System and method for detecting the number of users on at least one ski resort run

A system comprising:

• an image sensor configured to capture a plurality of images of a portion of a ski run of a plurality of ski runs of a ski resort;
• and
• a processing unit configured to:
• receive, from the image sensor, data associated with the plurality of images of the portion of the ski run of the plurality of ski runs, and
• analyse the data associated with the plurality of images to detect any moving objects and count any detected moving objects to determine a number of users passing on the portion of the ski run of the plurality of ski runs.

A management system configured to manage a ski resort comprising a plurality of ski runs and a plurality of ski lifts, the management system comprising:

• a central unit;
• at least one detection system associated with at least one portion of at least one ski run of the plurality of ski runs, each detection system comprising:
• an image sensor configured to capture a plurality of images of the portion of the ski run associated with that detection system, and
• a processing unit configured to:
• receive, from the image sensor, data associated with the plurality of images of the portion of the ski run associated with that detection system,
• analyse the data associated with the plurality of images to detect any moving objects and count any detected moving objects to determine a number of users passing on the portion of the ski run associated with that detection system, and
• communicate data associated with a first number of users passing on the portion of the ski run associated with that detection system to the central unit;
• and
• a display interface in communication with the central unit and configured to display the data associated with a second number of users passing on each of the plurality of ski runs associated with each of the detection systems.

A method comprising:

• installing an image sensor on a snow gun of a ski resort;
• causing the image sensor to capture a plurality of images of a portion of a ski run of a plurality of ski runs of the ski resort and communicate data associated with the plurality of images of the portion of the ski run of the plurality of ski runs to a processing unit;
• and
• causing the processing unit to analyse the data associated with the plurality of images to detect any moving objects and count any detected moving objects to determine, in real time, a number of users passing on the portion of the ski run of the plurality of ski runs.