Retail , People Traffic Data and Data Mining
The Overhead People Counters are deployed in key nodal (see Nodal Configuration) points to monitor the movement of shoppers throughout the facility. The facility can be an individual retail outlet, a chain of outlets, or a shopping center complex. The Traffic Monitoring can be as detailed and specific as required. For example, a node can be assigned to the main entrance, and another to the restaurant facility. At any time, the number of persons within the building can be accessed, as well as the number inside the restaurant, and the number NOT in the restaurant (node 1 minus node 2). The information as to WHEN the traffic occurs is also part of the data, as each data is time stamped. Thus, in our example, the people who come into the facility to use the restaurant at mealtime, and the resultant fallout increase in traffic in the rest of the facility, can be seen. By assigning other nodes, the detail of traffic by department vs time of day, etc, is available. All of this data can be accessed in real time, or after the fact by accessing the time stamped data. On board memory can store several months of traffic information, depending on the time increments specified (by the minute, 10 minutes, or hour).
Control of the system is by a serial link compatible to LANs and dial-up modem connections. Thus from one central location, the data for an entire chain of stores can be monitored in minute detail.
Simple installation and wiring allow the units to be moved easily, and different departments can be targeted for monitoring in different seasons, without incurring significant redeployment costs or inconvenience.
The Overhead People Counter is ideal for gathering People Traffic statistics in Shopping Centers and Retail Outlets. The advantages include:
-Accurate detection, counting, and reporting of people traffic through the facility
-Detailed movement numbers of any desired target areas easily done. (Nodes)
-Real time reporting of this data
-All data logged and time stamped, and stored in memory for retrieval at any time
-Serial data link interface for simple LAN or dial-up access to main
-A single plug-in cable for wiring, & standard T-bar ceiling mounted installation means detectors are easily moved to new configurations
-Data reports are in Spread Sheet compatible format
-Memory stores several months of past data, and can be used for accounting purposes.
-Remote access on the serial link allows the monitoring of an entire chain of facilities from one central location.