The PPF / PPM Video Surveillance Guide

Author: IPVM Team, Published on Dec 23, 2016

Pixels per foot / Pixels per meter is the most fundamental and valuable, though imperfect, metric for specifying video surveillance image quality.

In a single number, this metric (e.g., 10ppf, 40ppf, 100ppf) conveys important information about what the projected quality that a camera can provide.

The image below, taken from our Camera Calculator, demonstrates examples of common pixel per foot (ppf) levels:

PPF Established Metric

PPF has become a critical established metric for several reasons:

  • Broad camera manufacturer support: Most major manufacturers use this metric.
  • Common A&E specifications: Architects and engineers who plan large projects regularly use PPF / PPM as the basis for their designs and surveillance plans.
  • Need for Something: With so many resolution options today (from 1MP to 12MP and beyond), the old metrics which used percentage of screen covered make no sense. PPF has filled this void.

The Goal of PPF

PPF is a single metric (e.g., 10, 50, 90, etc.) that when specified should deliver a specific level of quality. For example, the parking lot camera must deliver 50 PPF. Instead of guessing or just specifying more resolution, using this metric should enable selection of the ‘right’ resolution for the scene. The final image, following the PPF metric, will then deliver a predictable level of quality.

PPF Problems

Alas, PPF suffers from many problems that must be factored in:

  • Assumes even lighting and ignores the impact of bright sunlight
  • Assumes day time lighting and ignores the impact of night time / low light viewing
  • Disregards differences in lenses and compression
  • Disregards that image quality needs are subjective and debatable
  • Fails to specify related and critical metrics to complement PPF

Despite this, PPF does have value for estimation and planning. It just cannot be used blindly or simplistically. Inside the PRO Member’s section, we explain:

  • How to calculate PPF
  • How to recognize PPF limitations and make adjustments
  • How to best use PPF productively

****** *** **** / ****** *** ***** ** *** **** fundamental *** ********, ****** *********, ****** *** ********** ***** ************ image *******.

** * ****** ******, **** ****** (*.*., *****, *****, ******) conveys ********* *********** ***** **** *** ********* ******* **** * camera *** *******.

*** ***** *****, ***** **** ********* **********, ************ ******** ** ****** ***** *** **** (***) ******:

PPF *********** ******

*** *** ****** * ******** *********** ****** *** ******* *******:

  • ***** ****** ************ *******: **** ***** ************* *** **** ******.
  • ****** *&* **************: ********** *** ********* *** **** ***** ******** ********* *** PPF / *** ** *** ***** *** ***** ******* *** surveillance *****.
  • **** *** *********: **** ** **** ********** ******* ***** (**** *** ** 12MP *** ******), *** *** ******* ***** **** ********** ** ****** *********** ** *****. *** *** ****** **** ****.

The **** ** ***

*** ** * ****** ****** (*.*., **, **, **, ***.) that **** ********* ****** ******* * ******** ***** ** *******. For *******, *** ******* *** ****** **** ******* ** ***. Instead ** ******** ** **** ********** **** **********, ***** **** metric ****** ****** ********* ** *** ‘*****’ ********** *** *** scene. *** ***** *****, ********* *** *** ******, **** **** deliver * *********** ***** ** *******.

PPF ********

****, *** ******* **** **** ******** **** **** ** ******** in:

  • ******* **** ******** *** ******* *** ****** ** ****** ********
  • ******* *** **** ******** *** ******* *** ****** ** ***** time / *** ***** *******
  • ********** *********** ** ****** *** ***********
  • ********** **** ***** ******* ***** *** ********** *** *********
  • ***** ** ******* ******* *** ******** ******* ** ********** ***

******* ****, *** **** **** ***** *** ********** *** ********. It **** ****** ** **** ******* ** **************. ****** *** PRO ******’* *******, ** *******:

  • *** ** ********* ***
  • *** ** ********* *** *********** *** **** ***********
  • *** ** **** *** *** ************

[***************]

Key ***************

**** ** ****:

  • *** ** *** **** *** **** *******. *** *** ******* yourself ** *** ***** * ****** ****** *** *** ***** to ********** ********* ** ******* ** ***** ******* ****** ********** and ******.
  • ********** *** *** *********** ** **** ** *** *** ***** mistakes.
  • *** *** ** * ******** ** *** * ***** ** potential *********** **** ****** *** ******** **** ********.
  • *** *** ****** ***** ********* ******* ****** **/*/*** ** ***** surveillance.
  • *********** *********** *** *** ****** ************.
  • ** *** ************ ** ******* ********* *** ***** ***** **** in **************. *******, ******* ********** *** *** ****** ********** (***, low ***** ***********, ***.)

PPF ** ***

****, ** *** *** ********** **** ******, *** ********* *** ****** equivalent, ****** *** ***** (***), ** ****. *******, *** ** ******** used, **** ** **** ******* ************ ** *** ****** ******.

*** *********, *** ***** ***** ***** **** ******** *** ****** *** conversion. **** **** *** **** ****** ********** **** ******** ****** ************, ** ******** ** ******** / ***.

How ** ********* ***** *******

*********** ***** ******* ******* ** *** ******/*******:

  • *** ****** ** ********** ****** ** * ***** ****/******
  • *** ***** ** *** *** ** *** ****** ** *** point ** ********

 

Horizontal ***** *****

** ******* ** ******** ******** *** ********** ***** ***** *** do *** ******* ** **** *** ******** *** *** ******* resolution. *** ********, * **** ****** *** * ***** ********** of *** (*********** *.***) *** *** ********** ***** ***** ** 1280 *** *** ******** ***** ***** ** ***, **** ******** described ** **** * ***. ** ** *** ***** ****** in **** ****, *** ****, **** ****** *** ********* ***.

**** *** ********** ***** ****** *** ****** ***********:

**** **** ** ******** **** ** **** *** ***** ***********.

Selecting *** *****

*** ****** **** ** *** *********** ** *** **** * Field ** **** *** ***** ** *****. *** ***** ***** shows * ****** ******** *** ********* *** ***, ****** ******* across ** *** ***** ** ********, **** *** **** *****:

*********** *** ***** ** *** *** *** ** ******** *** larger, **** *****, **** ** ******* **** ** ******. *** instance, *** ********* ***** ***** *** ********* *** ****** *** covering * ******* ***/*****.

**** ** ***** **** *** ** '*****', *** ** ******* on ******** *******.

  • ** ***** ******* ***** *** ****?** ******* ****** ** ******* ** *** ***** ** **** one, ****** ** *** **** ** *** ****** *****, ** may ** ****** ** *** *** ******** ***' *** *** calculations. ** ***** ** ** ***** ********, *** ***' *** need ** ** ****.
  • **** ********** *********** *** *****?** ****** ********* ** ******* ** ***********, ** **** **** this ** **** **** ********* ****. **** *** ** *** if ***** *** ***** ****** *** ********, ***** *** ********* limited ** *****. *** ** ** ** **** ******* *** be ****, ***** **** *** ********.

** ***** ** *** ***********, ** ********* ***** ***** ****, so **** *** ** *** ************* **** ***.

PPF *******

**** *** **** ********** *** ********** ****** ** *** ****** chosen *** ******** **** *** *****, *** ** ****** ********.

**** *** * *** ********:

  • *** *** ***** * **** ****** ** ***** * ** foot **** ********: *** = *** ******* ********** ***** ***** is **** *** *** ***** = ** (*.*., **** / 10).
  • *** **** * *** ****** ******** * *** **** **** parking ***: *** = ~** ******* ********** ***** ***** ** 2592 *** *** ***** = *** (*.*., **** / ***).
  • * ***** ****** ** ********** * ** **** **** ******* entrance: *** = ** ******* ********** ***** ***** ** **** and *** ***** = ** (*.*., **** / **).

PPF ********* ** *** ***** *** ******** **** ****** *********

******* ** *** **** * '******' ***. **** *** *** is ******* ** *** *** *** ******* ** ******** ** from *** ******. *** ********, ***** *** **** ****** **********, ** *** ***** **** * ******'* ***, ***** ***** PPF ** **** *****. ** *** *** **** *** ********* as ** ******** *** ****** ** ** ***, *** ******* the ****** ** ******* *********, ** ***, ***, ** *** PPF.

******* *********, *** *** ***** ********* ** ** ***** *** FOV, **** *****. ******** *** ****** ** *** *** *****, we *** *** *** ********, *********** ** ***.

*** *** *** **** *** ******** ** *** **** ****** **********. 

Fisheye ***** ** **** ******

*******, ****** ** ***** ** **** ***** **** ***** ******* panoramic ******, ** *** ***** ************, **** ****** **** ******** cameras. 

***** *** (*) *** ******* ** ** *******, *** * ******* ********* (360 ****) *** *** ***** ***** * ~**° ****. ******* *** want ** *** ** ******** ** **** **** **** **** camera:

  • **** * *** *********, ** ** **** **** **** *** camera, *** *** ** ~**
  • **** * *** '************' **° ****, ** ** **** **** from *** ******, *** *** ** ~***

**** ** * ******* ********* **********. ***** *** ********* *** see ** '***' **********, ** *** *********, ** ** **** away, ****** **** **** **** ***** (**** **** ********). ** contrast, *** '************' **** **** ******* **** ******** ******* ****** though ****** * **** ******** ****.

*** *** ***** *********** ********* ****** ******** *** **** *******.

Recognizing *** ***********

**** ***** *********** ***, ***** *** ******* ****** ***** ****** the ********* ******* ** ****** *********. *****, ** ******:

  • *** ****** ** ****** ******** / **** ******* ******
  • *** ***** / ***** **** *******
  • *********** / ***** ******* ******* ******
  • **** ******* ***********
  • ********** ***** ******* ************
  • ************* ******* ** ***

Wide ******* ***** ***********

*** ******* *** ****** *** *** **** *** *** ********* power *** **** *************. *** ******* ** ****** ****** ********* / ******** ** * *** *******. ** *** ***** *****, **** cameras **** *** **** **********, ***** *** **** *** *** are ***** ** *** **** ****:

*******, *** ***** ** *** ***** ***** **** ** *** twice *** *** ***** ** *** *****. ****** *** *** is *** ****, *** ****** ** *** ***** *** *** stronger *** **** ********* ***. 

**** ** ** ***** **** ** ****** **** **** ******** variations ** ***** ******. ** *** ***** *****, **** * has * ***** *** **** **** * *** **** * clearly ******** **** ***** ****** ******* **** * ** ** * shaded **** **** *** ****** ********* ** ****** ***********.

variances lighting

*** *** *** ******** **** *** **** *********** ** **** ******* ***** *** ***** *******. 

Low ***** ***********

**** ** **** ********** *** *****, ** **** ** ****, ****** ********* **** ******* *********, **** ******* ***** ******** ***** *******. **** *** ** seen ** *** ****** ** ****** *****, ******* *** ******* in *** **** **** **** *** ****** ** ******* ***** from *** ** *****, **** ***** ****** ******** ** ~*,***** on *** ****, *** ***** *** ** *** *****.

******* *** ***** *** ***** '****' ** ******* *********, **** *** best ******* ******* ***** ******* *** ******* **** ***** **** ****** the ***. *******, ************ *** ********** ****** ***** **** **** ******** limitation *****.

** *** ****** **********, ** ******* ******* ***** ** **** world *** *** ***** ****** ** **** **** **********, **** PPF ********* ** **** **** ** ***** ****** ***** *******' parameters.

Differences ** ***********

******* *** ********* ******* **** *** ** *********** ***** ********. Even ** *** **** ********** *** *** **** ***** *** ****, the ****** ** *********** *** **** *******. ***** ************ ****:

** ***** **** ***** *'* *** ** *** ***** **** image *, *** **** ** *** *** ****. *** *** less *** **** ***** * *** **** ** *** *** case. **** ****** *** ***** **** *** **** ******, **** *** only ********** ***** ********* *********** ** ***** *. 

****** ** *** ********* *********, ************* *** **** ********* ******* compression ********, ** **** ** ********* *********** *** ***** ******* quality ******. ******* ****** *** *** ** ****** ************ *********** ********** *** ******* ** ***** ******** *** ************ *****.

***** ****** ** ******* ** ***** *********** ****** ********** *********** ** ********* ** ***** ***** ******** ******. *** ******** ******* / *********** ******** *** **** ******* ** *********** *** *** *******.

Lens ***********

**** ***** **** **** ******* *** **** * **** ********** in ***** *******, ********** ** *** ****** ********. *******, ** our *****, **** ******* ** ****** * ***** *******, ******* fine ******* *********** ***** *** *********** ** **** ******. ***** factors, **** ***-****,******, *** ********** ************ *** *** **** ****** ** ****** image *******.

Subjective ***** *******

******* *** **** ********** ******* ** *** ** *** ********** *** 'right' ******* ***** *** **. **** ** '****** ** ** the *** ** *** ********', *** ********** ****** *** ***** a ***** ******* ***** ** **** ****** ** '********' * subject, *** ******* *** ******* ************* **** ****** ** ****** *** required.

*** *******: * ******** ***** ** ****** * ***** *******. Which ** *** ***** *** ****** ***** ** *****?

***** **** ** **** **** ****** ******* *** *** ** them **** ** ***** ** *******, **** ***** ****** *** 18 ** ** *** ******, ** **** **** **** **** just * ****** '****', **** **** **** ***** *******.

*** **** ********* ******** ****** **** ******** ******* *** **** pixels *** ****** ** ******** * ******** ******. ******* *** images *****:

**** ****** **** *** *** ~** *** ** *** **** is *** ***** *** **** **** **** * '*******' *****. Others **** **** ** **** ******, ********** ** *** ****** is *****, **** ** ** ******** ** ********.

********** ** **** ** '******' ****** ** ******, *** ***** to ****** **** *** ***** / ******** ***** **** **** think ** **********.

Related / ******** *******

**** ********** *******, *** ***** **** *** ******* ****** *********** to ******** ****** *******, ******* ** ********* ** *********. **** using ***, ******* ******* **** ** ****:

  • ***** ** **** *****: ***** ************** **** ** ****** *** *** *** *** needs ** **, ********* **** * *** ******. **** *** create ********* ** **** **** *** ******** ** ***** **** than ******. *******, ************ ***** *** ****, *.*., ** *** at ** ****, ***.
  • ******** ** ******: ******* *** *** *** ****** ***** ** ******* *** given *** ******* **** ********* ** **** ** *** ***** of *** ***. ********, *** ******* **** **** *** ****** one ****, *** ***** *** ***.
  • ***** ** *********: *******, ********** ** *** ****** ** ******, ** *** camera ****** *** ******* ********** ** ************, *** **** **** key ******* **** ***** ** ******* ***** **********. ** ********* ****** ** ***** ******* ****, ** ********** **** **° ** **** ** ***** *** proper ****** ******.

FOV **** **********

******* ** ********* ** ********** ***** ********* ******* **** **********, *** selection *** ****** ****** *** ******* *****. *** *******, ** areas **' **** ** ****, * ***** ****** **** ******* ~100ppf, **** **** ****** ****** *** * **** ******* *** time *****. ** ********, ** *** **** ***** ** ** camera, ** *** *** **** ***, *** ***** **** ** limit **** *** ***** ** * **** **** - * 70% ********. 

** *** ****** **** ****, *** **** ********* ****** *** performance ********* **** ** *** ******'* *** ***** *** *** performance. ********, ***** ******* **** ***** ******* **** ****** ******** and *** ***** *** *** **** ****** ** ****** ******** a '****** *** *****'. 

****** **** **** *********

*******, ***** **-** **** **** ****, *** ********* ******* **** trickier. ****** ** **** ***** ** * *** ****** **** increases *** ********** ***** ***** ********, ~**%. ******* ***********, ********* low ***** *** *** *********** ** *** ******* *** ***** than ***** ****.

** ******* ***** ********** *** *** ***** ***** ** ** can ****** ******** ** *** ***. *** ********, ***'* *** you **** ***** ****** * *** **** **** ****. ** do **, *** **** **** **** ********** ******. * ****** 14MP ****** *********** **** (** ** *** ~**** ********** ******) as ***** (*) *** *******. *** **** ******** ***** ***** be (*) ***** *******. ***** *** ***** *** ** ******** less (****), *** ******* ******* *** ** ******** ** ***, low *****, ***** ****, ***** ******* *******, ***.

PPF ********** ******* ** *************

**** *** **** ** ****, *** ****** ******* ** ************ PPF **********.********: ***** ******* ****** ******, **** ******** *** ** *** ****** in *** ****** ** ****** ******** ** **** ****** ********, which ** ****** ************.

****** **********:

  • **** ******* / *********** ****** *** ******* ******: ************* ******* between ** *** *** ***. **** ** ***** **********, ** is ******** ** ******* ***** *********** *******, ********** ** ******* plates. ** ********, *** ** ****** ******** ****** ******** ** very **** ** **** **** ******* **** ** *******, **** as *** ****** ******* ** ********.
  • ******** ******* / ****** *** **** ** ****** (******, ***) is ***** *** *** *** *********** *******: ************* ********* ********* ******* 20 *** ** ***. **** ** ****** ********* ** **** ** lighting ** *****.
  • *** ******* / ********* ****: ************* ******* * - ** PPF. ** *******, ******* ** **** *****, ** *** ** very **** ** **** ******* *** ****** *** ******* **** that **** *** ***** ** ** *** *** ******* *********. Of ******, **** **** ******** ***** ********. *** ** ***, if *** **** **** **** ** ***, *** *** ****** likely ** **** *******. *******, **** ********* ******* **** * few *** ** ********, ** *** ***** ** ****.

[****: **** ***** *** ********** ******* ** **** *** *** revised ** ******** **** ** ******** ******* ***** *** ******* better ******** **** *** **** ****** **********.]

Comments (6)

Undisclosed #1

12/23/16 04:01pm

*******, ** *** *****, **** ******* ** ****** * ***** concern, ******* **** ******* *********** ***** *** *********** ** **** lenses...

*** ***** **** * ******** **** ** ****** *** ***** effect ** ******** ***? **** ***** **** ********* **** ** certain ***** ***** ***** ** *********** ***********,* ***** **** ** **** ****** *** **** *****.

**** **** ****** ***** ******* **********, ****** *** ****** ** have ****** ***.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 12/23/16 04:24pm

*** ***** * **** *****. **'** *** **** **** ***** long ****** *** *******.

Thumbnail img 9282

Gavin Botha

12/24/16 03:26am

***** *******.

James Drymiller

12/31/16 09:24pm

****, ** *** *** ********** **** ******, *** ********* *** metric **********, ****** *** ***** (***), ** ****. *******, *** is ******** ****, **** ** **** ******* ************ ** *** metric ******.

**** **** *** ******** ***-****** ******* ******* **.

******* ***** **** '********' ******* *** **** * ******, ***** are **** * ********* ** *** ***** *** ***** *** metric ******. *** **** ** ******* ** ***** ** *******, it's *** *** **** *** *** *********** ** ****. ** I *** *** (****) ** ******* ** *** ****** ***. As '********'******** ***** ************ *********** ******, **** ******** *** **** *********, testing *** ******** *** **,***+ ***************'[** ******** ** *** ***** ** ****], *** *** *** serving? **** ** *** **** ***** *********** ****?

*** ***, '*** ** ******** ****, **** ** **** ******* standardized ** *** ****** ******. * ****** **** *** **** that ******* **? **** ***********,****** ** ****, ***** *** ****** ** ******* *** ** what ** *** ***** ***?

*** ** ******** ********* ** ********* *** ********** (****) *** a **** *********** ***** ** *** ******* ** ****** ******* in *** *** ** *****://***.****.***/*****/*******/*****/*********/***/***/******/*****.***

****** *** **** ************* *** ***** *** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to James Drymiller | 01/01/17 01:03am

*****,

*** ********** *** **** ********* ****** *** ******** ****** *** country *** **** ******* ********** ** ****** *** ***** ********* who *** ******.

** **** *** ** ********** ** *** ****** ** **** as *** *** *** ******** / ******** ***** *** *** Year's *** ****** *** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 01/06/17 03:18pm

*****, ***, ** ***** *** ************ ** *** ****** ****** the ******. ******.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Wireless Burglar Alarm Sensors Guide on Jul 21, 2017
Wireless sensors for burglar alarm sensors are an increasingly common option for the historical labor intensive wired alarm systems. However,...
Axis Door Station Tested (A8105-E) on Jul 19, 2017
Axis continues their push into niche markets, especially audio, with network speakers, an IP horn, and video door stations. We bought and tested...
Manufacturer Favorability Guide on Jul 19, 2017
This 120 page PDF guide may be downloaded inside by all IPVM members. It covers our 20 manufacturer favorability rankings and 20 manufacturer...
Batteries For Alarm Systems Tutorial on Jul 11, 2017
Alarm systems use backup batteries in order to continue working if an intruder attempts to disable the alarm by cutting power to the building. In...
Safes And Vaults Alarm Sensors on Jul 07, 2017
Vaults and safes are designed to protect valuables by enclosing them in steel or concrete boxes with thick doors and strong locks. However, any...
Smoke Detectors Guide on Jul 06, 2017
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors add a life-safety component to burglar alarm systems. As intrusion detection sensors are used to...
PTZ Usage Declines 2017 - Statistics on Jul 03, 2017
PTZ usage is declining, now at ~6% of all cameras integrator use, down from ~10% of cameras used in 2014, according to new IPVM...
H.265 / HEVC Codec Tutorial 2017 on Jun 30, 2017
For years, video surveillance professionals have talked about the potential for H.265. Now, in 2017, H.265 is starting to gain mainstream...
Uniview Low-Cost Bullet PTZ Tested on Jun 21, 2017
Uniview is offering a HD zoom bullet camera, the IPC742SR9-PZ30-32G, with an integrated pan / tilt positioner, for the price of a low-cost...
QSR Video Surveillance Best Practices on Jun 21, 2017
Fast food restaurants or QSRs (quick service restaurants), are frequent victims of crime and fraud. Because they are open late, deal with cash, and...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Security Robots Are Just Entertainment on Jul 21, 2017
Great entertainment, no real security value.  That is the happy (or sad) state of security robots in 2017. Knightscope robot's drowning, the...
Wireless Burglar Alarm Sensors Guide on Jul 21, 2017
Wireless sensors for burglar alarm sensors are an increasingly common option for the historical labor intensive wired alarm systems. However,...
Competing Against ADT on Jul 20, 2017
ADT is one of the biggest players in the security industry, with ~$4 billion revenue. In 2017, they were acquired / merged with Protection...
Hikvision Launching Deep Learning Recorders on Jul 20, 2017
Hikvision has become a common choice for super low cost NVRs. Now, Hikvision is aiming to move up market, with deep learning NVRs that claim far...
PR Campaign Exploiting Manufacturer Cybersecurity on Jul 20, 2017
Manufacturers increasingly have a bulls-eye on their back. As cyber security solutions providers grow, they realize a great way to get publicity...
Axis Door Station Tested (A8105-E) on Jul 19, 2017
Axis continues their push into niche markets, especially audio, with network speakers, an IP horn, and video door stations. We bought and tested...
Manufacturer Favorability Guide on Jul 19, 2017
This 120 page PDF guide may be downloaded inside by all IPVM members. It covers our 20 manufacturer favorability rankings and 20 manufacturer...
$8 Billion Utility Georgia Power Enters Surveillance Business Offering Avigilon And Genetec on Jul 19, 2017
Utilities are typically considered major customers of surveillance integrators but one utility, Georgia Power, with $8+ billion in annual revenue...
Knightscope Laughs off Robot Drowning on Jul 18, 2017
A day after a Knightscope robot drowned, Knightscope has issued an 'official statement' making fun of the issue: The implied message is that...
Microsoft Video AI Cloud Services Examined on Jul 18, 2017
Microsoft has released one of the most amazing video analytics marketing videos ever. In it, they detect oil spills, track individual people giving...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact