Video Overlay

Viewline uses Video Overlay to print details on the video feed. To access this go to Tools and select Video Overlay. Where distance is being provided via an encoder (for example with an AM Industrial system), the Video Overlay should be enabled along with the Bottom Row Overlay. The functions are shown in curly brackets. There is quite a lot functionality as shown below:

General:

{Distance} picks up the distance from the encoder.

{Video Reference} will mirror the UI video reference.

{Time} shows the PC time

{Date} shows the PC date

Clapper Boards (these will show specified detail taken from the Header information. Data is shown for a specified time at the beginning of each recording). The fields are:

{Start Ref}

{StartNodeType}

{EndRef}

{EndNodeType}

{Location}

{Road}

{Date}

Once the Overlay is enabled the setup will be remembered each time Viewline is restarted.

If you are using the AM Industrial distance reader then you will only see the profile when a project is available (as in a New Project or an Existing Project). The profile should already be calibrated and setup (with AM Industrial) and the profile will be remembered on each restart. If however you need to set up a reel profile there is a Wizard to help you. The calibration is generally over a measured 1000cm (10m), the cable is pulled off the reel to that distance and the clicks are counted. Then the profile can be saved. It is recommended that the cable is calibrated regulary to ensure accurate distances.

If you change the calibration you may have to restart Viewline to restablish the new profile.

Once you are happy you have Live video showing, the overlay you want is showing on the video screen and the correct video profile is visible you are ready to record.

Here’s the process (it would be worth doing a test run first):

  • Create a New Section and fill in the details for that section and save.
  • Make sure the Section is selected.
  • Click Record. The Video Ref will count time.
  • To make an Observation click New Observation. This will capture an image from the video (in the background), pause the video and open the Observation Input. You will see the Distance (Position) and Video Ref should be populated with the correct distance and video reference as shown on the screen. Then the correct defect observation can be made. Viewline will display the correct attribute fields in green once the code has been entered.
  • When the observation is saved you will see the Observation List populated with the new observation and the image taken when the observation was made.
  • REMEMBER to click Continue to continue the recording (you will see Paused flashing as a reminder).
  • When you have reached the end of the survey click Stop. And then, ensuring you have the right section header selected, Save To Active Header.
  • Then, to complete the header survey, double click on the finish node and fill in the Finish Node Edit particulars. You can ensure the correct Position (Distance) is filled in, you can change the finish node reference or change to SA (survey Abandoned). Viewline suggests a DRB grade and that will be shown, but you can add the grade that is appropriate for the line.

Then you create the next New Section. You will notice the the distance and video reference will not have changed from the previous section. The video reference will zero when Record is clicked and the distance can be reset to zero by clicking Reset. There are other options including adding an offset distance in the dropdown as well. (Viewline are considering changing the function to reset both distance and video Reference to zero when New Section is clicked).