✈️ Cameras Are Watching. LiDARs are Working.
💬 It All Started at Inter Airport Europe in Munich
Last week in Munich, during the Inter Airport Europe exhibition, I had one of those conversations that make me stop and think. A customer turned to me and asked, almost casually:
“Can you tell how many people are in the toilet?”
It sounded like a simple operational question, but that one sentence opened a much deeper discussion about how airports manage passenger flow, especially in areas where privacy is non-negotiable.
And everyone around the table agreed immediately: Camera is not an option.
That is when the conversation shifted toward LiDAR technology, and that moment inspired this week’s topic.
👁️ Cameras Have Eyes. LiDARs Don’t, and That’s Their Power
Let’s be honest. Cameras are like eyes, always watching. They see faces, record behavior, and raise instant privacy questions.
LiDARs, on the other hand, are blind. They have no eyes, but they work hard. They do not see faces or colors, yet they build a perfect 3D understanding of movement.
They do not need light. They do not blink. While cameras watch, LiDARs work quietly, accurately, and anonymously.
🔒 Privacy Without Compromise
With growing attention on GDPR and passenger rights, airports are under pressure to deploy privacy-safe sensing technologies.
LiDAR fits perfectly. It does not record people, it measures them. It detects shapes, counts movement, and monitors occupancy without capturing a single image.
That is why LiDAR systems are now even used near toilet corridors, where knowing occupancy is essential, but cameras simply cannot go.
⚙️ From Surveillance to Understanding
Airports no longer want to watch passengers. They want to understand movement, where queues form, how fast lines move, and when cleaning or staff should be dispatched.
Cameras show what happened. LiDAR shows what is happening right now.
By combining real-time depth sensing with AI, airports can predict congestion, allocate resources, and improve passenger comfort without compromising privacy.
🧭 So… What Is LiDAR, Actually
Everyone knows what a camera is, but LiDAR? Let’s make it simple.
LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It uses laser beams instead of images to “see” the world. Each beam bounces off surrounding objects, and by measuring how long it takes to return, LiDAR creates a precise 2D or 3D map of the environment in real time.
Think of it like a radar made of light. Where a camera captures pictures, LiDAR captures distance data. That is why it works in full darkness, bright light, or even crowded environments. LiDAR “sees” using geometry, not color.
🌍 Where LiDARs Are Already Live
📊 2D LiDAR vs 3D LiDAR vs 4D LiDAR
In simple terms:
3D LiDAR shows where objects are. 4D LiDAR shows where they’re going and how fast.
All three share the same strengths: ✅ No personal data ✅ Works in all lighting conditions ✅ Highly accurate and reliable
In short:
Cameras show faces. LiDAR shows movement. One watches. The other understands.
⚖️ The Balance Between Eyes and Intelligence
Whenever a new technology proves itself, it is easy to call it a threat. LiDAR is sometimes seen as a challenge to cameras, offering more precision and total privacy protection.
But the reality is not about competition. It is about evolution.
Cameras still bring visual context. They show what is happening. LiDAR adds the data, depth, and accuracy that cameras cannot deliver. Together, they form a powerful partnership.
In the same area, a camera can identify what is happening, while LiDAR can quantify how it happens, how many people are there, how fast they move, and when the next queue will form.
This combination creates the next generation of Smart Passenger Flow Systems, where both technologies feed one platform for real-time AI decisions.
So yes, LiDAR may look like a threat to cameras, but the smartest airports already know the truth.
When LiDAR and cameras work together, airports do not just see more, they know more.
💬 Final Thought
That short conversation in Munich reminded me how innovation often begins with the simplest question. When someone asks, “Can we know how many people are inside?”, they are really asking, “Can we understand what is happening without watching?”
And that is exactly what LiDAR delivers, blind but brilliant.
📚 Sources:
SICK Sensor Intelligence I Blickfeld I Outsight I Beonic I Ouster I Aeva I Sotereon.AI I Veovo I DTP Amorph
Sorry but need to disagree with the Frankfurt example from Blickfeld which is not in operation, but a few other installations at FRA are from a different company ;)
We use lidar sensors for cargo measurement, contour inspection, and many other applications in customer-specific projects. The accuracy is unbeatable, and we don't have any issues with the personal data they collect. Furthermore, it is THE technology for creating a highly accurate digital twin based on 3D point clouds. When it comes to cameras, customers are often suspicious about accuracy and the filtering out of personal information.