By Trevor Dykstra on Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Category: News

New Outdoor USB People Counter: Integrated Casing and Up to 4-Year Battery Life

Collecting reliable visitor data at an outdoor or remote location can be difficult when power and network connections are unavailable. EvolvePlus New Zealand's latest Outdoor USB People Counter addresses that challenge with a fully battery-powered design, integrated protective housing and simple data collection via a USB memory stick.

The new model records people travelling in both directions and stores detailed readings for later analysis. With an estimated battery life of up to four years, it is well suited to New Zealand parks, tracks, public amenities and other sites where frequent maintenance visits are impractical.

What is new about the Outdoor USB People Counter?

The previous outdoor USB counter used a standard sensor inside a separate outdoor enclosure. It operated on two AA alkaline batteries, with an estimated life of approximately one year.

The new design uses a 3.6V D-cell lithium thionyl chloride battery, providing an estimated operating life of up to four years depending on usage and environmental conditions. For councils, facilities teams and recreation managers responsible for equipment across multiple or distant locations, fewer battery changes can substantially simplify routine servicing.

The integrated casing also creates a cleaner installation, with the protection and people-counting components supplied as a unified outdoor unit.

The enclosure is designed for IP65-equivalent protection and an operating temperature range from -20°C to +60°C, making the counter suitable for demanding outdoor and industrial environments.

Accurate bi-directional footfall counting

The transmitter and receiver are installed opposite each other across an entrance or path. The transmitter creates an active horizontal infrared beam, and the counter records movement when a person passes through and interrupts that beam.

Bi-directional detection provides separate In and Out counts, giving organisations a clearer view of visitor flows than a simple total count. The system supports entrances up to six metres wide and requires no mains power, network cabling or local internet connection.

This makes the Outdoor USB People Counter a practical entry-level option for monitoring foot traffic at sites such as:

Collect data using a USB memory stick

The people counter stores up to 40 days of minute-by-minute data in its internal memory. To collect the data, connect a USB memory stick to the counter, then upload the captured file to the IMMotion Cloud platform from a computer.

There is no need to visit the site at the end of every day. One collection can retrieve the stored readings, ready for analysis across hourly, daily, weekly and monthly intervals.

Turn visitor counts into useful insights

The IMMotion Cloud Dashboard converts the collected data into practical footfall insights. Organisations can use these reports to identify peak periods, compare usage over time and make more informed decisions about staffing, opening hours, maintenance and cleaning schedules.

The Free edition supports USB data imports, basic Excel exports and 90 days of history. The Premium edition adds:

For organisations that need more advanced reporting or centralised analysis across a broader sensor fleet, the EvolvePlus Enterprise Cloud Dashboard is also available as an option.

Key specifications

Specification Outdoor USB People Counter
Counting method Active infrared, bi-directional (separate In/Out counts)
Dimensions 135 x 79 x 48 mm 
Operating temperature  -20°C to +60°C 
Enclosure rating  Designed for IP65-equivalent protection 
Estimated battery life  Up to 4 years 
Power supply  3.6V D-cell lithium thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) battery 
Internal memory  Up to 40 days of minute-by-minute data 
Maximum entrance width  6 metres 

An easy people-counting solution for remote outdoor sites

The new Outdoor USB People Counter brings together the features many remote sites need: no mains power, no network dependency, simple installation, separate In/Out counts and straightforward USB data collection. Its integrated outdoor casing and long-life battery make it easier to deploy and maintain than the previous model. 

Explore the EvolvePlus range of USB people counters, or contact EvolvePlus to discuss the most suitable outdoor people-counting solution for your site.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Outdoor USB People Counter need mains power or internet access?

No. The counter is battery-powered and stores data internally. Data is collected with a USB memory stick, so the installed sensor does not require mains power, network cabling or internet access.

Can it count people entering and leaving separately?

Yes. The active infrared sensor provides bi-directional counting, with separate In and Out totals.

How often does the battery need to be replaced?

The supplied 3.6V D-cell lithium thionyl chloride battery has an estimated life of up to four years. Actual battery life can vary with operating conditions and usage.

How much data can the counter store?

Its internal memory stores up to 40 days of minute-by-minute count data. Regular USB collection is recommended so that the oldest readings are not overwritten.

Is the counter waterproof?

The enclosure is designed for IP65-equivalent protection. EvolvePlus can advise on installation position and suitability for the conditions at a specific site.

How wide can the entrance or path be?

The transmitter and receiver can operate across an entrance up to six metres wide, subject to correct positioning and alignment.