Pedestrian Footfall Counting via Centralized Optical Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for accurately assessing pedestrian foot traffic in urban areas are either costly or lack precision, with GPS-based solutions being inaccurate, IR beam counters being inexpensive but inaccurate, and AI and video-based solutions being prohibitively expensive due to high costs, inflexibility, power consumption, and size constraints.
Innovation Solution
A modular pedestrian footfall quantification system that employs optical recognition devices to capture and transmit video data to a central server for processing, utilizing a combination of CPU and GPU resources to achieve accurate footfall counts while minimizing costs and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS based solutions are used for footfall counting, then the system is inexpensive and easy to deploy, but the measurement precision is poor due to large margin of error in location
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the footfall counting function into separate components: optical recognition devices capture video data, relay servers transmit data, and counting servers perform analysis. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, achieving high precision without requiring every device to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces relay servers as intermediaries between optical recognition devices and counting servers. The relay servers handle data transmission and initial processing, allowing the counting servers to focus on precise footfall analysis without being burdened by data collection complexities.
2Measurement precision
If AI and video based counting solutions are deployed, then the measurement precision improves, but the cost increases prohibitively due to device structure and computing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into centralized servers: relay servers handle data collection and transmission from multiple optical devices, while counting servers perform AI-based analysis. This merging reduces per-unit costs compared to deploying expensive AI capabilities in every individual counting device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses optical recognition devices that capture video data as copies of the physical scene, allowing remote analysis without requiring expensive sensors or processors at the collection point. The visual information is copied and transmitted for later processing.
3Device complexity
If centralized server processing is used, then the device complexity at the collection point is reduced, but the use of energy increases at the processing center
Solution Approach 1:
The counting server processes video data in periodic intervals rather than continuously analyzing every frame. The system captures video at standard rates and processes it in manageable batches, reducing peak energy consumption while maintaining accurate footfall counts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential information (footfall counts) from the full video data stream after processing. The relay servers transmit compressed or selectively processed data to counting servers, reducing the energy required for transmission and initial processing at the source.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a cost-effective and accurate method for quantifying pedestrian foot traffic, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies by centralizing computing power and using efficient optical recognition devices, thus enabling reliable data collection and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a hardware device incorporating an optical recognition device (e.g., a recording device) configured for positioning to face a sidewalk or other area for which counts are desired
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for pedestrian footfall counting are provided. The system includes a plurality of pedestrian footfall counting devices configured to capture and record optical data of pedestrians. The system further includes one or more relay servers configured to receive the optical data from the pedestrian footfall counting devices. The system further includes one or more counting servers configured to process the optical data and determine a pedestrian footfall count based on the optical data.