Vis-à-pix people counter analyses the content of video streams and automatically detects the number of persons visible. This can be achieved even with big crowds. Correctly counting passers-by and customers is becoming increasingly important for security reasons. Entrances to big events, airports, or stations must be protected from overcrowding - video analysis is essential whenever you need to know how many people enter or leave a certain zone.

"What distinguishes our software from other video recording systems is that it does not only count people, but that it is able to analyse the scenes and to detect unwanted activities or suspicious behaviour of people visible on the camera image" explains managing director Dr. Ivo Keller.

Whereas conventional systems require the staff in the control centre to watch and assess scenes on several screens at the same time, people counter visualises all images within one layout. Smart calibration methods make it possible to arrange all camera images within the layout. Persons visible appear on the map as moving coloured points, and the routes individuals take become visible. Crowds cause an alarm to be raised automatically. Additionally, areas relevant for security or service can be defined separately for each camera. If a person approaches a room restricted from the public, the point representing the person turns yellow and then red in the layout. If the virtual "entrance line" is crossed, the system raises an alarm. Similarly, an alarm is raised if a person moves to the wrong direction and thus might enter the manoeuvring area of an airport.

Detecting growing waiting lines or crowds automatically can be useful for security reasons or in order to provide better service. If a person approaches the checkout area or the ticket counter, the points first turn yellow and then, depending on the distance, red. Whenever waiting lines should not grow above a certain pre-determined benchmark, Vis-à-pix people counter automatically informs the service staff. These functions also offer new solutions to transport companies, enabling them to avoid the enormous costs of manual people counting.

Vis-à-pix has developed a solution for significantly improving license number plate identification. "Vehicle detector" can identify an approaching object automatically even in the most difficult light and weather conditions. The intelligent video analysis software identifies vehicles and reads all current European and international license plates. It verifies received data with an integrated database. Vis-à-pix Vehicle detector makes it easy to control access to company premises or private parking lots. If access is permitted, barriers or other entry systems can be activated. The system can also be used for traffic monitoring and has numerous advantages for public institutions. In order to identify unauthorised vehicles travelling in limited access lanes, such as in bus lanes or on tramlines, Vis-à-pix Vehicle detector automatically distinguishes between authorised vehicles such as buses, trams, taxis or emergency vehicles, and unauthorised ones.