Anonymous People Tracking with Density Radar

Currently, organizations worldwide are reassessing how shared spaces function, with a key focus on understanding their utilization patterns throughout the day. Density’s compact, ceiling-mounted radar technology discreetly yet accurately identifies and monitors individuals, enabling those responsible for managing spaces to observe activity at every table, chair, and workstation.

While this capability might initially raise concerns, further explanation will clarify its benefits.

Density’s exploration into comprehensive people-monitoring technology stemmed from the potential observed in its Entry device, which utilizes infrared imagery to track individuals entering and exiting areas. They ultimately chose radar technology due to its extensive range and precision, capable of covering substantial areas from a single location, while importantly lacking the ability to easily identify individuals.

This is a crucial consideration, as many express reservations about deploying people-monitoring software with standard security cameras. The risk of misuse is significant, given the ease with which imagery can be linked to personal identities. Therefore, while employing computer vision with conventional cameras might be more affordable, it presents considerable risks and drawbacks.

Image Credits: Density

Furthermore, many individuals would object to the constant surveillance of security cameras over their workspaces, potentially capturing sensitive documents and recording every movement. The system developed by Density concentrates specifically on presence—determining if someone is occupying a chair, within an office, or the total number of people in a room.

The radar generates point clouds, but these differ from the highly detailed versions found in the lidar systems of autonomous vehicles. It creates a more generalized cloud-like representation—a small, vertical cloud appearing near a refrigerator in an office kitchen. As another person enters to retrieve a beverage, a separate, independently tracked cloud emerges. However, the level of detail is insufficient to distinguish individuals or, without close examination, characteristics like size or attire.

Image Credits: Density

Although it’s possible to trace these clouds back to their corresponding workspaces and potentially identify individuals, numerous methods already exist for tracking people. The rationale for implementing a new system lies in its broader utility.

The data generated by such a system holds considerable value. Cafés can analyze seat occupancy rates and conduct A/B testing of different layouts; gyms can identify the most frequently used equipment requiring maintenance or cleaning; offices can repurpose underutilized meeting rooms or furniture; and retail stores can pinpoint underperforming product displays. The accompanying software also provides insights into the distance between individuals, the duration of their stays in specific locations, and the usage patterns of various pathways.

A screenshot of the Density software in action.

This data is aggregated in real time, allowing shared office spaces to instantly determine—without manual counting or verification—which desks are vacant and have remained so throughout the morning. Similarly, restaurants can maintain accurate table counts, eliminating discrepancies between the host station’s records and actual occupancy. (While these applications are particularly relevant in a post-pandemic environment, the current situation may present an ideal opportunity for device installation.)

Integrating a layout image with the real-time cloud data further enhances its practicality:

Image Credits: Density

Each Open Area sensor, approximately the size of a sandwich, can monitor an area of 1,325 square feet from a mounting height of up to 20 feet. This corresponds to a circular area roughly 38-40 feet in diameter, accommodating a couple of meeting rooms or around 20 desks. This performance surpasses that of overhead optical cameras, while also providing a privacy advantage.

If you are interested in seeing these sensors in a real-world office setting, a visual “seek and find” challenge is presented here. They are concealed within the following office photographs, arranged in order of difficulty.

Initial costs may be substantial. An Open Area sensor is priced at $399, with an additional $199 annual license fee per unit. Equipping a sizable office could therefore require a five-figure investment. However, organizations managing large spaces are already familiar with the expenses associated with space usage studies (involving manual observation of space utilization) and other essential equipment like badge-based access control systems.

“We offer a solution that is ten times less expensive and ten times more effective,” stated CEO Andrew Farah.

Density currently serves a number of prominent enterprises, and as the office and retail landscapes continue to evolve, tools like this are poised to play a significant role in shaping the future. Intelligent space utilization not only reduces costs but also enhances safety and contributes to a more positive experience for occupants.