Abstract
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New York City attracts millions of people every year and is known for being the “City that Never Sleeps.” This report steps out to challenge this theory and see how busy New York City actually is during the late night hours on its famous 7th Avenue near Times Square.
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Introduction
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Web Cameras are a valuable tool for data collection, but pose a privacy issue at the same time. Cameras can be used to record traffic conditions, surveillance, or in this case, counting of pedestrians. This study collects such data on numerous late nights in New York City to gain an understanding of how busy the city actually is.
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Methods
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By utilizing a web camera pointing on the sidewalk of 7th Avenue near Times Square in New York City, late night travelers were observed. On weekdays between 2-5 A.M. data was collected on frequency of passage by the camera. Uniqueness of travelers was taken into account and thus only travelers passing by the camera on the bottom (in both directions) were recorded.
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Results
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An average of 1.26 travelers per minute was the lowest of traffic. This occurred between 4:00-4:50 A.M. Over the 3 hour period, there was an average of 2.2 travelers per minute.
Click here for an enlargement of graph above.
Click here for an enlargement of graph above.
Click here for an enlargement of graph above.
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Privacy
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Cameras like this are so up close that many risks come with all their data mining capabilities. They could allow for stalking of individuals or finding vulnerable people walking alone. The data broadcasted isn't contained or regulated in any shape or form and the majority of the people on the camera do not even know they are being filmed (which would probably be of a concern to them if they did).
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References
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Camera: https://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/index.php?cam=4&display=%202006
Project Paper (PDF)
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