Sophisticated data analytics will be used this Saturday on Oxford Street to ensure safety at the Mardi Gras parade.
CCTV cameras have been temporarily installed that will monitor crowds mood and crowd density.
Technology has also been installed at several shopfronts in Darlinghurst and Surry Hills that is able to count mobile phones as a part of WorldPride.
The technology has been previously used as a part of VIVID and Sydney's New Years Eve Celebrations.
The CCTV cameras will be able to detect the average mood of a crowd in categories happy, neutral, sad and angry. It will also measure the speed of people walking.
Mari Gras has decided to use all the capabilities so proactive calls can instantly be made about crowd safety. The further measures including mood and movement speed will be used to provide extra information needed to take action in the event of an emergency.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, a Mardi Gras spokesperson said that the company behind the software, Dynamic Crowd Measurement would only be used for the parade and assist on ground staff to, “direct people to less crowded zones if areas are becoming too full."
“The technology helps with managing the safety of the crowd by measuring capacities, allowing operations to zone in on an area that needs immediate response or to plan ahead for where there are areas of growing crowds."
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“With hundreds of thousands of spectators set to descend on Oxford and Flinders streets, Dynamic Crowd Measurement will be an important tool to help parade operations avoid potential incidents.”
They said that the information will feed specific metrics to police who can help direct data. They also stated that, "All data will be handled by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras team and only provided to event stakeholders including police at specific times on the night when it is relevant for crowd safety decisions.”
