People counting and flow control management using AI CCTV
If you’re interested in using CCTV systems to count people in your building / shop, or set up a people flow management system then this is a introductory guide to how to do this.
Due to Covid-19 people counting systems have become essential to businesses like shops, where it’s necessary to check how many people are in your building at the same time - to ensure good social distancing.
What is automated people counting and flow control management?
Before the advent of electronic people counters manual people counters were used. These required a store employee to stand near the entrance of the store and click on a counting device each time a person entered the store. This was considered to be inaccurate due to the high level of human error, as well as being an inefficient usage of human resource. Pressure sensitive sensors that count walk-ins based on the number of footsteps on a pressure sensitive platform or mat were used as well.
The 1st generation of digital automated people counting and flow control management systems were invented in 1995 by a UK firm and installed in Meadowhall Centre in Sheffield,UK in 1998. The technology used was IR beams and had an error rate of 60 – 80% depending on application.
Since then there has been many innovations and inventions been made to collect footfall data. There are now at least 7 different types of automated counting systems widely used in different scenarios and applications.
These are: Thermal counter systems; Stereo and mono counter systems; TOF counter systems; WIFI counter systems; IR counter systems and CCTV counting systems. All 7 have varying levels of accuracy when counting and limitations in application and features.
Of the 7, CCTV counting systems make up more than 60% of the market. This is because AI powered people counting cameras and recorders can automatically and accurately calculate the real-time number of people entering the your establishment, avoiding congestion and helping to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as well as direct and manage your clients to get them where they need to be.
Example Use-Cases for CCTV people counting
This people counting and flow control solutions are particularly useful for businesses such as:
• Supermarkets
• Pharmacies
• Banks
• Shops
• Offices
• Public Transport
• Construction Environments
Benefits of people counting and flow control management systems
Benefits include:
• Single or Multi entrance / exit solutions
• Simple & flexible installation
• High people counting accuracy up to 98%
• Helps ensure Government social distancing regulation compliance
• Reduces the risk of infection
• Ability to work with mag locks and other entry/exit barrier systems
How do AI CCTV people counting and flow control systems work?
People counting accurately counts the number of people moving through shops, schools, banks, sports and transport facilities, prisons, museums, visitor attractions, airports and car parks.
The DSS PRO platform with People Counting and Flow Control, together with monitors and DPB18A helps send different videos/pictures and editable content for guests to see. When the number of guests exceeds the set value, the platform and monitors will notify and display ‘the limit is reached’ on the digital signage at the entrance of the Food Hall, reminding incoming customers to wait at the door. In addition, the people counting cameras are simple and easy to install, which allowed the installer to complete the entire project in just 1 day.
Still need help?
SmartCamera are specialists in AI CCTV, and provide a CCTV support service & install service for UK-based customers.
