International. Panasonic Corporation announced that the Danish Superliga football club's Brondby IF stadium is the first in Denmark to use facial recognition technology, provided by the brand, to ensure a safer stadium experience and relieve pressure on staff during high-profile matches.
The system is being implemented to automate the process of identifying people on the blacklist and prevent them from entering the stadium, a task that was previously performed manually by security personnel. Panasonic's security cameras and FacePRO facial recognition software automatically identify people registered on the list and send a message to staff to take appropriate action.
The system will improve security measures and fan safety, which will prove especially important during high-profile matches, such as the derby against local rivals F.C. Copenhagen. In addition, the automated procedure at the stadium entrance will decrease congestion at the gates, resulting in a faster entry process for fans.
With an average attendance of 14,000 people per game and up to 100 people registered on the stadium's blacklist, it allows staff to focus their attention on better attendance and service for fans entering the stadium.
Jesper Jorgensen, Chief Executive Officer of Brondby IF commented: "The system will significantly increase our efficiency in identifying blacklisted people at our entrance gates, so we can ensure they do not enter the stadium. We are always trying to optimize the stadium experience for our fans, and ultimately create the best possible experience for the fans. This is another step in the right direction."
Technical data
To maintain people's privacy, facial recognition technology does not store the images or data of those who are not blacklisted. In addition, the data of those who are registered on Brondby's internal server is not connected to the Internet or any other system.
"Panasonic's facial recognition system contributes to a safer stadium environment by relieving security pressure on the ground, while ensuring that all data is protected against unauthorized external access," said Gerard Figols, manager of Panasonic's European security business. "In turn, we can offer peace of mind to fans and Brondby SI our technology will improve the safety standard even during high-profile matches, something fans have already complemented the system for."
Approved industry
Recognized by the National Institute of Technology Standards (NIST) for having the highest level of facial recognition in the world in independent testing, the technology can identify faces that are difficult to recognize with conventional techniques, such as those taken from an angle of up to 45 degrees to the left or right or 30 degrees up or down, and even when part of the face is hidden or hidden by sunglasses. The system also recognizes faces from photographs that are up to 10 years old.
