From manual people counters to 3D camera imaging, the traffic analysis technology has come a long way in the last few decades. Today, the people counting function can be embedded in smart devices designed for other purposes, such as light curtains and time-of-flight camera sensors for lift door safeguarding. Computed and visualized thanks to IoT, the sensor data can have numerous applications, including lift usage optimisation and predictive maintenance based on wear and tear. (A more recent example would be implementing public health measures in times of pandemic, where the lift should only be used by one person at a time.)

However, the potential of traffic data collected by lift sensors goes beyond the lift itself: it provides valuable insights on people flow in the building as a basis for informed maintenance and business decisions, energy saving and building usage optimisation. The lift is becoming an important part of the smart building ecosystem.