IoT Sensors Integration Guide

GCXONE has evolved from a cloud-based video surveillance solution into a comprehensive Unified Security Management Service (USMS) that fully integrates IoT (Internet of Things) functionality. IoT sensors within the GCXONE ecosystem include a wide array of devices such as temperature probes, motion detectors, and environmental sensors (e.g., door contacts or humidity monitors).

Unlike high-bandwidth video devices, these sensors are primarily used for dashboard data visualization and event polling rather than continuous streaming. They provide critical real-time insights into the health of a site, from monitoring industrial battery voltages to tracking the physical movement of assets.

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IoT Sensors

Environmental & Motion Sensors

Overview

An IoT sensor is like a security guard's walkie-talkie compared to the high-definition video of a camera. It doesn't show you the full "movie" of what is happening, but it provides instant, low-cost "status reports" (like "the door is open" or "the power is out") that tell the rest of the system when it's time to pay attention.

Key Characteristics

• Low Bandwidth: Unlike video streams, IoT sensors transmit minimal data
• Event-Driven: Sensors typically send data only when thresholds are breached or events occur
• Battery-Powered: Many IoT sensors operate on battery power for extended periods
• Wireless Connectivity: Most sensors connect via Wi-Fi, cellular, or proprietary wireless protocols
• Cost-Effective: IoT sensors provide monitoring capabilities at a fraction of the cost of video systems

Core Functional Capabilities

Integrated IoT sensors provide three primary layers of security and data management:

1. Real-time Monitoring

Data points (such as voltage or temperature) are displayed on custom, interactive dashboards that refresh periodically. This allows operators to:

• Monitor environmental conditions in real-time
• Track asset locations and movements
• View system health metrics
• Observe power and battery levels

2. Asynchronous Event Handling

Using lightweight protocols like MQTT, sensors publish status changes to a central broker, which GCXONE then processes into actionable alerts. This enables:

• Instant notification of threshold breaches
• Automated workflow triggers
• Integration with alarm management systems
• Multi-sensor event correlation

3. Intelligent Data Filtering

Because many IoT devices (like solar chargers) send data fluctuations every second, GCXONE uses Custom Alarm Rules to filter "noise" and only notify operators when thresholds are breached. This prevents:

• Alarm flooding from minor fluctuations
• Unnecessary operator notifications
• System overload from high-frequency data
• Battery drain from excessive communication

System Architecture

The following diagram illustrates how IoT data flows from the physical hardware to the GCXONE dashboard:

Note: This architecture allows the system to handle devices without static public IPs through reverse communication to the cloud DNS.

Figure 1: IoT sensor integration architecture showing data flow from hardware to dashboard.

Supported IoT Solutions

GCXONE currently supports several major categories of IoT hardware:

1. Environmental and Motion Sensors

• Door & Window Contacts: Used to detect unauthorized entry via digital inputs
• Passive Infrared (PIR): Battery-powered sensors that track thermal signatures to detect human or vehicle movement
• Temperature Sensors: Used for monitoring sensitive environments like server rooms or refrigerated storage
• Humidity Sensors: Monitor moisture levels in critical areas
• Vibration Sensors: Detect movement or tampering of equipment

2. Specialized IoT Systems

• Victron Energy Systems: Monitored for battery voltage, PV charger state, and daily solar yield
• Teltonika Routers & Trackers: Provide network connectivity data and environmental monitoring, including unplug detection, towing detection, crash detection, and geofencing
• I/O Modules: Standalone units (like Advantech ADAM or Phoenix Contact) that provide extra inputs/outputs for lights, sirens, or barriers
• Rosenberger Battery Management: Monitor battery health and charging systems
• Autoaid IoT: Vehicle tracking and monitoring systems

3. Security-Focused Sensors

• AJAX PIR Cameras: Motion detection with image capture
• Essence My Shield: Wireless security sensors
• Reconeyez PIR Cam: Battery-powered motion detection
• Innovi AI Cloud: AI-powered sensor systems

Onboarding and Configuration

1. Basic Device Addition

Figure 2: IoT sensor device registration interface in GCXONE.

1. Navigate to the Configuration App in GCXONE
2. Select the Site and click the Devices tab
3. Click Add and select the appropriate device type (e.g., Teltonika-IOT or Victron)
4. Enter the Serial Number, Username, and Password for the device
5. Click Discover to automatically detect device capabilities
6. Click Save to register the device

2. Setting Custom Alarm Rules

For IoT devices that generate high-frequency data, you must configure a filter rule in the Additional Property section. This prevents the system from triggering an alarm for every minor decimal change.

Figure 3: Custom alarm rules configuration for IoT sensors.

Example Configuration:

• Rule Type: Threshold-based
• Trigger Condition: Battery voltage drops below 12.7V
• Restore Condition: Voltage rises above 12.8V
• Redundancy Timer: 30 seconds (prevents duplicate alarms)

3. Webhook Integration

For devices like Teltonika, you must manually feed the GCXONE Custom Receiver URL into the hardware's local interface. This ensures the hardware knows exactly where to "push" its data messages.

Figure 4: Webhook configuration for IoT sensor data transmission.

Configuration Steps:

1. Obtain the GCXONE Receiver URL from device settings
2. Log into the device's web interface
3. Navigate to Webhook/API Configuration
4. Enter the receiver URL
5. Configure authentication credentials
6. Test the connection

Best Practices for Optimization

Event Polling Interval

Set a customizable time interval (e.g., every 10 seconds for map updates) to balance real-time awareness with network load. Consider:

• Critical Sensors: More frequent polling (5-10 seconds)
• Environmental Sensors: Moderate polling (30-60 seconds)
• Battery-Powered Sensors: Less frequent polling (1-5 minutes) to preserve battery

Unique Server Unit IDs

Ensure every IoT device within a tenant has a unique identifier to prevent alarm misattribution. This is critical for:

• Accurate alarm routing
• Proper device identification
• Correct data association
• Troubleshooting and diagnostics

Unified Hierarchies

Organize sensors within the Tenant → Customer → Site → Device structure to allow for:

• Bulk management operations
• Inherited settings and configurations
• Efficient monitoring and reporting
• Simplified access control

Dashboard Configuration

Creating Custom Dashboards

Figure 5: Custom IoT sensor dashboard configuration interface.

1. Navigate to Dashboard in GCXONE
2. Click Add Widget
3. Select IoT Sensor Data widget type
4. Choose the sensor(s) to display
5. Configure refresh interval
6. Set visualization type (gauge, graph, numeric)

Threshold Visualization

Figure 6: Threshold visualization showing color-coded zones for sensor data.

Configure visual indicators for sensor thresholds:

• Green Zone: Normal operating range
• Yellow Zone: Warning threshold approaching
• Red Zone: Critical threshold breached

Real-Time Monitoring

Figure 7: Real-time IoT sensor monitoring dashboard showing live data feeds.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue	Possible Cause	Resolution
No Data Received	Webhook not configured	Verify webhook URL is correctly entered in device settings
Intermittent Data	Network connectivity issues	Check device network connection and firewall rules
Alarm Flooding	Threshold too sensitive	Adjust alarm rules to filter minor fluctuations
Battery Drain	Polling too frequent	Reduce polling interval for battery-powered devices
Device Offline	Power or network failure	Check physical connections and power supply

Integration Examples

Temperature Monitoring

Use Case: Monitor server room temperature

1. Install temperature sensor in server room
2. Configure threshold: Alert if temperature exceeds 25°C
3. Set up automated workflow: Send email to IT team
4. Configure restore: Clear alert when temperature drops below 24°C

Battery Voltage Monitoring

Use Case: Monitor solar-powered system battery

1. Connect Victron energy system
2. Configure threshold: Alert if voltage drops below 12.7V
3. Set up escalation: If voltage drops below 12.0V, dispatch technician
4. Monitor daily solar yield for system health

Motion Detection

Use Case: Perimeter security with PIR sensors

1. Install AJAX PIR sensors around perimeter
2. Configure motion detection zones
3. Link to camera system for visual verification
4. Set up alarm routing to security operators

Related Articles

• IP Cameras Integration Guide
• Alarm Panels Integration Guide
• Device Health Monitoring
• Custom Alarm Rules
• Dashboard Configuration

Need Help?

If you're experiencing issues with IoT sensor integration, check our Troubleshooting Guide or contact support.