to work with.
2. Click Setup to edit the camera icon.

3. Click the camera icon.

   

4. Use the rotate handle to point the camera in the right direction.
5. To adjust the width, length, and angle of the field of view, click and drag the handles at the front edge of the field of view.
6. To save your changes, click Setup to exit setup mode.

Select or change the icon for camera

You can choose a camera icon that matches the type of camera you are using.

1. Select the view that contains the smart map you want to work with.

2. Click Setup, and then double-click the camera icon on the map.

   

3. Click Pick icon, and then select the icon for the camera.
4. Click Setup again to save the change.

Show or hide information about cameras

You can show or hide information about cameras on a smart map. This is useful, for example, when you want to increase or reduce the amount of content on your map.

1. Select the view that contains the smart map you want to work with.
2. Click Show or hide layers and custom overlays.
3. Select or clear the check boxes for the information to show or hide.

Deleting cameras on smart map (explained)

All the cameras defined in the system are displayed on the smart map. You can reposition a camera, but you cannot delete it.

If the position of the camera has not been specified in Management Client, it will not appear on the smart map.

Links on smart map (explained)

You can add links that go to locations on your smart map, or go to the static maps in XProtect Smart Client. This lets you quickly visit locations, or display another type of map without changing to another view. You cannot link to another smart map. For more information, see Differences between maps and smart maps (explained).

Links display locations and maps as follows:

• A link to a location displays the location in the current view. To return to a location that you previously viewed, click Back on the smart map toolbar
• A link to a map displays the map in a floating window. This lets you access both types of maps at the same time. You can view and interact with the map but you cannot make changes in the floating window, such as adding cameras

If you color code links, or want to make them more visible on the map, you can specify a color for the link. By default, links to smart map locations are blue, and links to legacy maps are red. If you use a different color, it is a good idea to use the same color for each type of link. For example, this can make it easier to distinguish between links when you use layers to filter items on the map.

Add link to smart map location or map

Adding links to your smart map lets you quickly visit locations, or display another type of map without changing to another view.

Steps:

1. Select the view that contains the smart map, and then click Setup.
2. Go to the point on the map where you want to add the link.
3. In the map toolbar, click Add a link, and then click the point on the map where you want the link to be.
4. Specify whether you want to link to a smart map location, or a map, and then click Add.

5. Enter a name for the link.

   You can display the title of the link on the smart map if you select Icon and text as the display style. Typically, names indicate where the link takes you.

6. In the Destination field, select the map or location that the link goes to.
7. In the Display style field, specify whether to display the name and link icon, or only the link icon on the map.
8. Optional: Click Color to specify a color for your link.

Edit or delete link on smart map

Once you have added a link on your smart map, you can edit or delete it.

Steps:

1. Click Setup to enter setup mode.
2. To edit the link, right-click the link and select Edit link.
3. To delete the link, do one of the following:
   • Right-click the link and select Delete link
   • Select the link and press DELETE

Locations on smart map (explained)

You can create locations at the points on the smart map that are of interest to you. For example, you can create locations for your home office, and satellite offices. Not only do locations give you a full picture of your environment, they are also useful for navigating the smart map.

Depending on your configuration, when you add a custom overlay, XProtect Smart Client may add a location with the same name as the overlay. For example, this makes it easier to go to the overlay on the smart map when you are zoomed out. The overlay and location are not, however, linked. For example, you can delete or rename the location without changing the overlay, and vice versa. For more information, see Adding, deleting, or editing custom overlays.

Home locations for smart map (explained)

Home locations are specific to the view item they are set in. You can have different home locations in different view items. If a home location is not specified for a view item, the view item displays the whole world, regardless of the type of background you are using. This is also the case if you delete the home location.

While you are working with the smart map, you can click Home to return to the home location. This is similar to resetting the smart map in the view. You return to the default settings for the view item, and the system deletes the history of the locations you visited.

Selecting a new home location affects everyone who uses the view item. If someone else had set another location as home, you are changing their setting.

Add location to smart map

To keep track of the places that are of interest to you, you can add locations that allow you to quickly navigate to those places on the smart map.

Steps:

1. Select the view that contains the smart map, and click Setup.
2. If needed, pan and zoom in to the point on the smart map where you want to add the location.
3. In the toolbar, click Add a location, and then click the point on the smart map.
4. Give the location a name, and then add the following optional details:
   • Specify a zoom level to apply when someone goes to the location on the smart map
   • Select a color for the location icon. Color-coding locations is useful, for example, for distinguishing between types of locations. This could be based on the function of the location or its type, or indicate the location's priority
   • Optional: Make the location your home location. The smart map centers on this location, and applies the default zoom level setting for it, when you click Home

Edit or delete location on smart map

Once you have added locations on your smart map, you can delete them or edit the settings, for example deleting the home location.

Steps:

1. Click Setup to enter setup mode.
2. To edit a location, right-click the location and select Edit location.
3. To delete a location, do one of the following:
   • Right-click the location and select Delete location
   • Select the location and press DELETE

Linking between locations (explained)

For example, you can create a patrol route by creating a series of links between locations. Create a link at location A that goes to location B, and a link at location B that goes to location C, and so on. For more information, see Adding, deleting, or editing links on smart map.

Buildings on smart map (explained)

Buildings on the smart mapA map functionality that uses a geographic information system to visualize cameras, structures, and topographical elements of a surveillance system in geographically accurate, real-world imagery. Maps that use elements of this functionality are called smart maps. are depicted as polygons with four edges. Once added, you can adjust the dimensions, angles, and size to match the actual shape and position of the building.

If the building is a multistory building, you can start adding levels and add cameras to the individual levels. This allows you to navigate the cameras inside the building, level by level.

To help you illustrate the interior of a level, you can add custom overlays to levels, for example an image illustrating a floorplan. For more information, see Add floorplans to levels (smart map).

Buildings are automatically given a name, for example Building 4. Milestone recommends that you change the name. This will make it easier for you to distinguish buildings from one another.

Add buildings to smart map

Instead of using images or shapefiles to illustrate buildings, you can add an outline of a building. Afterwards, you can change the dimensions, angles, and size to match the shape and position of the actual building.

Requirements

Smart map editing has been enabled on your Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. Click Setup to enter setup mode.
2. Navigate to the place on the smart map, where you want to position the building.
3. Click and place the cursor in the relevant position on the smart map.
4. Click again. A rectangle is added to the smart map. If zoomed out, the zoom level automatically increases.
5. If necessary, use the corner handles to adjust the shape and position of the actual building.
6. Click Setup again to exit setup mode.

Edit buildings on smart map

Once a building has been added to the smart map, you can change the name of the building, and adjust the position, the size, dimensions, and angles. You can also add, remove, or reorder levels.

Requirements

Smart map editing has been enabled on your Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. Navigate to the building on your smart map. If necessary, zoom in.
2. Click Setup to enter setup mode.

3. Click anywhere inside the building. A blue-ridged border indicates that you can edit the building.
   

   

4. To rename the building, go to the top of the right-side pane and click . Change the name and click . To cancel, press Esc.
5. To adjust the corners, click and drag them to a new position.
6. To add or remove levels, see Add or remove levels from buildings (smart map).
7. Click Setup again to exit setup mode.

Delete buildings on smart map

If a building is no longer needed, you can delete it. Next time someone logs into XProtect Smart Client or reloads, the building is gone.

Requirements

Smart map editing has been enabled on your Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. Open the smart map.
2. Click Setup to enter setup mode.
3. Do one of the following:
   • Right-click the building and select Delete, or press DELETE on your keyboard
     -Or-
   1. Click Manage default settings.
   2. Scroll down to the Buildings section.
   3. Hover on the building you want to delete. The text Delete appears.
   4. Click Delete and Save. The building disappears from the smart map.

Cameras and levels in buildings (explained)

When you add a camera to a building, by default, the camera is associated with the default level if one has been specified. Otherwise, the cameras is assigned to the first level. However, you can change this and associate the camera with any other level, or several levels at the same time.

More facts:

• If no levels are selected, the camera is visible on all levels
• If you add a building on top of a camera already positioned, by default, the camera is associated with all levels
• If you expand the boundaries of a building, so that it covers a camera already positioned, the camera is associated only with the level that is selected

If you readjust the boundaries of the building, so that it no longer covers the camera, the camera is no longer associated with the building.

Floorplans and cameras in buildings (explained)

To help you visualize the interior of the levels in a building, you can add floorplans as custom overlays. With a floorplan in place, it is easier to precisely position the camera. For more information, see Add floorplans to levels (smart map).

The cameras you position are associated with levels, not custom overlays. If you delete a level inside a building with cameras and a custom overlay, the cameras stay in their geographical position, but are no longer associated with the level. However, the custom overlay is deleted together with the level.

If you reorder a level, both the cameras and the custom overlay stay with the level. The cameras maintain their geographical position.

Add or remove levels from buildings (smart map)

After adding a building to your smart map, you can add any number of levels. The first level is assigned the number 1, the next 2, and so forth. Afterwards, you can rename and reorder the individual levels.

Requirements

Smart map editing has been enabled on your Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. Navigate to the building on your smart map. If necessary, zoom in.
2. Select the building. A pane appears on the right-hand side.
3. Click the Setup button to enter setup mode.
4. Click Add level.
5. To edit the level name:
   1. Click the dots and select Rename.
   2. Enter a new name.
6. To delete a level, click the dots and select Delete. Cameras on this level stay in their geographical position, but are no longer associated with the level.
7. Click Setup to exit setup mode.

Change order of levels in buildings (smart map)

Requirements

Smart map editing has been enabled on your Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. Navigate to the building on your smart map. If necessary, zoom in.
2. Select the building. A pane appears on the right-hand side showing you the levels of the building.
3. Click Setup to enter setup mode.
4. Click and drag the dotted area to the correct position. Any associated cameras and custom overlays stay with the level.
5. Click Setup again to exit setup mode.

Set default level for buildings (smart map)

If a particular level in a building is more relevant than others, for example the ground floor, you can set that level as the default level. When you open your smart map and go to the building, automatically the default level is selected.

If you navigate away from the building and back, XProtect Smart Client brings you to the level where you left off.

Requirements

Smart map editing has been enabled on your Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. Navigate to the building on your smart map. If necessary, zoom in.
2. Select the building. A pane appears on the right-hand side showing you the levels of the building. The default level is highlighted.
3. Click Setup to enter setup mode. Notice the asterisk . It indicates where the current default level is.
4. On the level you want to set as the default level, click the dots .
5. Select Set as default.
6. Click Setup again to exit setup mode.

Add floorplans to levels (smart map)

You can add custom overlays, for example floorplan images, to the levels in your building to help you illustrate the interior of a level inside a building. As you navigate the levels, automatically the associated floorplans are displayed.

Requirements

Smart map editing has been enabled on your Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. Navigate to the building on your smart map. If necessary, zoom in.
2. Select the building. A pane appears on the right-hand side showing you the levels of the building.
3. Click Setup to enter setup mode.
4. Select the level where you want to add the custom overlay.
5. In the upper left corner, click Add a custom overlay, and then click anywhere inside the building outline. A window appears.
6. Select the type of custom overlay. For more information, see Custom overlays (explained).

7. Select the location on your computer where the file is stored and click Continue. The custom overlay is displayed as a blue outline.
   

   

8. Drag it onto the outline of the building and use the pivot point and corner handles to rotate and reposition the custom overlay.
9. In the bar at the top, click Save.
10. Click Setup again to exit setup mode.

Delete floorplans on levels (smart map)

If a floorplan on a level inside a building has changed, you may need to replace the custom overlay illustrating the floorplan.Milestonerecommends that you delete the old floorplan, before adding a new one.

Requirements

Smart map editing has been enabled on your Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. Navigate to the building on your smart map. If necessary, zoom in.
2. Select the building. A pane appears on the right-hand side showing you the levels of the building.
3. Click Setup to enter setup mode.
4. Select the level where the custom overlay is.
5. Right-click anywhere on the custom overlay and select Delete custom overlay.
6. Click Setup again to exit setup mode.

To edit the position or size of the floorplan, right-click the custom overlay and select Edit position. Now you can move, rotate, and change the size of the custom overlay.

Add cameras to buildings (smart map)

After creating a building and adding levels, you can add the cameras. If a default level has been specified, the cameras are associated with it. Otherwise, the cameras are associated with the first level. You can change this and associate the camera with any of the levels in the building.

Requirements

Smart map editing has been enabled on your Smart Client profile in Management Client.

Steps:

1. Navigate to the building on your smart map. If necessary, zoom in.
2. Click Setup to enter setup mode.
3. Click Add a camera.
4. Click again on the location where you want to position the camera. A dialog appears.
5. Select the required camera and click OK. For each camera you want to add, repeat steps 3-5.
6. To associate a camera with one or more levels, right-click the camera and select the required levels.
7. Click Setup again to exit setup mode.

If no levels are selected, the camera is visible on all levels.