SJUK hears exclusively from Kieran Byrne, Architect & Engineering Manager at Axis Communications about the latest standards and understanding surveillance technology.
DORI has long served as a key reference point for video surveillance design. Detection, Observation, Recognition and Identification gave system designers a practical shorthand for defining visual performance in real-world deployments.
It was, and remains, an intuitive reminder that video is only valuable when it delivers actionable detail.
However, some suggest that modern visual systems have reached beyond DORI’s shorthand and the recent publication of IEC 62676-4:2025 may represent an evolution in the way visual performance is defined, specified and validated.
The new standard ultimately reflects the overall maturing of the surveillance ecosystem and aims to cement clearer alignment between system design and operational need.
DORI helped bring structure to what had often been a difficult part of surveillance design, translating operational requirements into measurable image detail.
By linking pixel density to expected outcomes, it gave security practitioners a practical framework for specifying surveillance coverage requirements.
Whether securing an entrance, monitoring a perimeter or supporting investigation procedures, DORI allowed designers to begin with the desired system outcome and translate this into camera placement and configuration.
That clarity helped establish DORI as a common reference point in specifications, tenders and design tools across the industry.
Even today, many practitioners still reference DORI terminology when planning and implementing new systems, and its familiarity and simplicity have contributed to its longevity.
However, after more than a decade of rapid development in surveillance hardware and analytics capabilities, it is reasonable to ask whether the model still fully reflects the way modern systems are designed and used.
While the fundamental principles of IP cameras remain unchanged, their practical capabilities have advanced significantly.
They deliver higher resolutions, advanced optics and powerful analytics.
The use case has also changed; video is no longer used solely for passive recording.
It is an essential component of both real-time decision-making and forensic investigation and frequently integrates with broader security and operational systems.
System design needs to revolve around the true capabilities of cameras.
Two cameras meeting the same pixel density threshold could produce very different outcomes, for example, as aspects like lighting, motion, compression and scene complexity are not necessarily obvious from the spec sheet.
It is important to avoid the disconnect between design intent and operational reality; a system that satisfies specification on paper may still fall short in practice.
IEC 62676-4:2025 reframes performance around operational tasks.
The updated standard introduces a broader set of operational requirements – overview, outline, discern, perceive, characterise, validate and scrutinise – forming a task ladder that reflects modern evidential and situational needs.
Each stage is associated with refined pixel density guidance that reflects contemporary digital imaging and evidential expectations.
This vocabulary shift encourages designers to question what the system must enable users to see and do, first and foremost.
It puts the objective, not the hardware, first; from there, pixel density, field of view and camera selection become tools for achieving that objective.
Any fundamental change to established practice inevitably leads to a level of uncertainty.
Many practitioners remain more familiar with DORI terminology, and many early conversations around IEC 62676-4 have centred on the risk of confusion and misalignment between legacy specifications and these updated standards.
There is no doubt that a change like this could affect commissioning and validation processes.
Equally, awareness across the market is still developing.
The new IEC standard is not yet widely understood; as industry discussions have shown, some designers and end users are only now beginning to encounter the revised framework.
This reinforces the need for clear guidance and practical interpretation across the industry.
This is a natural evolution; some disruption should be considered normal.
The goal is to build upon the legacy that DORI has built, acknowledging the benefits of its clarity while expanding its relevance.
Manufacturers and solution providers must prioritise education and bridge the gap as soon as possible by helping their partners navigate the change.
Explanatory content, practical examples and partner-focused resources will help demystify the standard and promote clean continuity for those still referencing DORI terminology.
Many design platforms and related planning tools are beginning the process of building in support for IEC 62676-4 requirements, without throwing out familiar DORI metrics.
This allows designers to assess visual performance against both legacy and updated frameworks during the transition.
Taking a parallel approach like this helps reduce disruption and supports the creation of accurate specification documents moving forward.
The updated standard is useful because it lines up with lifecycle thinking and TCO concerns.
Visual performance is more than a commissioning requirement, or something which should only be a concern prior to deployment; it is something which must be maintained even while environments, risks and operational needs change.
This is the point of designing around operational tasks.
It leads to clearer validation, the understanding of the need for ongoing assessment and a path to targeted optimisation throughout a system’s life.
In complex environments this method of thinking is essential.
Surveillance spending must cover the long term, and IP cameras should be able to support diverse use cases ranging from situational awareness to evidential investigation.
By linking performance to these tasks in a more explicit way, IEC 62676-4 strengthens the concept of drawing real-world value from clever system design.
With the increasing prevalence of networked surveillance systems, the standard also emphasises robust cybersecurity protocols.
It addresses vulnerabilities across the system’s lifecycle, reinforcing protection against digital threats.
DORI’s lasting impact on the surveillance industry is clear. Its shared language has helped standardise design practice and improve specifications.
But as surveillance technology and expectations continue to advance, so too must the frameworks used to define performance.
IEC 62676-4 represents part of that evolution. Its emphasis on operational outcomes and holistic visual performance encourages thoughtful design.
Ultimately, considering operational requirements is important no matter what standard or framework system designers refer to.
This ongoing transition is an opportunity to think harder about security, to build stronger requirements specifications and create more definite alignment between risk, design and operational use.
Manufacturers must support that journey with practical tools, guidance and collaboration.
The terminology may have changed, but the objective is still to use network video to provide meaningful, usable information when it matters most.
