VACAN SIGNAGE
Real-time Crowd Visualization & Digital Signage
VACAN is a crowd-visualization platform from Japan: IoT sensors and AI cameras detect congestion, cloud analytics convert it into availability, and results appear in real time on digital signage, web maps and smartphones — reducing queues and dispersing visitor flow.
( 01 )How it works
| Step | What happens | Products |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Detect | Occupancy and queues are captured in real time | IoT sensors, AI camera analytics (VACAN AIS) |
| 2. Analyze | Cloud platform converts raw signals into availability and wait times | VACAN cloud |
| 3. Deliver | Displayed on in-facility signage, web maps and phones | Signage, VACAN Maps, Q ticket (mobile queueing) |
Detection methods are chosen per location: camera-free sensors for privacy-sensitive areas such as restrooms, AI cameras for open floors, and staff input for irregular operations.
( 02 )What it solves
- Congestion visibility — visitors can see which floors, restaurants, restrooms or counters are available before walking there
- Queue reduction — wait-time displays and mobile queueing turn physical lines into browsing time
- Flow dispersion — map signage sends visitors from crowded areas to available ones, raising utilization of the whole facility
- Disaster response — dual-use design: everyday guidance switches to evacuation information and shelter-congestion visibility in emergencies, a use case VACAN has deployed with many Japanese municipalities
( 03 )Selected deployments in Japan
- Gransta Tokyo (Tokyo Station retail, JR East group) — restaurant-floor congestion visibility
- Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores — integrated availability across multiple floors
- Daimaru Sapporo — restaurant floor wait-time display
- Anabuki Arena Kagawa — arena signage
- Shibuya Fukuras — taxi stand signage in a flagship redevelopment
- Restroom-vacancy signage (camera-free sensors), area map signage, and municipal tourism / disaster-prevention use cases nationwide
( 04 )For global developers, airports and venues
VACAN works with developers and operators from the planning stage of new facilities, so that crowd sensing, signage and the data platform are integrated into the architectural design rather than retrofitted. Multilingual display is standard. For enquiries in English, please use the contact form.
( 05 )Frequently asked questions
Is VACAN available outside Japan?
How is privacy handled?
Who operates VACAN?
( → )Related pages
Tell us the facility type and scale, and we will propose a configuration and a budget range.