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Physical Camera Installation Guide

SiteTrax camera scanning an intermodal container

Use this field guide to position, mount, and test cameras for SiteTrax.io OCR. The numbered steps cover fixed Gate and BYOC cameras. For vehicle-mounted or handheld capture, use the product links below.

Before permanent mounting: send representative recorded footage to SiteTrax.io for review. A clear view of a vehicle does not necessarily make its identifiers readable.

Quick reference: fixed Gate cameras

Start with these published SiteTrax.io recommendations, then validate the actual lane and markings. Measure mounting height from the road surface to the centre of the lens.

Item Starting recommendation
Rear container and chassis IDs About 3 ft (1 m) above the road. Keep both marking locations visible.
Container ID only 4–6 ft above the road. The Gate requirements give an approximate metric range of 1.3–2 m.
Camera coverage At least one camera per lane; two per lane is the published best practice. Assign each view to its intended lane, direction, and markings.
Vehicle speed 10 mph (16 km/h) or less through the capture zone.
Recorded video 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps; MP4; clips no longer than 1 minute.
Lens 6 mm or longer is the published recommendation. Select the actual focal length for the camera sensor, distance, and required view.

Sources: Gate requirements and Input Video specification. These heights apply to the stated fixed rear views, not every OCR installation. Other views, distances, angles, minimum character size in pixels, and acceptance rates are project-specific.

1. Agree the capture plan

  • Installer + SiteTrax.io: confirm the identifiers, asset types, lanes, directions, maximum speed, and day/night operation.
  • Mark camera positions, lights, traffic paths, and the intended reading area on a site sketch. This reading area is the capture zone.
  • Agree test conditions, sample counts, required read rates, and the person who will sign off. Record separate targets for each required identifier type.
  • Customer/installer: arrange mounting, power, network access, and maintenance. Confirm the BYOC requirements before buying third-party hardware.

Installation workflow: agree plan, trial position, review footage, secure installation, test day and night, record handover.

2. Trial the position and framing

  1. Use a representative vehicle at the capture zone. Trial the applicable height from the table before drilling permanent fixings.
  2. Aim as squarely as practical at the required markings. Keep text level; avoid steep downward or sideways views.
  3. Adjust optical zoom and focus so the smallest required text is readable in the saved recording at full resolution. Digital zoom cannot restore missing detail.
  4. Check the nearest and farthest vehicle positions and normal lane wandering. Include the complete identifier without clipping.
  5. Check queues, adjacent traffic, barriers, and vehicle structures for obstruction. If both container and chassis IDs cannot be captured clearly, change the position or add a view.
  6. Record moving samples and review them with SiteTrax.io before securing the final position.

Measure and record lens height, camera-to-target distance, and lane offset. Use dedicated lane/direction views as the baseline. A shared or bidirectional view requires validation with SiteTrax.io; see Gate Operations.

Rear-view illustration showing that both the upper container ID and lower chassis marking must remain inside the recorded frame.

Illustrative coverage only; not a scale drawing or prescribed mounting geometry.

3. Secure the camera and cabling

  • Use a rigid mount and manufacturer-approved fixings suitable for the structure and outdoor conditions. Protect low cameras from vehicle impact.
  • Keep the camera and cables outside vehicle clearance and pedestrian routes. Provide safe maintenance access.
  • Fit weatherproof glands, connector protection, strain relief, and drip loops. Follow the hardware instructions for power, grounding, and surge protection.
  • Tighten fixings to the manufacturer's specification, secure cables, and label the camera and network connection.
  • Clean the lens/window. Recheck framing and focus after tightening; save a reference image.

4. Check moving images in daylight and darkness

  • Blurred moving text: shorten exposure with the camera supplier or SiteTrax.io; add suitable light if the result becomes too dark. 30 fps alone does not prevent blur.
  • Washed-out text or glare: adjust lighting position/output and exposure. Check actual painted and reflective markings.
  • Dark or uneven text: illuminate the complete capture zone and retest at night. Check focus after day/night switching.
  • Ghosting or bands: review WDR and lighting flicker settings with the supplier, using recorded moving footage.

The Gate lighting guidance provides a starting arrangement. Lamp output is not a measurement of light reaching the marking; acceptance depends on the recorded result.

Simulated examples comparing clear complete text with motion blur, glare, and obstruction.

Simulated examples, not OCR test results.

5. Commission: completion checklist

Copy this checklist into the installation record. Tick each item only when its evidence is available.

  • ☐ Position: final lens height, distance, lane offset, camera/lens model, and installation photos recorded.
  • ☐ Coverage: every required marking remains visible across normal vehicle positions; each lane and direction tested.
  • ☐ Image quality: saved moving clips checked in daylight and darkness at the agreed maximum speed; no blocking blur, glare, or clipping.
  • ☐ Delivery: test videos reach the correct SiteTrax.io project with the required timestamp and location information. Follow Input Video and the BYOC guide.
  • ☐ Results: compare known identifiers with the actual results in SiteTrax.io Intelligence. Verify entry/exit classification where required.
  • ☐ Acceptance: record tested passages, correct reads, incorrect reads, and no reads for each identifier type and test condition. Compare with the agreed targets; log exceptions and sign-off.
  • ☐ Handover: save final settings, reference clips, site sketch, support contacts, and the cleaning/inspection schedule.

Acceptance record: Project/camera ___ · Identifier type ___ · Condition/speed ___ · Tested ___ · Correct ___ · Incorrect ___ · No read ___ · Target ___ · Result ___ · Date/approver ___.

Do not use stored row counts or an A0 status as proof of accuracy. See How Intelligence uses SiteTrax.io data. For missing uploads or results, use the Troubleshooting Guide.

Other capture methods and ongoing checks

  • Vehicle-mounted: follow the Drive installation guide for mounting, cabling, and power. Check vibration and moving footage; the fixed Gate heights above do not apply.
  • Handheld: follow Capture Android or Snap. Keep the required markings complete, steady, and well lit.
  • Maintenance: inspect cleanliness, alignment, fasteners, seals, cables, and lights on the agreed schedule. Repeat affected tests after impact, relocation, or changes to camera settings, lighting, or lane layout.

Reference notes

Reviewed 23 September 2026. External guidance supports the imaging approach: Plate Recognizer camera setup, Axis mounting guidance, and Visy Truck OCR Portal. Their product-specific heights, angles, speeds, and accuracy claims are not SiteTrax.io acceptance limits.

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