Intrusion detection zones that watch the areas you choose

Most of your camera view does not matter

A camera sees everything in front of it. The footpath, the neighbour's roof, the gate, the loading bay, the back door. But on a typical night, you only care about a few of those areas.

Intrusion detection lets you say so. Instead of treating the whole picture the same, you mark out the part that matters and tell the system what to do when something enters it.

How it works, in plain words

An intrusion zone is a shape drawn on the camera image. It might cover the area around a back door, the width of a yard or the space in front of a roller door.

Then comes the rule. Our favourite example is the one that is simple to say out loud:

Notify me if a person enters this area after business hours.

On compatible Dahua systems, the camera or recorder watches that zone. If a person enters it during the hours you chose, it flags the event and sends an alert to your phone through DMSS. Outside those hours, or in the rest of the picture, it stays quiet.

You can have more than one zone, and different zones can follow different schedules. A shop might watch the stockroom door all night and the front counter only when closed.

How we draw and test your zones

Drawing a zone takes a minute. Drawing a good one takes some care, so we do it with you.

1. We walk the site. We look at how people actually approach.
2. We draw the zones. We shape them to cover the area of concern without spilling onto the street or a neighbour's property.
3. We set the schedule. Business hours, overnight, weekends, whatever suits.
4. We test. We walk through the zone ourselves and check that alerts arrive, that the timing makes sense and that nothing harmless is setting it off.
5. We adjust. If a zone catches too much or too little, we change the shape or sensitivity.

We also show you how to review an alert in the DMSS app.

What you get day to day

A quiet phone most of the time. When a person enters a watched zone in the set hours, you get a notification, open the clip and decide what to do. That could mean checking live view, calling someone on site or ignoring it because you know the cleaner is running late.

Intrusion detection works best alongside human detection, which is what helps separate people from windblown movement inside the zone.

Where it suits best

• Warehouses, workshops and yards after closing time.
• Retail stores with back lanes or stockroom access.
• Side passages and rear access on houses.
• Holiday homes and investment properties, where nobody is meant to be around for long stretches.

If you want to catch something crossing a single path or gate, a tripwire may suit better than an area.

What to know

Compatible systems only. Intrusion detection is available on compatible systems, depending on the selected camera and recorder. AI features vary, and entry-level systems may offer basic motion detection only. We tell you what your quote includes.

Zones are only as good as the view. If the camera cannot see an area clearly, a zone drawn there will not work well. Poor lighting, obstructions and extreme distance all reduce reliability.

It needs tuning. A zone may need small adjustments in the first weeks. That is normal.

It detects, you decide. An alert says a person entered the zone. It does not know their intent. You review the footage and choose the response.

It is not a guarantee. We do not claim it prevents break-ins or never misses an event. It gives you earlier awareness and a clear record.

Think about privacy. Zones and cameras should focus on your own property. Surveillance-devices and workplace-surveillance rules differ across states and territories, and signage and telling staff matter. This is general information, not legal advice, so check your own state's rules.

Make it yours

If you would like a zone setup designed around your property, start with our AI security cameras overview, then call 1300 263 551 or contact us. Changes such as new hours or an extra zone go through support.

Frequently asked questions