How Density compares

If a sensor captures raw video or images with personally identifiable information (PII), your organization could be at risk of privacy violations—even if those images are processed “securely” later. Ask vendors to show you what the camera sees at the source.

Some camera systems will register an empty chair with a jacket on it or a desk with a coffee cup as “a sign of life.” That’s not true presence. For real-time space planning, only actual people should count.

Sometimes updating sensors means taking them offline, disrupting dashboards and integrations. Some vendors only provide updates to newer models, forcing hardware refreshes. Ask about update frequency, control and coverage across your fleet.

Sensors placed in busy zones trigger more often and that drains batteries faster. Software updates and LEDs also take up battery life. Many battery-based systems trade off real-time data to preserve energy. You shouldn’t have to choose between accuracy and uptime.

Yes, and that matters. Without centralized monitoring, you’ll be swapping batteries piecemeal instead of doing predictable replacements. Batteries die at different rates based on where sensors are located and other factors. That’s a maintenance headache.

WiFi signals pass through walls, so most systems can’t tell whether someone is in Room A or Room B. They just know a device is somewhere. That makes room-level occupancy data unreliable. Also, laptops, phones and printers can get counted as people.

Thermal sensors detect heat blobs, not people. In busy environments, bodies can blur together, leading to undercounts. Plus, heat from laptops or monitors can trigger false positives. Ask about accuracy—how the system differentiates actual humans from warm objects.