EvolvePlus Blog

In an era where data collection is crucial for optimising spaces and understanding visitor numbers, the need for privacy-preserving technologies is more important than ever. While camera-based sensors have traditionally been favoured for advanced people counting, overhead time-of-flight (ToF) counters are emerging as a superior alternative. These sensors offer robust data collection while significantly enhancing privacy and security.

Camera-based systems, despite their high accuracy and detailed analytics, often raise concerns about individual surveillance. This can create unease among individuals and increase the challenge of complying with privacy regulations, such as GDPR.

Our Overhead ToF People Counters operate similarly to thermal people counters but rely on a fundamentally different principle than camera-based systems. Rather than capturing visual images, they use near-infrared light reflection to create low-resolution "heat maps" that detect the presence and movement of individuals without recording any identifiable features or personal characteristics.

In today's dynamic property market, display homes go from being mere showcases to becoming vital sources of buyer engagement data. An important technology making a big impact is the EvolvePlus people counter solution.

Decoding Foot Traffic: What Are People Counter Sensors?

The EvolvePlus people counter sensors are sophisticated devices designed to meticulously record the number of individuals entering and exiting a display home. Employing technologies such as wireless infrared, time-of-flight and stereo vision, these sensors deliver precise, real-time foot traffic data while ensuring visitor privacy.

The Strategic Advantage: Why Display Homes Benefit

Implementing people counters offers a multitude of benefits for developers and sales teams:

Gain insights into your foot traffic with our new video overview of the EvolvePlus ePortal Cloud Dashboard.  This centralised web portal allows you to analyse people-counting data from multiple locations across various time intervals with secure, role-based access.

EvolvePlus offers a range of accurate indoor and outdoor people-counting solutions, including overhead sensors with advanced analytics and wireless infrared sensors for easy setup.  The ePortal Cloud Dashboard provides a unified reporting platform for all your sensors.

EvolvePlus is expanding its Overhead People Counter product lineup with the launch of the new Overhead Stereo Vision People Counter.

Our new entry-level Overhead Stereo Vision People Counter leverages cutting-edge technology to deliver precise people counting for a wide range of environments, including retail stores, shopping centres, libraries, galleries, museums, offices and commercial buildings. 

It has sensors that fit discreetly onto the ceiling facing downwards, delivering high-accuracy counting in challenging high-traffic environments, as well as offering additional analytic features beyond in/out footfall counting, including separate counts for adults & children based on height, gender statistics as well as staff counting wearing special lanyards. 

For organisations seeking to install people counter sensors on a 4G mobile network rather than their corporate network, or for those placing footfall sensors at offsite locations with only power and 4G coverage, EvolvePlus offers people counters with integrated 4G mobile broadband connectivity.

Our 4G-enabled people counters include:

• Battery-Powered Wireless Solution: This features a sensor gateway with integrated 4G and is available in both indoor and outdoor models.
• Overhead ToF (Time of Flight) Counter: Equipped with onboard 4G and IP65 protection, this model is suitable for indoor and sheltered outdoor environments.

These counters are easy to implement in various settings, from retail stores to public libraries, public toilets to park entrances, ensuring reliable performance wherever needed through 4G connectivity.

Public libraries offer a wealth of resources, and public access computers are a vital part of the mix. We are often asked whether we provide a Public PC Booking system for Spydus or a PC Booking Management system for SirsiDynix.

Our BookingsPlus PC Management & Resource Bookings solution integrates with Spydus, SirsiDynix, Aurora, OCLC, Libero, Koha, and other library management systems. 

The integration enables patrons to seamlessly authenticate their PC Booking session using their library card credentials. BookingsPlus authenticates the patron to the library system using Web Services or SIP2, depending on the capability of the LMS. 

EvolvePlus offers an easy-to-install USB and wireless people counter solutions. It combines battery-powered people counter sensors with the choice of our Australian-developed cloud portal or the IMMOTION on-premise software for data-driven analysis via dashboards and reports.

The on-premise software is available to customers to install on their own Windows servers or desktops.

Version 1.1.4 of the IMMOTION software is now available, and will upgrade an existing IMMOTION v1.0.3 installation to the latest version.

EvolvePlus offers an easy-to-install, automated wireless people counter solution. It combines wireless RF people counter sensors with the choice of our Australian-developed cloud portal or the IMMOTION on-premise software for data-driven analysis via dashboards and reports.

We ship the people counters and SNG Hub (sensor network gateway) preconfigured with your counting location settings ready for your team to self-install.

Installing the wireless RF people counter and SNG Hub is simple! All it takes is 3 easy steps:

EvolvePlus has expanded its Overhead People Counter product range with the release of the Overhead ToF (Time of Flight) People Counter.

Our entry-level Overhead ToF People Counter sensor fits discreetly into the ceiling facing downwards and measure visitor traffic, delivering high-accuracy counting in challenging medium traffic environments, as well as offering additional analytic features beyond in/out footfall counting, including separate counts for adults & children based on height, as well as staff counting for team members wearing unique lanyards. 

The sensor incorporates Power over Ethernet (PoE+), which combines data connectivity and power supply in one cable. The People Counter is equipped with advanced sensors that use near-infrared light reflection and AI to count visitors accurately. 

We are thrilled to unveil the release of ePortal Version 4 – the latest iteration of the EvolvePlus Cloud Dashboard. This innovative platform meticulously analyses people counter data obtained from a variety of sensors, including Overhead, Wireless, and USB. The footfall analytics derived from this data offer valuable insights into peak visitor traffic, venue occupancy, staffing needs, and optimal bathroom cleaning schedules.

Version 4 marks the ongoing evolution of the EvolvePlus Cloud Dashboard, featuring simplified menus, enhanced mobile optimization, and an expanded array of new reports and charts. Explore the future of analytics with ePortal Version 4 and gain unparalleled insights into your facilities.

The following are some of the new features and enhancements available in Version 4.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of retail, office facilities, and public spaces, our Overhead 3D People Counter solution provides highly accurate people counting in a range of buildings, including shopping centres, retail stores, art galleries, public libraries, leisure centres, office buildings, government facilities and transport hubs. They play a pivotal role in gathering valuable data to optimise operations, enhance customer experiences, and make informed decisions.

Our Overhead 3D People Counter solution is now available with optional WiFi Connectivity. The wireless connectivity allows for easy installation and setup. By connecting to your building's WiFi, there is no need for complicated wiring or infrastructure. The advantage is particularly beneficial in environments where aesthetics and convenience are crucial, allowing organisations to set up counters without disrupting the existing infrastructure.

EvolvePlus offers two different models of battery-powered Outdoor People Counters that provide detailed hourly/daily analytics:

• USB People Counter with onboard memory
• Wireless People Counter - with automated data transfer via 4G or local network

Both models are ideal for environments such as footpaths, walking tracks, public toilets and park entrances, and feature a robust outdoor enclosure designed to withstand the harsh elements.

Which Model is Right for You?

EvolvePlus offers a turnkey, automated people counter solution - combining wireless LoRaWAN sensors with our Australian developed cloud portal for data-driven analysis via dashboards and reports.

We ship the people counters and gateway preconfigured with your counting location settings ready for your team to self-install.

Installing the wireless LoRaWAN people counter and gateway is simple! All it takes is 3 easy steps:

The ePortal API for our EvolvePlus Cloud Dashboard delivers footfall data from our Overhead 3D, Wireless and USB people counters in JSON format. 

The valuable information delivered via the API provides in-depth traffic insight to determine optimal operating hours, staffing requirements and peak visitor times, with organisations able to utilise the data within their own analytics applications such as Microsoft PowerBI and Zoho Analytics. 

With the release of version 1.2, the ePortal API has been enhanced to include support for our latest Wireless LoRaWAN people counters available in horizontal and overhead models. LoRaWAN is a Low Power, Wide Area (LPWA) networking protocol designed to wirelessly connect battery-operated IoT sensors over long distances.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) sensors have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially in office buildings where air quality can have a significant impact on the health and well-being of employees. The EvolvePlus indoor air quality sensors can provide real-time monitoring of indoor air pollutants and help employers create a healthier and more comfortable workplace.

By monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature and humidity, our indoor air quality sensors can help identify potential sources of poor air quality and allow building managers to take corrective action. For example, if CO2 levels are high, it may indicate a lack of ventilation in the building, and increasing air circulation or opening windows can improve air quality. 

The EvolvePlus indoor air quality sensors can also help create a healthier and more productive workplace. Studies have shown that improved air quality can lead to higher employee satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, and increased productivity. In addition, the EvolvePlus indoor air quality sensors can help employers comply with regulations and certifications related to indoor air quality, such as the WELL Building Standard.

Maintaining clean and hygienic public bathrooms and other building facilities are essential for ensuring the health and safety of visitors. But it can be challenging for facility managers and cleaning staff to keep up with the high traffic and varying usage patterns of these areas. The EvolvePlus people counters can be implemented as an effective tool for optimising cleaning in public restrooms and other facility spaces.

The EvolvePlus people counters detect and count the number of people entering and exiting a designated area. These sensors can be installed in entryways or above doorways of public restrooms to provide valuable insights into the usage. This data can then be used to develop cleaning schedules tailored to each restroom's specific needs.

By analysing the foot traffic data collected by the people counters within the EvolvePlus Cloud Dashboard, facility managers and cleaning contractors can determine the busiest times of the day for the restroom. This information can be used to optimise cleaning schedules, ensuring that the restroom is cleaned at the appropriate intervals to maintain a high level of hygiene. For example, if the data shows that a particular restroom experiences a surge in foot traffic during lunch hours, the cleaning schedule can be adjusted accordingly to ensure that the restroom is cleaned more frequently during this time.

EvolvePlus offers two models of battery-powered wireless people counters, each with its own advantages for different footfall-counting environments. Whilst both models feature the same sensor enclosure with horizontal infrared technology, they offer different data transmission methods, which enables customers to choose the model that best suits their environment.

The Wireless RF (Short Range) People Counter model can transmit count data every few seconds and is ideal for organisations that require live occupancy displays or self-hosted software. It features lights on the sensors to indicate successful data transmission and low battery.

The Gateway (SNG Hub) for the Wireless RF (Short Range) People Counter model needs to be located within 20 metres of the people counter sensors and offer ethernet network connectivity. It includes the reporting software for installation on your own PC/server or the option of the EvolvePlus Cloud Dashboard.

Our cloud-delivered EvolvePlus ePortal web application is developed in Australia and provides data-driven analysis with dashboards and reports across our IoT product range. Our IoT sensors include Overhead 3D, Wireless and USB people counters, indoor air quality sensors and smiley feedback counters. 

Our latest release of the ePortal application (v3.3.0) has been released this month and includes the following new features and enhancements:

EvolvePlus is proud to announce the launch of our new Indoor Air Quality Sensors, which play an essential role in improving health, well-being and productivity within commercial offices, meeting rooms, classrooms and other buildings.

Studies have shown that poor ventilation can result in lower oxygen levels and a build-up of carbon dioxide (CO2) with many of today's heavily insulated buildings detrimental to good health. Even moderate levels of CO2 can have a negative impact on people's health as they may experience drowsiness and difficulty concentrating. Our new Indoor Air Quality Sensors enable real-time CO2 monitoring for staff to accurately measure and adjust indoor air quality.

Our IoT Indoor Air Quality Sensors are advanced indoor climate sensors for the LoRaWAN® wireless network, measuring CO2 levels, temperature, humidity, and motion. Our centralised web dashboard provides remote monitoring of current and historical readings from multiple locations, with a traffic light display on the sensor available to provide live alerts (without using the web dashboard).

The EvolvePlus LoRaWAN People Counter has been N-Tick approved by NNNCo. The ‘N-Tick Network Approved Programme’ ensures that the EvolvePlus People Counters have been reviewed and validated by NNNco to operate over NNNCo’s telco-grade enterprise LoRaWAN network worldwide.

NNNCo is a 100% IoT telco and one of Australia’s leading LoRaWAN network carriers. Partnering with NNNCo enables councils, government agencies and enterprises to deploy and scale our EvolvePlus IoT footfall traffic sensors and integrate the analytics into their existing IoT platform.

The EvolvePlus LoRaWAN People Counter provides accurate footfall traffic counting for both indoor and outdoor environments. Our LoRaWAN people counting solution solves various traffic monitoring challenges for all types of environments, including libraries, galleries, public toilets, office buildings, retail stores, shopping centres, park entrances, council facilities, meeting rooms, leisure centres, and pedestrian paths. The battery-powered people counters are bi-directional and will count both ‘In’ and ‘Out’ directions with wireless data connectivity to LoRaWAN gateways.