Biometric Video Analytics Solution Allows 15,000 Fans to Attend UEFA Super Cup

A partnership between Seattle-based digital media software and services company RealNetworks and German tech company G2K Group has combined the former’s SAFR facial recognition engine with the latter’s Parsifal artificial intelligence (AI) platform for a real-time video analytics solution.

In addition to providing actionable video analytics in a number of industries such as retail, transportation, smart cities, and sports and entertainment, Parsifal also features contactless body temperature scanning. Combined with SAFR’s ability to detect whether an individual is wearing a mask even on live video, the two solutions are a complementary pairing that has already been chosen by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to provide entry screening for spectators attending the Super Cup Final 2020.

“SAFR from RealNetworks’ partnership with G2K Group is characterized by the innovation, quality, and professionalism of both companies,” said Jose Larrucea, SVP EMEA & LATAM at RealNetworks. “SAFR’s computer vision features add critical data to the Parsifal platform enhancing the overall video analytics offering and unlocking new customer use cases such as mask detection.”

In the age of COVID-19, businesses and organizations around the world are turning to biometrics and AI-based systems to facilitate as safe an environment as possible as they try to return to normal following months of physical distancing measures enacted to control the spread of the virus. This can be particularly challenging for sports venues, as a return to normal would mean tens of thousands of fans piled into an arena or stadium, queuing up for food and beverages in crowded concourses, and sharing packed sanitary facilities.

In September, the Parsifal featuring SAFR solution was deployed in Budapest, Hungary for the UEFA Super Cup Final 2020. The event marked the test of a partial return of fans, with the solution allowing for 15,000 spectators to safely enjoy the football game safely under guidelines set forth by the Hungarian Public Health Authorities.

The solution was deployed in cameras at each entry and exit point, and was able to perform rapid and automated temperature screening and mask detection, while alerting facility staff of any lack of adherence to safety guidelines.

“The cooperation with SAFR has reached its next stage with the very successful project with UEFA for the Super Cup Final 2020,” said Georg Rennenkampff, G2K VP Partnership Management. “The use of SAFR’s highly accurate mask detection algorithm strengthened the overall Parsifal solution, making it better able to serve customers dealing with the realities of a global pandemic. G2K is looking forward to many more projects and further strengthening its prosperous partnership with SAFR.”

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November 17, 2020 – by Tony Bitzionis