Where to use electronic people counters

Electronic people counters are a cost-effective, low-maintenance way of gaining real insight into exactly how spaces are used. Read on to learn more.

Where to use electronic people counters

Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen an increase in handheld clickers to count the number of people entering and exiting spaces. While these systems proved to be a reasonably effective way of enforcing social distancing during the pandemic, they have a few notable shortfalls: They require continuous manual operation (which is expensive), are prone to inaccuracy, and don’t offer any real insight into space usage.

Allocate facility resources more effectively

Electronic people counters are a much more effective alternative. Designed to automatically track precisely how many people enter and exit a space, they provide a running total (as well as historical time-series data) of room occupancy. This data enables businesses and buildings to make confident data-driven decisions regarding the allocation of resources. This data can be used to automate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, and other systems that relate to room occupancy. (1)

Increase energy efficiency

Regarding real estate and energy efficiency, electronic people counters can help optimize a building’s layout and divert specific power and resources like HVAC systems and lighting control to parts of the building that need it the most, thus saving energy.

Get insights into use of rooms and buildings

Electronic people counters are a cost-effective, low-maintenance way of gaining real insights into how spaces are used. This data is valuable in virtually any sector, meaning electronic people counters have many potential applications that are only just being explored.

Plan maintenance and staffing based on real data

Electronic people counters tap into a valuable stream of space usage information from restrooms to meeting rooms. This can be used to optimize how businesses and buildings operate. For example, electronic people counters can contribute to space optimization in a company by providing data about meeting room use and room occupancy trends to help leadership in workforce planning. Also, by monitoring traffic in spaces such as offices or bathrooms, more accurate planning for the staffing and scheduling of facility cleaning and maintenance can be applied.

Understand your customers better

This technology is also vital for retail and customer analytics. It provides data on visitor flow and patterns as well as a wider picture of store performance and customer experience so, with informed decision-making, resources can be channeled to where they are most needed.

Electronic people counters from Terabee

Terabee provides two electronic people counters: the People Counting L-XL and the People Counting M.

Both devices are built around our proprietary Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology. By emitting a pulse of infrared light and sensing its reflection off the environment, our electronic people counters can build up a 3D map of their surroundings. (2) Onboard processing filters out static objects, then identifies and tracks human traffic through the field of view. The result: accurate, low-cost electronic people counters that deliver reliable information even in low light or crowded conditions.

In addition, our electronic people counters are intrinsically anonymous. They capture only low-resolution “depth images” devoid of personally identifying information, making them fully GDPR compliant, unlike other electronic counters based on RFID or camera technology.

Terabee electronic people counters are built with ease of use at the forefront. They require no specialist calibration and can be installed and configured in minutes from any web-enabled device.

People Counting devices

The People Counting L-XL is our largest electronic people counter – though you wouldn’t think so by looking at it. (3) Measuring just 130 mm in diameter and 36.2 mm high, the People Counting L-XL electronic people counter is roughly the size of a fire alarm and weighs just 200 g. Built for easy installation above doorways, the People Counting L-XL has a field-of- view measuring 1.50 x 1.10 m when installed at 2.40 m.

Up to five People Counting L-XL devices can be networked for seamless, comprehensive coverage for extra-wide doorways and entranceways.

The People Counting M fits the same electronic people counter technology into an even smaller package: it measures 85.5 mm in diameter and 32 mm high. (4) At just 85 g, the People Counting M is the ideal electronic people counter for narrow walkways, single doorways, and any spaces where other electronic people counters are cost-prohibited.

Terabee Electronic People Counter Advantages