Standard for Performance of Video Surveillance Systems

This standard provides minimum acceptable performance parameters for video surveillance systems. The system stakeholder determines the video surveillance system operational requirements. Refer to Section 8, System Operational Performance Requirements.

The purpose of this Standard is to provide guidance to ensure that security video system functions and performance are achieved, to assist end users, integrators, consultants and authorities with a means to objectively define, verify, and maintain compliance to performance standards.

This Standard is structured:

• A   To accommodate a broad range of applications;
• B   To reflect widely used current and emerging technologies;
• C   To avoid specific technological requirements that may restrict the application of advanced innovative solutions and new technology; and
• D   Is based on a Risk - Application method. Application of the Standard requires the practitioner to determine associated risk level based on a risk assessment of each area to be covered and determination of the primary objective for each camera associated with that area. The results may then be used to select the system class requirements for each area within the system. A set of specific functional parameters required for compliance is provided for each class or category.

The purpose of the Video Surveillance System (VSS) is to capture images of the scene, process the images, record and display them to the system operator. In some applications, video images and metadata may be transmitted to remote locations or retrieved when required by off-site operators.

A Video Surveillance System is comprised of many components and the performance of any one of the individual components of the system can have a significant impact on the overall operational design performance. This Standard reflects the desired system performance for each identified category (Detection, Classification, Assessment, Visual Identification and Biometric/Machine Identification as defined in Section 7, Image Performance Requirements). In practical deployments, this Standard does not address critical elements of a Video Surveillance System (such as network infrastructure). Elements of the system which may impact compliance with this standard shall be considered during the design phase.

This Standard is applicable to the source image and recorded / viewed image and defines compliance requirements for overall performance. This document does not specify the type of technology or the required image quality for a certain video surveillance task.