For the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2021 in Oberstdorf, the sports stadiums at the Schattenbergschanze and the Ried cross-country stadium have been extensively renovated and partially rebuilt in order to have the best possible training conditions for the coming years. In the process, our Schattenbergschanze will also have our multicamera system for ski jumping permanently installed in order to be technologically up to date.
Seit der Einweihung mit dem Vierschanzentournee-Springen 2003 besteht die “Audi Arena Oberstdorf” aus den Schattenbergschanzen HS137, HS106, HS60, HS42, HS25, HS22 . Die beiden größten Schanzen werden nun mit unserem Videoanalysesystem utilius kiwano ausgestattet. Auch die kleinere Schanze HS60 erhält eine PTZ Kamera für die Verfolgung der Sportler von hinten.
Starting position & goal
The goal was to build a permanently installed and weather-resistant system that is ready for use at any time. This should allow the ski jumpers to be recorded from different perspectives.
The cameras were to have the athlete always large in the picture, record synchronously and automatically recognize the athlete in the video. In addition, the following requirements were set:
- Weatherproof cameras and FullHD recording at 50fps.
- Automatic and markerless tracking of athletes.
- User-friendly software that anyone can work with.
Implementation
First, all the hardware was set up and tested once at the ccc office to make sure everything was working.
The multi-camera system consists per ski jump of
- 8 lateral cameras each,
- a light barrier system,
- an "observer camera" that allows the coach to match the athlete to the shot before the jump,
- a "rear camera" that films the approach and take-off from behind and automatically follows the athlete,
- a server and 2 switches.
In addition, a smaller youth ski jump also receives a single rear camera.
The side cameras trigger automatically thanks to light barriers, and in the utilius kiwano software, automatic editing then takes place so that the jumper is always in the picture. The face camera films the athlete from the front before the jump to ensure accurate video matching. And finally, the rear camera records the jump from behind, automatically tracking the athlete.
Several installation dates lasting several days were then planned for the installation of the system. The attachment and installation of the individual components took place gradually. For example, all lateral cameras for which the corresponding masts were available and which were to be mounted at an accessible height were attached first.
Challenges
The side cameras are mounted on masts next to the ski jump. However, some masts are more difficult to reach or the cameras have to be mounted very high. Therefore, appropriate technical equipment had to be provided - a Manitou together with an experienced driver helped to mount the cameras.
But that wasn't the only challenge. When the server was to be installed, we also discovered that the existing server cabinet was too small. So we had to take some of the technology back to Leipzig after the first on-site appointment until the server cabinet was replaced and the server could be safely installed there.
Results
The hardware, including cameras and light barriers, has already been successfully installed. Currently, final electrical work, the installation of display devices (two touch monitors and two outdoor laptops) and an application test of the entire system are still pending.
To this end, there will be another on-site appointment in mid-August 2020, during which two rear cameras that are still missing will be installed. Large screens will also be installed in the athletes' warm-up room. Until then, the electrical service provider on site is to carry out some optimization of the cable routes.
Together with the ski jumpers, we also want to carry out system tests at this date, especially to test the automatic editing from the side.
With the completely renovated ski jumping facility including video system, Oberstdorf will not only be ready for the Nordic World Ski Championships in 2021, but will also be ideally equipped for the coming years as a training base for young talents all the way to world champions and Olympic champions.
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