Specification of a video test imagery library (VITAL)

One function of the Police Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) is to improve the expertise of the UK Government when it purchases intelligent CCTV systems for security and policing applications. To meet this aim, PSDB evaluates and reports on the performance of such systems. To help PSDB to assess these systems rapidly, PSDB is creating a library of representative video footage to form the basis of a video test imagery library (VITAL). In the future, VITAL is used to help to establish baseline standards for performance. PSDB also intends that extracts of VITAL is published on the Internet to guide researchers on the types of footage that require automatic classification. PSDB expects VITAL footage to centre on four scenarios: parked vehicle detection; abandoned luggage detection; outdoor, sterile-zone intruder detection; and doorway surveillance. The contents of the standard video footage is taken from a larger collection set, and be weighted to contain examples of imagery that are on the boundaries of the processing capabilities of current machine-vision technology. PSDB is generating a comprehensive specification through wide consultation and plans to start collecting VITAL imagery in the autumn of 2003.