A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) location surveillance system (10) for determining access to a room (12) containing an MRI device (14) which includes a superconducting magnet and images subjects includes at least one video camera (26) positioned to view an entrance (26) to the room containing the MRI device (14), a recognize unit (36) in communication with the at least one video camera, a classify unit (37), and an authorize unit (38). The at least one video camera (26) images objects and persons approaching the entrance (16). The recognize unit (36) receives the imaged objects and persons, and recognizes each imaged object and each imaged person. The classify unit (37) classifies each recognized object (24) and each recognized person (22) according to MRI safety. The authorize unit (38) determines access to the room (14) containing the MRI device (14) based on each classified object and each classified person.