Canonical URL: https://density.io/resources/people-counting-privacy

# How can you measure office occupancy without cameras or personal data?

You can measure how an office is used without identifying the people in it. Density measures occupancy and utilization without cameras. Its [privacy and trust page](https://density.io/about-density/trust) describes radar-based sensors designed without the ability to capture, store or interpret personally identifiable information.

Start with the space question: Is a phone booth available? Are meeting rooms mainly used by individuals or groups? Which areas need more capacity? You can answer these questions with occupancy measurements rather than employee identities.

## Choose a measurement that fits the space

For small meeting rooms, phone booths and desks, [Density Waffle](https://density.io/waffle) offers anonymous occupancy measurement in a self-installable radar sensor. It reports zero, one, two or three-plus people, with real-time and historical data. Those categories help distinguish an empty room, individual use and group use.

For larger spaces, [Density Open Area](https://density.io/open-area) counts people within an area. Measuring desk neighborhoods and collaboration areas separately helps a workplace team see which spaces are used and which may need to change.

The useful output is a count or pattern associated with a space. A workplace planner can investigate whether the office needs more phone booths without maintaining a record of which employee used each booth.

## Review the data path before deployment

Density's [privacy guidance](https://density.io/resources/privacy-and-occupancy-sensors-3-practical-realities-to-face) recommends inspecting what a sensor actually sees. Turn that question into a short review your workplace and IT teams can use together:

**At the sensor:** Inspect the output of the device you are considering. Check what it detects and whether it produces visual images or personal identifiers.

**Between the sensor and application:** Identify the transmitted fields and the systems that receive them. Keep the sensor's anonymous measurement separate from any identity-bearing information another application supplies.

**In the dashboard or integration:** Identify who can access the fields and how they will use them. Set access, retention and security requirements for the teams reviewing room availability, historical patterns or portfolio comparisons.

Document what is measured, which systems receive it and who can use the results. Share that explanation with employees before deployment.

## Control access to workplace data

Atlas supports sign-in through your company’s identity provider using SAML single sign-on. Density’s [Atlas setup guide](https://support.density.io/hc/en-us/articles/6288947266843-How-to-Setup-Single-Sign-On-SSO-with-Atlas) documents SAML single sign-on initiated from either Atlas or the identity provider. Add and manage Atlas users manually through User Management before they sign in.

Have IT confirm the connection with Density Support and name who will manage the Atlas accounts. Density’s [SSO guidance](https://support.density.io/hc/en-us/articles/1260804138270-Do-you-support-Single-Sign-On-SSO) identifies an Enterprise license requirement for Okta and scopes enterprise SAML connections to Atlas. Confirm the entitlement and applications included in your proposal.

## Explain the purpose before the pilot

Choose a small set of spaces and a decision the measurements can support. For example, investigate whether meeting rooms serve groups or absorb demand for quiet individual work. Explain where sensors will be installed, what they measure and who will use the results. Give employees a place to ask questions.

After collecting comparable observations, review the pattern with the teams who use those spaces. Keep the planning question beside the chart so people can see how the measurement will inform a workplace change.

[Book a demo](https://demo.density.io) or email [sales@density.io](mailto:sales@density.io) to discuss your spaces and privacy requirements.

For a room deployment, read the [Waffle setup guide](https://density.io/resources/waffle-meeting-room-occupancy) and use the [accuracy guide](https://density.io/guides/how-accurate-are-occupancy-sensors) to define the measurement check.