Video Surveillance Glossary

Auto electronic shutter (AES). Feature of a camera to adjust for light changes without the use of an auto-iris lens.

Auto iris. A special camera lens with the ability to open or close its iris automatically in response to changing light levels.

Back-light compensation (BLC). The ability of a digital security camera to adjust for bright background lighting that would normally cause the subject to appear too dark.

C-mount. A type of camera lens mount that enables different lenses to be swapped out and used on a security camera.

CCD. The light-sensitive imaging microchip found in digital security cameras.

Covert Surveillance refers to "the secretive continuous or periodic observation of persons, vehicles, places or objects to obtain information concerning the activities of individuals, which is then recorded in material form, including notes and photographs". [see Footnote #1]

Digital video recorder (DVR). A special computer that converts analog computer images to digital images, compresses the images, and then stores them for later viewing. A DVR replaces the time-lapse VCR, multiplexor and switch found in analog CCTV surveillance systems.

Duplex. An electronic device used to record and display camera images at the same time. A full-duplex DVR can record camera images while displaying images from a different camera at the same time.

Housing. Protective enclosure that a camera can be placed in to protect it from outside weather conditions.

Lux. Unit of measure of light sensitivity for a camera. Sensitive cameras can operate with low levels of lux

Personal Information is defined in section 1(n) of the FOIP Act as recorded information about an identifiable individual, including: the individual’s race, colour, national or ethnic origin; the individual’s age or sex; the individual’s inheritable characteristics; information about an individual’s physical or mental disability; and any other identifiable characteristics listed in that section..

Pinhole camera. A spy camera with a lens that can see through a tiny hole. These camera are usually hidden.

Power-over-Ethernet (POE). Device that allows one to transmit power to a security power through an Ethernet network cable.

PTZ. Stands for pan-tilt-zoom. PTZ cameras have motors that allow them to be remotely moved up-down, side-to-side, and the camera lens zoomed in or out.

Real-time recording. For digital video, 30 frames-per-second per camera allows no jerkiness in the video.

Record is defined in section 1(q) of the FOIP Act as a record of information in any form and includes notes, images, audio-visual recordings, x-rays, books, documents, maps, drawings, photographs, letters, vouchers and papers and any other information that is written, photographed, recorded or stored in any manner, but does not include software or any mechanism that produces records. In the context of this Guide, "record" includes digitally recorded or stored media such as images on videotape.

Remote surveillance. The ability to view a camera image that is located remotely, where the video image is transmitted over a phone line, the Internet or wireless.

Reception Equipment refers to the equipment or device used to receive or record the personal information collected through a public surveillance system, including a camera or video monitor.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). The ratio of video signal to noise. This is a measure of how much signal noise the camera can withstand and still present a good image. The higher this number is, the better the picture quality.

Storage Device refers to a videotape, computer disk or drive, CD ROM or computer chip used to store the recorded visual images captured by a surveillance system.

Surveillance System refers to a mechanical or electronic system or device that enables continuous or periodic video recording, observing or monitoring of personal information about individuals in open, public spaces (including streets, highways, parks), public buildings (including provincial and local government buildings, libraries, health care facilities, public housing and educational institutions) or public transportation, including school and municipal transit buses or other similar vehicles.

Varifocal lens. A camera lens in which the focus is not fixed and that can be adjusted either manually or automatically.

Video gain. Also called video amplification, this is the increase in video signal power by an amplifier.

Watch-dog timer. The automatic reboot of a DVR system whenever a problem is detected.