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Cubic is in the midst of developing a system that will make large crowds of people -- like those seen during the Super Bowl, NASCAR races, and  Mardi Gras -- safer and easier to manage. The high-tech solution to crowd control is becoming increasingly important as we continue to look for ways to keep people safe and avoid catastrophes during densely crowded events. 

The system uses a series of sensors in combination with Cubic’s existing technology the Mission Rehearsal Planning System. It works like this: In real-time using data fed from crowd-control sensors, the Mission Rehearsal Planning System displays color-coded data revealing density of the crowd and how fast people are moving. The system can then estimate how a situation will evolve over time, opening a door of predictive possibilities. 

During events like Mardi Gras, the system will be able to provide advanced warning of overcrowding on specific streets, giving authorities enough time to divert people from those areas. With this knowledge, authorities will have a better understanding of where to place their resources and will additionally be able to add more public transportation resources to transit routes that will accommodate the needs of the crowd. 

“The system uses the best technology to provide all the information the operational staff needs to keep people moving through an area at the optimal density and pace,” says Bert Ges, director for Cubic’s Operations Effectiveness Group.