Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd, the city of Helsinki transport authority known to locals as "HKL”, was already using laser scanners at the Kulosaari and Siilitie stations, which received their equipment during renovations.
HKL counts passengers with long-range laser scanners at metro stations
In the summer of 2016, a 2D laser scanner with class 1 infrared lasers was installed in the Myllypuro metro station ticket hall near the platform entrance.
Laser scanners can count people and determine direction of travel
HKL uses long-range scanners to measure passenger volumes at metro stations. As people pass under the scanner, they are counted and their direction of travel is determined to see if they are going to or away from the platform area. The laser uses a 905 nanometre wavelength, which is invisible to and safe for the human eye.
In most cases, a single scanner is enough for the required areas, which is a great cost saving in terms of operation and maintenance. The scanners are suitable for indoor and outdoor use and can stand different temperatures, humidity, dust, and other environmental factors. These reasons were enough to convince HKL to select the LASE measuring solution for its metro stations.
In practice, the equipment has been maintenance-free
- Both technically and functionally, the scanners have met our needs. We are satisfied with the performance of the installed measuring systems because their operating and maintenance costs have been as planned. In practice, the equipment has been maintenance-free and there have been no outages or other disruptions at all, says Tommi Luotamo, Electrical Supervisor at HKL.
Laser scanning systems find applications in nearly all industries
Although laser scanning systems are relatively uncommon in the operational management of buildings in Finland, they are common in industry. Their high popularity is due to the needs of harbours and the mining and steel industry, for example, but applications await in nearly all industries.
- Laser-assisted headcounts are well-suited for train stations, airports, shopping centres, concert halls, museums, libraries, and other public buildings, for example. The real estate business is rather unfamiliar with laser scanning systems, which may have slowed their adoption, says Niko Arnivaara, Product Manager at Sarlin.
Sarlin designs and supplies laser scanning systems in collaboration with LASE
Since 1990, LASE Industrielle Lasertechnik GmbH has supplied laser systems for harbour machinery and the metal, mining and power station industries.
Laser scanners help manage the demanding measurement, positioning, and warehouse management tasks of different industries. The laser systems are delivered as a project where the package is a combination of devices selected for the customer’s needs and case-specific software
