CCTVCAD Software

How would you model a ceiling mounted 360 degree camera such as the Mobotix Q24
http://www.mobotix.com/eng_AU/content/view/full/25611

Here is a typical way for modeling non-standard cameras:

Use angles of view from the the camera specification as the most definite data.
Try to get the same angles of view in camera model in VideoCAD.
For this purpose open the Special sensor size box, then adjust the angles of view.

However wide-angle cameras have significant geometrical distortions as a rule. The distortions lawless geometric optics and depend on lens construction. Practically, field of view has not rectangular form, it seems like an oval. It is impossible to model 180 degree lens.
VideoCAD can't model unpredictable distortions therefore it is possible to model wide-angle cameras only approximate.

You can test a camera with a lens by placing it on a table. The parameters and results can be divided by any constant value. For instance, you can place a camera at 50-cm. height above a table, which will be equivalent to 2.5 m with factor 5. Set required view area upper bound distance, for example 1 m on the table, which will be equivalent to 5 m with factor 5.
Then measure view area bounds on the table. All the results obtained should be multiplied by 5.
Then compare camera model in VideoCAD with obtained results.
I suppose there will be difference because of geometrical distortions.

It is easiest to model covered and shadowed areas in 2D using Dome mode with Shadow tool.


See http://www.cctvcad.com/videocad_help/in ... eldome.htm
You can also model spatial resolution in 2D in Dome mode, but some testing real camera is needed. You need to choose right lens focal length, sensor size and number of pixels. Appropriate values can differ from real ones becouse of digital image processing inside camera.
I suppose you can also model raw 3D image before image processing, but you need some experiments too.
Processed panoramic 3D image can't be modeled exactly because VideoCAD has no such image processing tools as Mobotix Q24.

Here is another idea how to roughly model panoramic images in VideoCAD using several cameras and Monitor window


Thus VideoCAD can be useful for designing with such cameras but it is not trivial, it is needed some knowledge and understanding.

VideoCAD8 can model panoramic cameras (fisheye, 360/180 degree).
VideoCAD allows to:
• Simulate the output frames without distortion with calculated pixel density;
• Simulate camera field of view and distribution of the spatial resolution in the Graphics window and the 3D World.

See details Modeling panoramic cameras (Fisheye, 360°/180°)




You can also model wide-angle cameras with strong lens distortion.
See Modeling lens distortion



Please see What is new in VideoCAD

VideoCAD9 has new tools for modeling multisensor cameras.

Modeling multisensor camera





Modeling Fisheye cameras is also upgraded.