EXTERIOR FIELD EVALUATION OF NEW GENERATION VIDEO MOTION DETECTION SYSTEMS

Year
1988
Author(s)
T. P. Malone - Sandia National Laboratories
Abstract
Recent advancements in video motion detection (VMD) system design and technology have resulted in several new commercial VMD systems. Considerable interest in the new VMD systems has been generated because the systems are advertised to work effectively in exterior applications. Previous VMD systems, when used in an exterior environment, tended to have very high nuisance alarm rates due to weather conditions, wildlife activity and lighting variations. The new VMD systems advertise more advanced processing of the incoming video signal which is aimed at rejecting exterior environment nuisance alarm sources while maintaining a high detection capability. This paper discusses the results of field testing, in an exterior environment, of two new VMD systems. The field tests were conducted in a video/sensor test bed area with double fenced perimeter security type zones. Testing included detection capability evaluation of human targets crossing the perimeter zones and nuisance alarm data gathering. The testing was conducted in order to characterize each of the VMD system's performance in a particular exterior environment. Test results reveal some of the strengths and weaknesses of each system for the conditions tested, and some site considerations if a VMD system is being considered for exterior use.