What is the role of video encoding in surveillance systems?

Video encoding plays a crucial role in surveillance systems primarily because it compresses video data, making it more manageable for storage and transmission. In surveillance applications, cameras often generate vast amounts of video data that need to be stored over extended periods and transmitted across networks. Encoding reduces the file size significantly without drastically compromising video quality, allowing for more efficient use of storage space and bandwidth. This is essential in surveillance where continuous recording can quickly lead to large volumes of data that are unfeasible to handle uncompressed.

The encoding process also facilitates the streaming of video over the internet or local networks, enabling real-time monitoring and remote access to live feeds or recorded footage. Hence, video encoding is pivotal in ensuring that surveillance systems remain efficient and effective, catering to the operational needs while optimizing resource usage.