Case Studies

Fan zone analytics

by msecadm4921

Video analytics played a part in safeguarding football fans at Warsaw’s Fan Zone during the Euro 2012 tournament. With Poland as one of the co-hosts in June, the City of Warsaw planned ahead to ensure that those fans who could not obtain tickets to watch matches, at eight stadiums in Poland and Ukraine, could still feel involved by watching the action on huge TV screens at a purpose-built Fan Zone; pictured.

 

ARS Communication, a specialist in event and concert agency, won the contract to build and operate the temporary 120,000 square metres ‘Fan Zone’ in an open area around the Palace of Culture and Science in Parade Square, Warsaw. While watching the matches, those fans who entered the Fan Zone were also able to take advantage of extensive catering facilities and some of the very lucky fans were also able to have the opportunity to talk face-to-face with famous football celebrities who took the time to visit the venue.

 

The safety of everyone in the Fan Zone was paramount. Entry was free and on a first come, first served basis. The number of people wishing to enter could far exceed the safety level, which was judged to be 95,000 people at any time.

 

The challenge was to find a method that could reliably, and in real time, count the number of people who entered through one of the seven wide entrances, while at the same time counting those who left the site so that maximum safety capacity could be maintained. It was quickly established that it would not be viable to deploy stewards to carry out this vital task without distracting them from their normal duties. Some of the entrances were 10 metres wide and even if a large number of stewards had been positioned at each of the entrances, it would have been very difficult to co-ordinate their activities to achieve an accurate count.

 

ARS Communication took advice from specialist installers CallNet.pl who after research and testing, recommended that the solution could be found in the form of encoders equipped with VCA Technology video analytics software. As a result, CallNet.pl were commissioned to supply and install 44 of four-channel GANZ video encoders alongside a corresponding number of high resolution video surveillance cameras made by CBC.

 

By analysing the images captured by cameras, the VCA Technology video analytics software was able to detect and count the exact number of people crossing  a defined zone at each of the Fan Zone’s entrances. All of the 44 GANZ encoders were integrated by CallNet.pl into one system with a central server aggregating all the metadata into a single database.  

 

An Excel reporting tool enabled to monitor at all times how many people were present within the Fan Zone so that stewards could be instructed if necessary to close the gates if the number of people present exceeded the safety level. At the same time, the number of people leaving the Fan Zone was monitored so that the maximum number of people could be let in.

 

VCA Technology adds that its video analytics operates with indoor and outdoor cameras.  Multiple overlapping detection lines and zones can be designated to ensure that only specific activity is recorded. Direction of movement is defined so that the software only triggers when individuals or objects move in a particular direction across a zone. A rapid ‘learning time’ of just two seconds means that images are detected and classified almost instantaneously. Besides offering data on people behaviour, the software can be used for applications such as intrusion detection, vehicle monitoring, abandoned object detection and loitering detection. It can detect camera tampering and failure. On-screen tools allow a user to set up the required detection lines and zones and create the criteria for the required reports. 

 

For further information about the capabilities of VCA Technology Video Analytics, email [email protected] or visit www.vcatechnology.com

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