Support: VSS Tutorial Video: Recover Video Evidence from VSS

Mar 1st 2024

Support: Recover Video Evidence from VSS

This guide walks you through the process of recovering video evidence from a vehicle's camera system using the VSS platform. The scenario we’ll focus on is recovering footage after a vehicle accident.

1. Overview of Vehicle Camera System

  • The VSS camera system records 100% of a vehicle’s activity when the ignition is on. This includes forward-facing, interior-facing, and optional third cameras.
  • The system records for an additional 30 minutes after the ignition is turned off (delay timer).
  • Video is stored locally on the device, not in the cloud, to avoid large data costs. Predefined events like lane departure or collision alerts are sent to the cloud, but in most cases, video needs to be manually recovered from the device.

2. Gather Information

Before accessing the video system, get the following information from the driver:

  • Where: Location of the event (e.g., Escondido).
  • When: The date and approximate time (e.g., Friday, 11:30 AM).
  • What: Description of the event (e.g., rear-ended another vehicle).

3. Check Trip and Parking Report

  1. Access the Locate System:
    • Go to the “Reports” section and pull up the Trip and Parking Report for the vehicle involved in the incident (e.g., Van 27).
    • Set the report date (e.g., the 7th) and execute the query.
  2. Identify Key Time Period:
    • Look for a parking event around the time of the incident (e.g., 11:45 AM).
    • Use the information to narrow down the video footage to a specific time window (e.g., 11:44 AM to 11:46 AM).

4. Access Historical Video

  1. Navigate to the Historical Video Section:
    • Go to the Evidence tab and select Historical Video.
    • Choose the vehicle (e.g., Van 27) and ensure the vehicle is online, meaning it's connected to the camera system.
  2. Select the Date:
    • Choose the date (e.g., the 7th) and execute the search.
    • The system will display the timeline for that day. Green dots indicate times when the vehicle was online and recording, while white areas indicate offline or post-recording times.

5. Locate the Specific Video Footage

  1. Select the Appropriate Camera:
    • For incidents like rear-ending, select the Front Camera (since the rear camera won’t capture the impact).
    • You can also select All Cameras, but for this example, we’ll only use the front camera.
  2. Scrub Through the Timeline:
    • Move the timeline cursor to the approximate time of the event (e.g., 11:44 AM to 11:46 AM).
    • Double-click the timeline to start playing the video from that time.
  3. Review the Footage:
    • Watch the video closely, and ensure it captures the incident (e.g., vehicle rear-ending another vehicle).
    • If needed, adjust the timeline or choose different cameras (e.g., rear camera) for additional context.

6. Refine the Search

  1. Narrow Down the Time Range:
    • Go to the File List view and refine the search by selecting a tighter time range (e.g., 11:44 to 11:46).
    • Requery the device for a smaller video slice, making sure you capture only relevant footage.
  2. Check File Size:
    • Review the size of the video slice (ideally under 100 MB for short clips, but typically around 30 MB for a minute of video).
    • Smaller clips are easier to manage and download.

7. Download the Video

  1. Download the Desired Clips:
    • Click the Download button next to the video file to add it to the download queue.
    • Monitor the download progress by clicking on the cloud icon with the download arrow.
  2. Wait for the Video to Download:
    • You can leave the window open and periodically refresh it, or just wait until the download completes.

8. Open and View the Video

  1. Use VLC Media Player:
    • Download VLC media player from videolan.org (if you don’t have it installed already) to play the video.
    • VLC supports various video formats, including the H.265 (HEVC) format used by VSS.
  2. Play the Downloaded Files:
    • Once downloaded, navigate to the video files (using File Explorer or Finder) and right-click to open with VLC media player.
    • Play the video and confirm the footage shows the event clearly (e.g., rear-ending another vehicle).

9. Additional Video Evidence

  1. Download More Cameras (Optional):
    • If necessary, you can download video from additional cameras (e.g., rear camera) for more context.
    • Follow the same download steps as above for any other cameras.
  2. View All Footage:
    • Open the video files in VLC and review the footage to ensure it provides enough information for your purposes.

10. Share the Video Evidence

  1. Upload to Cloud Storage:
    • To share the video with others (e.g., police, insurance), upload the files to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox.
    • Create a folder (e.g., "Evidence") and drag the video files into it.
    • Share the folder link with the relevant parties.

11. Additional Features (Optional)

  1. Speed and Voltage Trends:
    • For further context, you can review the vehicle’s Speed Trends and Voltage Trends.
    • This can be useful to see the vehicle’s speed during the event and to verify the exact time of the incident (e.g., when the vehicle stopped).

Conclusion

This process allows you to efficiently recover video evidence from the vehicle's camera system, ensuring you capture the relevant footage for analysis. By narrowing the time range and selecting the appropriate camera, you can avoid wasting time on irrelevant data and focus on the critical moments of the incident.

Here's a tutorial video on how to recover video evidence from the VSS system for your VizTrack Dash Cam Solution.

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