Introduction

This quick guide discusses the Group Counting functionality available on the Irisys Vector units and how to configure it. A full understanding of the below settings is essential in order to ensure high accuracy that the Vector 4D devices are capable of.

In order to access these settings, you must first make an initial connection to the Vector unit; see separate guide: Irisys Vector 4D - Making a Setup Connection

Counting Settings

Once you are connected to your Vector, the Counting settings are accessed via the ‘Settings’ tab, then ‘Counting’:

If connected to a Vector via an Estate Manager connection, make sure you select the ‘Live View’ option to make changes

Group Counting Notes

Vector devices provide two methods of providing a group counting metric. The ‘Beam Break’ register type (which was also available in older Gazelle devices) was the original group counting method. In more recent firmware versions, the ‘Smart Boundary’ register type was integrated which has a number of configurable features that the beam break method of counting groups does not have. The additional configuration options make smart boundary the more accurate method of counting groups and is hence the recommended choice going forward.

Beam Break vs Smart Boundary

The beam break register requires an existing line count register as a primary input. It uses increments to the line register total to provide the group counting functionality, and by looking at the various timings between line crossing events it can infer that people walking across the line within a certain period of time a single group. This results in the underlying standard count line giving an individual count, and the beam break register giving a group count.

The Smart Boundary register works in a similar way to the beam break but as well as a timing element also includes a distance measuring element as well. The issue with the beam break register is that two people walking in at the same time who are some distance apart from each other and hence are clearly not walking together will actually be counted as one group. But with Smart Boundary you can specify a distance so that people have to cross the count line within a certain time frame and also maximum distance apart. 

Essentially both the beam break and smart boundary registers will increment at the point that the first person crosses the count line, and everyone crossing the count line after the person in front of them will be grouped together – providing the timing requirements (and distancing requirements in Smart Boundary) are met – will not generate additional count increments. This effectively means that you get an increment at the start of every group and everyone following will not generate additional increments because they are considered part of that group. - up to a maximum group size of 4 people.

The Beam Break register had a fixed maximum group size, whereas the Smart Boundary register has a configurable maximum group size.

Because the beam break register was a remnant from the previous thermal based Gazelle model people counter, it was designed to work within the framework of that device’s hardware. Its inclusion on Vector devices is mainly to allow comparable data between devices to be accumulated.

The Beam Break requires a standard count line to be fed into it, but the smart boundary register is self-contained and does not require additional register types to operate. However, if counting of groups alongside individuals is required, standard count lines can be added too.

Smart boundary is the recommended method of counting groups.

Smart Boundary Documentation

There is an additional settings guide which explains the full range of settings available with the Smart Boundary register. See document Irisys Vector 4D - Smart Boundary Register for full details.

The technique provided for group counting is incorporated in to the ‘Smart Boundary’ register type, and as its name suggests it involves a boundary – or count line – and configurable settings to add intelligence to interpreting how and when people cross it. Essentially the settings allow for traffic crossing the line to be counted or ignored.
That method is improved here with a ‘Delay setting’ which is provided in order to account for groups of people walking one behind the other. The count register will increment when the first person in a group crosses the count line, and everyone crossing the count line within x seconds of the first person will be grouped together and will not generate additional count increments - up to a maximum group size of 4 people.

Importantly, this setting should not be left as default and you need to watch the field of view as groups enter to see how long it takes for two people in a group to cross the same count line. The Delay setting needs to be longer than this, because if it is shorter, then the second person will be deemed a separate group and will generate a second count increment on the beam break register. Note that the width of the doorway, or opening, is significant when determining the delay setting.

Configuration Pre-requisites

There are no pre-requisites required to enable the Group Counting mode. Simply add the appropriate number of Smart Boundary registers and configure as below.

Group Counting Register

To add a Group Count Register:

  1. Just Click the ‘+’ button on the ‘Registers’ dialog box:
  2. Choose the ‘Beam break’ register type and click ‘NEXT’.
    1. Note: if the ‘NEXT’ button is not available, it means that there are no count lines configured with the ‘Immediate’ Count Mode. Double check, as described in the ‘Configuration Pre-requisites’ section, above.
  3. Give the new Register a unique and relevant name.
  4. Change the ‘Delay’ setting to affect how far apart people can be to be to still be considered part of the same group, see ‘Group Counting Notes’ above.
  5. Lastly, click on the available line register(s) that contribute to this group count register. It will move over to the ‘Used Register’ list.
  6. If you make a mistake, clicking a register already in the ‘Used’ list will move it back to the ‘Available Registers’ list.
  7. Make sure you remember to scroll down to click the ‘SAVE’ button before closing this dialog window.

If you want to count groups in both directions, simply add a second ‘Smart Boundary’ register and assign the corresponding directional line register to it, using the steps above. When complete you will have multiple count registers – some counting individuals and some counting groups. In the example, right, the original Line 1 and Line 2 registers are counting individuals, and the two new ‘Beam break’ count registers are counting groups.
 

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