Devices, people and vehicles counting - Liverpool

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Liverpool City Council has device counters deployed throughout the city centre to understand how the city is used. Data in this dashboard is derived from </span><a href="https://meshed.com.au/lorawan-iot-people-counting/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Meshed nCounters</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"> and CCTV retrofitted with an algorithm developed by University of Wollongong. The algorithm has used machine learning to identify objects in the camera viewfinder and categorise them into pedestrian, vehicle or bicycle. This transforms the CCTV into visual sensors. The nCounters generate data by counting the number of Wi-Fi signals emitted by non-identifiable mobile devices within a specified proximity and performing certain filtering and processing. No individuals are identified by either method. Both methods have advantages and limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Advantages of the nCounter method:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Can provide insightful data on crowd sizes and individuals<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">An individual with one device will be counted once<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The nCounter can report the average ‘dwell time’ of the device</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Limitations of the nCounter method:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">individuals without devices will not be counted (for example young children or people without smart phones),</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">if someone is carrying a smart phone which is in aeroplane mode or switched off then it will not be counted, and</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">individuals with multiple devices will be counted by the number of devices they have. For example, one person may have two smart phones, therefore the individual will be counted more than once.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The visual sensors (CCTV) count the number of bicycles, people and vehicles in the location.<s><o:p></o:p></s></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Advantages of the visual sensor method:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Can provide insightful data on pedestrian, vehicle and bicycle numbers,<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Re-uses existing common technology on city streets without further visual clutter,<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Does not rely on individuals carrying their own devices, so useful in areas with lower technology uptake<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Limitations of visual sensor method:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Individuals can be counted multiple times as they exit and re-enter the camera viewfinder,<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The machine learning cannot differentiate between bicycles and motorbikes</span></li></ul><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Data collected in this dataset can be visualised in the <a href="https://data.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/pages/people-object-counting/" target="_blank">Liverpool City Centre activity dashboard</a></p>