ROI Configuration Guide

Version 1.1

Introduction

The Region of Interest (ROI) configuration is a critical component of the ALAS system that directly impacts the accuracy and relevance of your analysis results. This guide provides detailed instructions on how to properly configure ROIs for unprocessed videos, including best practices and troubleshooting tips.

Understanding ROIs in ALAS

What is a Region of Interest?

A Region of Interest (ROI) is a defined area within your video frame where you want the AI to detect and track specific activities. ROIs:

• Act as "virtual sensors" that detect when a person enters or exits the defined area
• Can be assigned to specific activities to track time spent on each task
• Allow the system to distinguish between different work areas in the same video
• Enable priority-based tracking when multiple activities occur simultaneously

How ROIs Work with Body Points

ALAS uses AI-powered pose detection to track specific points on the human body:

• The system tracks key body points (shoulders, hands, elbows, etc.)
• When a specified number of these points enter an ROI, the system registers activity in that area
• The minimum number of body points required can be adjusted for each ROI
• Higher point requirements increase detection precision but may miss some activity

Accessing the ROI Configuration Interface

1. Navigate to the Videos section in the main menu
2. Find your uploaded video in the Unprocessed Videos list
3. Click on the video to open the configuration panel
4. Select the ROI Configuration tab in the setup wizard

Creating Your First ROI

Step 1: Define Activities

Before creating ROIs, you need to define the activities you want to track:

1. In the configuration panel, locate the Activities section
2. Click Add Activity to create a new activity
3. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Material Retrieval", "Assembly", "Inspection")
4. Select a category for the activity (Value-Added, Non-Value-Added, etc.)
5. Click Save

Step 2: Enter Drawing Mode

To create ROIs:

1. Select an activity from your list that you want to create ROIs for
2. Click the Enter Drawing Mode button
3. The video preview will activate the ROI drawing interface
4. A rectangular cursor will appear, indicating you're in drawing mode

Step 3: Draw the ROI

To draw a region:

1. Click and hold at one corner of your desired region
2. Drag the cursor to the opposite corner, forming a rectangle
3. Release the mouse button to create the ROI
4. The new ROI will appear highlighted on the video frame
5. The ROI will be automatically assigned to the selected activity

Step 4: Configure ROI Properties

For each newly created ROI:

1. In the ROI sidebar, find your new ROI in the list
2. Click on it to access its properties
3. Configure the following essential parameters:
   • Name: Give the ROI a descriptive name (e.g., "Parts Bin", "Assembly Station")
   • Min Body Points: Set the minimum number of body points (1-6) that must be in the ROI to trigger activity detection
   • Priority: Assign a priority level (1-5) to handle overlapping ROIs

Advanced ROI Configuration

Setting Minimum Body Points

The "Min Body Points" setting determines how many body points must be detected within an ROI to register as activity:

• 1 Point: Most sensitive setting, may trigger with minimal presence
• 2-3 Points: Balanced setting for most applications
• 4-5 Points: Requires substantial body presence in the ROI
• 6 Points: Strictest setting, requires most of the tracked points to be in the ROI

Guidelines for choosing the right setting:

• For large work areas where the whole body is present: 3-4 points
• For smaller areas like parts bins where only hands reach: 1-2 points
• For precision work requiring sustained presence: 4-6 points

Understanding Priority Levels

Priority levels determine which activity takes precedence when a person is detected in multiple ROIs simultaneously:

• Priority ranges from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest)
• If a person is detected in multiple ROIs, the system will credit time to the activity with the highest priority ROI
• If multiple ROIs with the same highest priority are active, time is credited to "Multiple Activities"
• When no ROIs are active, time is credited to "Indirect | Not at Workstation"

Example priority assignments:

• Core assembly tasks: Priority 5
• Material handling: Priority 3-4
• Documentation or secondary tasks: Priority 1-2

Creating Activity Rules

Activity rules allow you to define complex relationships between ROIs:

1. Navigate to the Activity Rules tab
2. Select an activity to create rules for
3. Click Add Rule to create a new rule
4. Configure the rule using the following components:
   • ROI Selection: Choose which ROIs to include in the rule
   • Operators: Use AND/OR operators to define relationships
   • Target Activity: Select which activity to credit time to when the rule is satisfied

Rule Examples

• Simple OR Rule: "Credit time to 'Assembly' when operator is in 'Assembly Station 1' OR 'Assembly Station 2'"
• AND Rule: "Credit time to 'Material Preparation' when operator is in 'Material Storage' AND 'Cutting Tool'"
• Complex Rule: "Credit time to 'Quality Check' when operator is in 'Inspection Area' AND ('Test Equipment' OR 'Quality Documentation')"

Managing ROIs

Editing Existing ROIs

To modify an existing ROI:

1. Select the activity containing the ROI
2. Click the ROI from the list
3. Use the properties panel to:
   • Rename the ROI
   • Adjust minimum body points requirement
   • Change priority level
   • Move the ROI to a different activity

Deleting ROIs

To remove an ROI that is no longer needed:

1. Select the activity containing the ROI
2. Click on the ROI from the list
3. Click the Delete button (trash icon)
4. Confirm deletion when prompted

Moving ROIs Between Activities

To reassign an ROI to a different activity:

1. Select the activity containing the ROI
2. Click on the ROI from the list
3. In the properties panel, open the Activity dropdown
4. Select the destination activity
5. The ROI will be moved immediately

Best Practices for ROI Configuration

Optimal ROI Sizing and Placement

• Cover Complete Work Areas: Ensure ROIs completely cover the areas where activities take place
• Avoid Excessive Overlap: While some overlap is normal, excessive overlap can complicate analysis
• Consider Movement Patterns: Account for normal movement paths between stations
• Adjust for Camera Angle: Compensate for perspective distortion in your ROI placement

ROI Naming Conventions

Using consistent naming conventions improves clarity:

• Include the activity type in the name (e.g., "Assembly - Center Table")
• Use numbering for related areas (e.g., "Material Bin 1", "Material Bin 2")
• Include location references when relevant (e.g., "Assembly - Left Station")

Optimizing Detection Accuracy

• Test Different Priority Levels: Start with standard priorities and adjust based on results
• Calibrate Minimum Points: Begin with 2-3 points and increase if false positives occur
• Refine ROI Boundaries: Make small adjustments if activities are being missed
• Review First Analysis: Always review your first processed video to identify configuration issues

Troubleshooting ROI Configuration

Common Issues and Solutions

Diagnosing ROI Problems

If your processed videos show inaccurate activity detection:

1. View the processed video with ROI visualization enabled
2. Note timestamps where activities are incorrectly detected or missed
3. Review the ROI configuration for those areas
4. Consider these common adjustments:
   • Resize or reposition ROIs to better match actual work areas
   • Adjust minimum body point requirements
   • Refine priority levels
   • Create more specific activity rules

Advanced Techniques

Activity Flow Mapping

For complex workflows, consider mapping the entire activity flow:

1. Create a diagram of all work areas and movement paths
2. Define logical groups of related activities
3. Assign ROIs and priorities that reflect the natural workflow
4. Create rules that capture transitions between activities

Working with Multiple Operators

When tracking multiple operators in the same video:

• Create separate ROIs for each operator's work area
• Use higher minimum body point settings to reduce false detections
• Consider using activity rules to handle areas shared by multiple operators

Handling Complex Workspaces

In densely packed workspaces:

1. Use smaller, more precisely defined ROIs
2. Implement higher priority differences between adjacent areas
3. Create more complex rules to accurately capture activity relationships
4. Consider using manual timestamps for highly complex scenarios

Conclusion

Proper ROI configuration is essential for accurate labor analysis results. Take the time to carefully design your ROIs, test and refine them based on results, and leverage the advanced features like priority levels and activity rules to capture the true complexity of your work environment.

For additional assistance with ROI configuration, contact our support team through the in-app support feature.

Remember: The goal of ROI configuration is to create a digital model that accurately reflects how work is performed in the physical space. Consider the natural workflow and activity relationships when designing your configuration.