People Counting Technology
The Problem: Buildings operated on assumptions
For decades, buildings have relied on motion-based occupancy detection, not actual human presence. Lighting, HVAC, and space planning decisions were triggered by movement, not by knowing how many people were present, where they were, or how spaces were truly used.
The result: Lights and HVAC running when no one is there, missed occupants sitting still in meeting rooms, inefficient space utilization, energy waste driven by guesswork.
People Counting
People Counting (PC) technology measures the real number of people within a space using advanced thermal sensing and embedded intelligence.
Unlike motion sensors, people counting identifies when individuals enter or leave a space, tracks presence and distribution over time and delivers real-time occupancy data that reflects actual human usage.
This creates a reliable foundation for automation, analytics, and decision-making across the building.e foundation for automation, analytics, and decision-making across the building.
Privacy-First by Design
BubblyNet people counting uses a native low-resolution thermal sensor (28 × 15 IR pixels) that never captures images or personally identifiable information (PII).
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No cameras
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No facial recognition
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No identity tracking
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No stored imagery
What the sensor detects are heat patterns, not people — ensuring 100% privacy protection by architecture, not policy.
Greater Precision Than Traditional Occupancy Sensors
Traditional PIR occupancy sensors detect motion, which can result in false positives and false negatives. A person sitting still in a conference room may be invisible, while HVAC or lighting may remain on long after people have left.
People counting goes further by accurately detecting individuals regardless of movement, counting occupants instead of guessing presence and scaling effectively in large, dynamic, multi-use spaces
This higher precision unlocks a new class of building intelligence that motion sensors alone cannot deliver.
Energy, Sustainability, Safety, and Wellbeing
By knowing exactly how many people are present — and where — buildings can operate more efficiently and responsibly.
People counting supports:
- HVAC ventilation rates matched to actual occupancy
- Lighting levels adjusted to real usage
- Reduced energy waste per occupied hour
- Accurate headcounts for emergency response
- Compliance with occupancy limits and safety regulations
The result is lower energy consumption, improved safety, and healthier indoor environments.
EdgeCore: Real-Time Decisions at the Building
With BubblyNet EdgeCore, people counting becomes an on-premises control signal, not just a data point.
EdgeCore enables:
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Immediate lighting and HVAC responses based on real occupancy
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Dynamic ventilation control tied to occupant count
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Offline operation — no cloud dependency for critical actions
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Reliable execution of automation even during network outages
Occupancy intelligence is processed inside the building, where speed, reliability, and resilience matter most.
CloudCore: From Occupancy to Insight
While EdgeCore handles real-time decisions, CloudCore transforms people counting data into long-term intelligence.
CloudCore analytics provide:
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Space utilization trends;
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Peak vs idle usage analysis;
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Occupied-hours vs energy consumption;
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Portfolio-wide insights across floors, buildings, and sites.
This enables organizations to move from reactive control to strategic optimization.
Real-World Applications
People counting paired with BubblyNet’s Edge-to-Cloud platform enables measurable outcomes across industries:
Smart Offices
Optimize meeting rooms, desk usage, and indoor air quality with real occupancy data.
Retail Spaces
Analyze foot traffic, improve layouts, and align staffing with customer flow.
Healthcare Facilities
Monitor patient movement, manage waiting areas, and support safety compliance.
Public Transportation & Public Spaces
Track passenger density, improve scheduling, and enhance safety during peak periods.