Trailsense is designed to provide insights into trail usage by anonymously counting hikers. It is intended for organizations such as municipalities and tourism boards that need to understand visitor patterns without intrusive methods. The primary purpose is to offer a clear view of how busy specific trails are over time, enabling better resource management and visitor experience planning.
The problem Trailsense addresses is the lack of data regarding visitor flow on outdoor trails. While accommodations might track overnight stays, the actual daytime usage of trails remains largely unknown. This gap makes it difficult for authorities to manage popular areas, identify underutilized paths, or understand the impact of visitor numbers on the environment. Trailsense aims to fill this data void with a non-invasive and privacy-conscious approach.
Key features of Trailsense include its solar-powered sensor nodes. These nodes are designed to be self-sufficient, operating continuously without the need for external power sources, making them ideal for remote trail locations. The nodes are also built to be durable and weather-resistant, ensuring reliable operation in outdoor environments.
Another core capability is the use of anonymized Wi-Fi probe requests for counting. When a phone scans for available Wi-Fi networks, it sends out probe requests. Trailsense nodes detect these requests, which are then processed to count the number of unique devices. This method avoids the need for cameras or any application to be installed on hikers' phones, ensuring a seamless data collection process.
The system also features a dashboard for data visualization. This dashboard transforms the raw counts from the nodes into a clear and understandable view of trail activity. Users can see how busy each trail is over time, allowing for trend analysis and identification of peak usage periods. This visual representation is crucial for making informed decisions about trail management and visitor services.
Trailsense prioritizes privacy by design. It explicitly states that no cameras are used, and no app is required for hikers to install. Furthermore, no personal data is ever collected or stored, and no raw probe request data leaves the device. The system uses anonymized data and employs techniques like fingerprinting probe requests to estimate device counts while maintaining user privacy.
The product works by deploying solar-powered nodes along hiking trails. These nodes passively listen for Wi-Fi probe requests from nearby mobile devices. Using a proprietary method involving pre-trained filters and fingerprinting, the nodes can identify and count distinct devices, even with MAC address randomization. The aggregated counts are then sent to a central dashboard for analysis.
The benefits for users include gaining valuable insights into trail usage patterns without compromising visitor privacy. This allows for better planning, resource allocation, and potentially improved visitor experiences by understanding demand. The system's privacy-first approach builds trust, as it avoids intrusive data collection methods.
Potential use cases for Trailsense include helping park rangers monitor the popularity of different hiking routes to manage overcrowding and trail erosion. Tourism boards can use the data to identify popular destinations and tailor marketing efforts. Event organizers could also use it to gauge attendance at outdoor events held on trails.
Currently, Trailsense is pre-commercial, with a pilot project completed on the Nordkette in Innsbruck in collaboration with Tirol Werbung. The team is refining the dashboard and node hardware. Future plans include a public-facing version similar to Google Maps traffic data for hikers to check trail busyness before heading out. The node firmware is open-source on GitHub.
In summary, Trailsense provides an innovative, privacy-conscious method for understanding outdoor trail usage through anonymized Wi-Fi data, empowering organizations with actionable insights for better management and visitor engagement.
