Predictive tracking with reads from race timing
Use sporadic detections from the timekeeping system for a smooth and realistic live visualization of the race. Real-time extrapolation of location and speed.
Dashboard for predictive tracking
The dashboard supports users during all phases of predictive tracking and provides insights into data processing.
Before the event: Checklist to quickly prepare and test predictive live tracking.
During the race: Relevant information for monitoring and adjusting the prediction.
After the race: With the purpose of analyzing the prediction all data for each athlete is prepared and linked in a map, in diagrams, and in a table.
Status: Checklist for settings required to conduct predictive tracking. The status tab also provides an auto-check of the forwarding settings in RACE RESULT.
Readers: When Racemap receives detections, the locations of corresponding readers are shown on a map. There is a hint for readers that are placed too far from the shadowtrack, and its reads are not considered for prediction (rejected reads). The track is also shown as an elevation profile with the corresponding readers' locations.
Transponders: Table showing various information of the last received read for each transponder: recorded- and received timestamp, location, reader id. Additionally, the start- and finish time is shown if imported to the participant data.
Reads: Continuously running list of all reads Racemap receives from your timing system.
Analysis: Select one participant and analyze all its aggregated information. Data is linked in a map, a table, and in diagrams.
Algorithm for predictive tracking
The prediction considers the timestamp when a read is recorded. The timestamp when Racemap receives the detection is not used for the forecast. Possible reasons for a difference between the recorded timestamp and the received timestamp of the same read. (As Racemap receives reads with future timestamps):
Delay in forwarding the reads from the timing system to Racemap. Minimize the delay to improve the quality of the prediction.
Settings in the timing system that impact the timestamps such as date, start time, time zone, and time offsets of your event do not fit the NOW time.
For predictive live tracking our system needs to know:
transponder id of each participant you want to display
exact race course ("shadowtrack")
locations of the timing hardware
readers with a GPS module eg. track boxes send their locations to Racemap
readers without own locations: set the location of the reader in Racemap
The prediction works differently than a timing system. The prediction does not know a reader's location ahead, and potentially upcoming reads are not taken into account. Each detection is processed stand-alone. This approach enables flexibility when applying predictive tracking for sports events.
Auto-Mapping to a location of the shadowtrack within 50 m distance:
A reader can be mapped to several locations of the same shadowtrack. If reader is placed in laps it is mapped on each lap automatically.
If reader is placed too far (> 50 m) from the shadowtrack its reads are not considered for prediction (rejected reads).
Moving reader: Variable locations of readers during the race, e.g. place track boxes on cars or boats. The prediction considers the current location of every detection for live and replay.
Multiple contests detection: One reader can detect several contests (shadowtracks), simultaneously. Racemap assigns reads to the correct shadowtrack, corresponding to transponder id and contest.
High performance: prediction calculates location & speed for > 50,000 participants simultaneously, e.g. München Marathon
Strategically place readers along the race course.
1st & 2nd read approx 0.5 & 1 km behind the start.
Place readers along the race course to detect each transponder every 20 min.
Read 1 to 0.5 km before finish.
Swimming events: place track boxes on buoys. eg. https://racemap.com/player/wa-open-water-swimming-series-race-8_2019-01-25/
Transition area: t_in, t_out with decoders, track boxes too inaccurate.
Parameters to adjust the prediction
Predictive live tracking involves the below parameters. Set these parameters carefully, as they impact the quality of your prediction.
Max distance from shadow track in meters: Maximum distance between the shadowtrack and the reader in which detections can be considered for the prediction. Readers with a greater distance from the shadowtrack are not considered for prediction and are shown as "Out of range". If the distance is 40 m the width of the whole corridor is 80 m.
Jumping dot threshold in seconds: With a new read, there is a new speed calculated for a predicted virtual participant (represented by the location of the dot in the tracking map). The "Jumping dot threshold" is the maximum time difference between the latest read and the virtual participant. If this difference is greater, the dot jumps to the location of the latest read. If this difference is smaller, the dot will either move faster or slower to smoothly reduce the difference during the ongoing event.
RSSI threshold in dBm; With Track Boxes the reads have a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI). The RSSI threshold is the minimal value to be considered for prediction. Reads with a smaller RSSI are not considered for prediction. Small values indicate a significant distance between the Track Box and the transponder. Allowing small RSSI values increases possible errors as the transponder could be detected by multiple Track Boxes over a long distance at nearly the same time.
Future track scale value: The relative distance in which the predicted virtual participant "meets" the real participant moving along with the measured average speed. The greater the track scale value the longer takes the correction.
Look back distance in meters: The look back distance makes prediction less susceptible to measurement errors. With a new read, there is a new speed calculated for a predicted virtual participant. The prediction might receive many reads from a short section of the track. These reads can have location errors and therefore cause malicious velocities. The look back distance is the length for calculating an average speed for the prediction.
Look forward time in seconds: The look forward time compensates for the delay in data transmission and processing throughout our systems.
Different visualization of live and replay
With every new input data, the prediction is recalculated automatically. Input data can be a detection, new speed filters for segments, adjustment of the shadowtrack, import of finish time.
Speed filters to check the plausibility of reads: You can set splits with expected speed values eg. swimming, transition, and cycling for triathlon.
filter_max: ignore reads with two times faster speed than expected speed
filter_min: ignore reads with 0.1 x speed than expected speed
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