Requesting footage from a Vision AI camera
Learn how to request and retrieve Vision AI camera footage in Argus, including selecting a vehicle and time window. This guide explains how long footage retrieval usually takes, what happens when a vehicle is offline, how far back footage may be available, common reasons requests fail, mobile data usage, 90-day clip retention, and who has permission to request footage.
Before you start
- You need Vision AI access on your Argus account.
- Footage is only available while it's still on the camera. The camera records on a loop and replaces the oldest footage as it goes, so request footage as soon as you know you need it.
- The vehicle needs power and mobile coverage for the footage to be sent. If it's parked up or out of coverage, your request will wait and run automatically when it reconnects.
Step 1 - Open Evidence
In Argus, go to Vision AI > Evidence. This page lists every footage request made on your account, with its current status.
Step 2 - Start a new request
Navitage to Vision AI > Evidence > Click Add.
Step 3 - Fill in the request
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Select vehicle | The vehicle the incident involved. Only Vision AI-equipped vehicles are listed. |
| Video duration | The start and end date/time you want footage for. Keep it as tight as you can - shorter clips arrive faster and use less data. |
| Clip duration | How long each clip should be. |
| Video name | A name you'll recognise later, e.g. "Rear-end at Great South Rd 12 Sep". |
| File type | Recording. |
If the vehicle is offline when you submit, Argus will tell you before you confirm. The request will queue and run itself when the vehicle next connects.
Step 4 - Submit and wait
Your request appears in the Evidence list with one of these statuses:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Queued | Waiting for the vehicle to come online. Nothing to do - it'll run automatically. |
| Processing | The camera is sending the footage to Argus. |
| Completed | Your footage is ready to view or download. |
| Failed | We couldn't retrieve it. The reason is shown on the request (see Troubleshooting below). |
You'll get an email when the request completes or fails, so there's no need to keep the page open. Use the Refresh button to check for updates if you do stay on the page.
Step 5 - View or download the footage
Click the request to open it. From here you can play the clip in your browser or Download it as an mp4 file to share with an insurer, the Police, or your own records.
Retrieved footage stays in Argus for 90 days. Download anything you need to keep for longer.
Data usage
Footage travels over the vehicle's mobile data connection and counts toward that vehicle's monthly data allowance. You can see usage under Vision AI > Data Consumption, and Argus will notify you as the vehicle approaches its limit. If your fleet retrieves footage regularly, your Account Manager can set up a larger data pack for the vehicles that need it.
Troubleshooting
| Failure reason shown | What happened | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Footage no longer on the camera | The time window you asked for has already been overwritten. | Nothing can be retrieved remotely. If the vehicle is accessible, the SD card can be removed and checked, but the footage has usually gone. Request footage sooner next time. |
| Vehicle didn't reconnect in time | The vehicle stayed offline for the full waiting period. | Check the vehicle is powered and has coverage, then submit a new request. |
| Transfer failed | The connection dropped repeatedly while sending. | Argus already retried automatically. Submit the request again; if it keeps failing, log a support ticket with the vehicle rego and time window. |
| Cancelled | The request was cancelled by a user on your account. | Submit a new request if you still need the footage. |