General
What exactly does CrowdScan measure?
It is important to understand exactly what the technology measures. After all, no direct individuals are counted. We measure the attenuation of a signal. The technology reflects the number of people present, in a specific area, at a specific moment.
So we know that X people are present at moment Y, but not how many people have passed through the entire day without taking additional assumptions
such as the transit time. Through extrapolation, although in post-analysis an estimation can be made. The raw data (signal strengths) can, in post-analysis, be processed in function of new subzones, other calibration moments and/or new training data.
Do weather conditions have an impact on the measurements?
In the same zone, over a longer period, meteorological influences, changes in the environment (seasons) and other variable factors may occur. By performing new calibrations daily (automatic process), these deviations are filtered out and their influence is minimal. When the quality changes due to external reasons, the network can be remotely adjusted. Furthermore, our measurement method is not affected by other communication technologies such as 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) or other IoT technologies (LoRa, SigFox, NB-IoT).
Which visualisations are possible?
CrowdScan offers various dashboards that visualize data and graphs. We can provide "heat maps" of streets and specific zones and we can insert data into available and existing systems via e.g. API or CSV files.
Is CrowdScan GDPR friendly?
Yes, CrowdScan is absolutely GDPR friendly.
The technology only collects differences in signal strengths, so no identity data (or other unique personal data) is collected. As a result, GDPR regulations do not apply, nor do actions need to be taken to further anonymize the data. Because no cameras are used, nor any connection to smartphones is made, customers' subjective sense of privacy is also maintained.
Given the extremely privacy-friendly nature of the technology, the data generated remains at the customer's disposal indefinitely.
Is the technology certified?
Yes, our sensors are certified with a C/CE and FCC label.
Are the radio waves harmful?
The radio waves are not harmful, because we transmit at a maximum power of 10 mW. WiFi is 100 mW. So our signals are 10 times weaker than that of our IoT signals at home.
Do CrowdScan sensors use a camera?
CrowdScan’s technology is a unique method to measure crowd density. We don’t need cameras, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or mobile devices to gather accurate and reliable data on crowds.
Can the radio waves cause interference on other systems/infrastructure?
The radio waves we transmit are done at 868MHz, which is a free bandwidth for IoT devices and therefore not used by other types of devices. This also implies that we work with 'duty cycles', and we are only allowed to transmit 1% of the time, or 36 seconds per hour.
What margin of error do you use in the count?
The margin of error, once the system is trained, is about 5%. Specifically, this means that if the count shows 50 attendees, the effective number will be somewhere between 47 and 53.
Hardware, software and installation
Which hardware is used?
CrowdScan's technology uses two types of hardware: the radio sensors which perform the measurements and gateways that collect the measurements.
Do we need to buy the hardware?
It is an option to lease or to buy our hardware. However, we are receptive to exploring alternative arrangements that may better suit your needs.
How are the sensors powered?
Our sensors are battery-operated and have a lifetime of minimum 3 years
Where can the gateway be installed?
Gateways are attached in the view field of the sensors, at min. 2.5 m height. They are connected to mains power (to be provided by the customer).
Data connection is provided by a 4G/LTE connection (provided by CrowdScan).
Can I install the system myself?
Setting up the sensors is hassle-free, requiring no cables. It's a plug-and-play system easily installable and configurable even by non-technical personnel.
How does the technology work?
CrowdScan’s innovative solution only uses sensors or nodes, a central gateway to configure the wireless sensor network, low-energy radio waves and cloud servers where all the data is processed and visualized.
Imagine this: you want to measure a crowd in a busy shopping street. We’ll place multiple sensors at both sides of the street. We put the central gateway within reach of both sensors, in a radius of about 200 meters. This gateway not only configures the wireless sensor network, but also sends results to the servers.
Then, each sensor emits a low power electromagnetic signal at a frequency of 868 MHz. If shoppers are present in the area, the other sensor receives this signal in a weakened form.
Research has shown that this reduced signal due to the presence of people is linear with the number of people there.
Meaning: if a lot of people are present in the shopping street the signal will be severely reduced in comparison to the reference measurement (which will be executed before the actual measurements).
After the measurements all the data are pushed into our analytics and algorithms to provide the right insights and predictions.
Networking and power
Gateways are attached in the view field of the sensors, at min. 2.5 m height. They are connected to mains power (to be provided by the customer).
Data connection is provided by a 4G/LTE connection (provided by CrowdScan).
Sensors need to be installed every 15 to 20 m, at a height of 1.20 m. They can be attached to street furniture, against facades, display windows and others. Our sensors are battery-operated and have a lifetime of minimum 3 years.
How many sensors do we need to install?
The data granularity you require determines the approach. On average, we place a sensor approximately every 20 meters (please consider that the installation process is quite straightforward; refer to this YouTube video for guidance). Our system is capable of covering areas of all sizes.
Is it possible to integrate your software solution with another system?
Yes, that is possible through an API.
Is your software solution available as open source?
No.
Is your solution available on premises?
Yes, the installation of our sensors is required on the premises, while the hosting takes place in the cloud.
What differentiates your solution?
- Privacy-Friendly: Our system ensures user privacy and data protection by avoiding phone tracking.
- Real-Time: The system conducts crowd density estimations every 10 seconds, sending signals to all sensors every 50 milliseconds
- Battery-Powered: All sensors come with batteries, while the gateway requires power and either Ethernet or 4G connectivity
- Extensive Coverage: Sensors can be positioned within 300 meters of a gateway. To cover larger areas, additional gateways will be installed for expanded coverage
- Alerting Capabilities: Once a specific crowd capacity is reached, the system can send SMS or email alerts to designated recipients.
- Simple Installation: Setting up the sensors is hassle-free, requiring no cables. It's a plug-and-play system easily installable and configurable even by non-technical personnel
- Multi-Zone Functionality: The entire area can be divided into multiple zones based on sensor locations, offering a detailed view of hotspots. These zones can be used to generate colored heatmaps
- User-Friendly Dashboard: Our tailored dashboard is crafted to meet your specific needs, providing an intuitive interface for effortless monitoring and management
How can I return hardware (sensors and gateway)?
You can return hardware by sending it to our office located at this address:
The Beacon
for the attention of CrowdScan
Sint-Pietersvliet 7
2000 Antwerp
(Belgium)
Pricing
How much does your solution cost?
Our approach to pricing is flexible, allowing us to tailor solutions to your specific requirements.
We offer a comprehensive pricing structure based on three key aspects: Hardware, Data Consumption, and Support.
- Hardware: While we do have hardware available for purchase, currently, it is not a mandatory requirement for our services. However, we are open to discussing this option if it aligns with your specific needs.
- Data Consumption: Our pricing model accounts for data consumption related to the usage of our services. The amount of data used depends on the size of the monitored area and the level of application or granular detail required for your operations. For larger projects with multiple sensor networks, we offer a flat fee to simplify the pricing process.
- Support: We understand the importance of reliable customer support. Our pricing includes dedicated support services to assist you throughout your journey with us or one of our key partners.
To discuss the price, we invite you to book an appointment to have a better view on your project and to make an estimation based on that information.