Technology is a great way to make an event efficient, exciting and enjoyable. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has been using much of it, and the results have been fantastic. Many tech innovations are in use at this event, from semi-automated offside technology to VAR assistance.
Here are some of the innovations in use at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar
Bonocle
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is accessible to people who are blind. An invention named “Bonocle” is a product of the SC’s flagship innovation program. The SC constantly looks into ways to improve the fan experience and has created many innovative products. This invention is just another example of how they’re trying to make life easier for everyone.
Bonocle converts digital content to Braille, which allows fans with visual impairments to access the content. The technology has already been used at other sporting events and is being used during this World Cup to help those with visual impairments enjoy the games in a new way.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup will be the first FIFA tournament with this technology. It’s an excellent way for people with visual impairments to enjoy the World Cup, as it allows them to experience the game in a new way.
TrafiOne sensors
The government of Qatar installed 700 Flir TrafiOne sensors to monitor traffic and control crowd flow during the Fifa World Cup.
As reported by ITS International, TrafiOne uses WiFi and thermal technologies to identify pedestrian movement on the pavement and automatically adjust traffic signal timing. This means, for example, that pedestrians can be prioritised ahead of vehicle traffic, promoting safer, more effective pedestrian crossings. Thermal cameras with video analytics detect and classify pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles even in complete darkness or adverse weather conditions.
Cooling Tech
In November and December 2022, the average temperature of Qatar is usually high, 18-24C.
The cooling systems implemented at seven Qatar 2022 stadiums are unique, presenting challenges for Dr Saud Abdulaziz Abdul Ghani.
Energy used in Qatar 2022 stadiums comes directly from a solar panel farm outside Doha. Cooling technology is also used in other venues across Qatar, such as shopping plazas and farms. This is the most critical technology, as it will keep players and fans cool during the games. This heat can cause serious health problems for players and spectators alike, so various cooling technologies have been developed to combat this issue.
The sensor inside the match ball
FIFA World Cup 2022 will be the most “high-tech” tournament in recent times. New ball Al Rihla has an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor that aids in making tight offside calls.
Adidas and FIFA say the sensor can send data to the video operation room 500 times a second. The sensor is a small chip that is placed inside the ball. It can measure the ball’s orientation and movement and transmit it to a terminal via Bluetooth in the video operation room. The system is designed to help referees make calls that are more accurate than ever before.
Semi-automated offside technology
The semi-automated offside technology is used during Qatar 2022 World Cup games to ensure referees’ accuracy and consistency in decision-making. It will also help officials make decisions quickly when there are several challenges on a ball near the goal line. The process behind this technology is to help referees determine whether or not a player is offside by using cameras placed around the pitch and tracking players’ movements as they play. It will use 12 cameras installed beneath the roofs of Qatari stadiums to track “up to 29 data points of each player, 50 times per second.” These data points include “their exact position on the pitch as well as their speed and direction.”
As reported on the SVG blog, the new technology provides an automated offside alert to the video match officials inside the video-operation room whenever the ball is received by an attacker who was in an offside position at the moment a teammate played the ball. Before informing the on-field referee, the video match officials validate the proposed decision by manually checking the automatically selected kick point and the automatically created offside line based on the calculated positions of the players’ limbs. This process happens within a few seconds and means that offside decisions can be made faster and more accurately.
VAR assistance
A video assistant referee (VAR) system is a support tool for officials. The use of video match officials (VMOs) in football was included in the 2018/2019 edition of the Laws of the Game and was successfully used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Since then, the system has been implemented in over 100 competitions worldwide.
Football’s use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has not been without controversy, and FIFA has advanced the offside rule by implementing new, partially automatic offside technology.
Thermal Cameras
Thermal cameras are used to detect heat sources. They can be used to detect fire, people, and vehicles, but also living things and inanimate objects. During the Qatar World Cup 2022, thermal cameras are being placed alongside security guards at all venues.
The purpose is to detect potential threats, such as explosives or bombs being smuggled into stadiums. Thermal cameras are also helpful in detecting people hiding or behind curtains. Their infrared vision allows them to view an object without light interference (like how we see with our eyes).
The cameras use infrared radiation to detect heat sources, which allows them to see in the dark and through the fog. They can detect people behind walls or even around corners! This is useful for security guards monitoring large crowds, as they can identify potential threats before they become a problem.
Conclusion
The Qatar World Cup has provoked debate about whether Qatar should host the tournament. However, in recent years, new technologies have been developed that are helping to make hosting the tournament comfortable, exciting and environmentally friendly. The Qatar World Cup 2022 could set new standards for planning, building, and operating sporting events.
Hopefully, this article explains some of the technology used at Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup. These are practical innovations with tangible benefits.
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