Outdoor people counting with TAC-B radar sensors 

Walking and cycling trails are popular places for recreation, sport and local mobility. People use them in the morning, after work and on weekends. To keep these trails safe, clean and well maintained, city services and park managers need clear numbers. The SensMax TAC-B 4G Radar together with the SPS20 Solar Power System is a ready-made solution for outdoor people counting on walking and cycling trails without cameras, electricity or fixed internet.

The system counts pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders in both directions and sends the data to the cloud in real time. This helps you understand how trails are used during the day, across seasons and in different weather conditions.

Radar people counter with solar power kit installed on a forest trail for counting pedestrians and cyclists

Why people counting on trails matters

Visitor statistics from walking and cycling trails help managers use their budgets in a smarter way. Instead of guessing, they can rely on real data about where and when people use the paths.

• Plan cleaning schedules based on real traffic rather than fixed time slots.
• Place waste bins, benches and lighting where trail usage is highest.
• Monitor busy periods to improve safety and avoid overcrowding.
• Compare usage of different trails to decide where to invest in upgrades or new routes.
• Provide clear, anonymous statistics to support funding requests and green mobility projects.

How the SensMax trail counting solution works

The TAC-B 4G Radar Sensor uses 60 GHz mmWave technology to detect moving objects on the trail. The sensor tracks movement direction and speed and counts people when they cross virtual counting lines. It can separate pedestrians from faster traffic such as cyclists and scooters by their movement speed.

The radar covers up to ≈10 m distance with a ≈120° field of view, which is about 100 m² in total coverage. This is enough for typical walking and cycling trails. Because the TAC-B uses radar and not cameras, it does not capture faces or any personal details. All monitoring is anonymous and fully GDPR compliant.

Example of TAC-B 4G radar placement on a pole and virtual counting lines across a walking and cycling trail

System architecture & data flow

The solution combines radar sensors, 4G connectivity, solar power and a cloud platform into one easy system. All processing is done on the device, and only anonymous count data is sent to the cloud.

• Sensor layer — TAC-B 4G mmWave radar detects movement, direction and speed, separates pedestrians from cyclists and scooters, and counts IN/OUT crossings over virtual lines.
• Connectivity layer — the built-in 4G/LTE modem sends encrypted events directly to the SensMax Cloud platform. A standard SIM card is enough; no local Wi-Fi or wired internet is needed along the trail.
• Solar power layer — the SPS20 solar power system supplies 12 V DC power from a solar panel and LiFePO4 battery, so there is no need for a grid connection.
• Cloud & integration layer — SensMax Cloud stores and processes the data for dashboards and reports, and shares it with other systems via REST API, MQTT and webhooks.

Typical data flow: TAC-B 4G radar → 4G/LTE network → SensMax Cloud & API / MQTT → dashboards, reports and Smart City platforms.

Key benefits for walking and cycling trails

• No electricity needed. The SPS20 solar power system makes the sensor fully independent from the power grid.
• No fixed internet needed. The built-in 4G modem sends data from remote forest trails and rural routes.
• Outdoor-optimised radar. The IP68 sensor housing works in rain, fog, snow, bright sun and complete darkness.
• Pedestrians and cyclists counted separately. The sensor distinguishes slower walkers from faster bicycles and scooters.
• Privacy-safe. No cameras and no images; only anonymous count data is processed.
• Real-time visibility. Live dashboards show visitor numbers, peaks and trends for each trail.
• Low maintenance. No lenses to clean and no moving parts; only basic visual checks are needed.

Performance and accuracy

Vendor data for TAC-B radar sensors shows accuracy of ≈99% at about 1 person/m² and >93% at about 3 persons/m², assuming correct mounting and configuration. Each sensor covers about 100 m² of area and counts people in both directions across the trail.

Best results are achieved when the sensor is installed 2.5–3 m above the ground on a pole or signpost with a clear view across the walking and cycling path. For long routes, several sensors can be installed at key points such as entrances, junctions and rest areas.

Use cases

• Forest and park trails. Measure daily and seasonal traffic on walking paths to plan upkeep and protect nature.
• Cycling routes and bike lanes. Count cyclists on commuter routes and weekend tracks to plan new lanes and crossings.
• Waterfronts and promenades. Track how many people use riverside and lakefront paths for walking and cycling.
• National parks and protected areas. Monitor visitor pressure on sensitive zones without using cameras.
• Smart City mobility projects. Combine trail counts with other traffic data to support green mobility decisions.

Visitor analytics from SensMax radar counters help improve trails and support long-term city planning

Integration & data analytics

All counting results are available in the SensMax Cloud dashboard as daily, weekly and seasonal reports. You can see totals for each trail, compare locations and view peak hours. Data can be exported as CSV or PDF for sharing with other departments or partners.

For advanced integrations, raw data can be delivered via REST API, MQTT and webhooks to platforms such as Amazon AWS IoT, Microsoft Azure IoT Hub or city data portals. This allows you to combine visitor numbers with air quality, weather or other Smart City indicators for deeper analysis.

Installation on walking and cycling trails

The TAC-B 4G radar sensor is designed for fast installation on poles, lamp posts or signposts along the trail. The recommended mounting height is 2.5–3 m. The sensor should have a clear line of sight across the path where people pass.

The SPS20 Solar Power System includes a solar panel, electronics module and LiFePO4 battery. All main connections are pre-wired. The solar panel is fixed on the pole and oriented toward the sun. The internal battery stores enough energy for about 64–85 hours of operation without sunlight, depending on conditions.

After mounting the sensor and solar kit, the installer uses SensMax tools to set up virtual counting lines and basic parameters. Once configured, the system runs automatically and does not require regular on-site service.

TAC-B radar sensor with SPS20 solar kit mounted on a pole along a walking and cycling trail

FAQ – Common questions

1. Where can this solution be used?
TAC-B 4G radar sensors with SPS20 solar power can be used on forest paths, park trails, cycling routes, waterfront promenades, in national parks and along rural walking tracks.

2. Does the sensor need electricity from the grid?
No. The solution is designed for off-grid locations. The SPS20 solar power system supplies 12 V DC power from a solar panel and internal battery.

3. How long can the sensor work from the solar battery without sun?
The internal LiFePO4 battery in the SPS20 solar kit stores enough energy for about 64–85 hours of operation without sunlight, depending on configuration and local conditions.

4. How is data transmitted from the trail to the cloud?
The TAC-B 4G sensor sends encrypted count events over the mobile network using a standard 4G/LTE SIM card. Data appears in the SensMax Cloud dashboard and can be shared via API or MQTT.

5. What is the typical accuracy on trails?
Vendor data shows ≈99% accuracy at around 1 person/m² and >93% at around 3 persons/m² with correct installation and configuration.

6. Does weather affect performance?
Radar detection is not sensitive to light conditions. The IP68 housing protects the sensor, so it can work in rain, fog, snow, bright sun and darkness.

7. What objects can be detected?
The sensor detects pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders and counts them as they cross virtual lines in both directions.

8. Does the system need regular maintenance?
No regular service is needed in normal operation. There are no lenses to clean. It is enough to check from time to time that the housing is not blocked or physically damaged.

Technical specifications (summary)

Download PDF documents

Ready to get started?

Have a project for walking or cycling trails and need help choosing the right configuration? Our team can help you select the best sensor positions, power options and data integration for your city or park.

Share a short description of your trails, number of locations and how you plan to use the statistics, and we will prepare a proposal or technical consultation.

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