Any idea what these sensors are on lightpoles in a stadium parking lot?

[berkeman]

I've been trying out a couple new running routes around work lately, and my run today through Levi's Stadium parking lot (yes, my work is right next to Levi's Stadium, oh joy) took me past light poles that have some kind of sensors attached to them. I wasn't able to figure out what they might be used for, so I thought I'd ask for some PF help.

As you can see in the picture, they are mounted mid-way up some of the light poles, and don't seem to have any optics exposed like you would expect from a camera. There are a few light poles with traditional cameras mounted on them spaced out in the parking lot, but most of the poles have these sealed devices mounted on them.

They sort of look like simple radar detectors, but if they are supposed to detect how full the parking lot is, they would need to be able to scan in an x-y pattern somehow (either mechanically or with phased array elements).

Any ideas or thoughts? Has anybody seen these before? Thanks!

 

[berkeman]

Actually, could they be WiFi antennas? They seem like they are spaced too closely together for effective coverage of the parking lot, but maybe they figure overkill is better than spotty coverage...?

 

[fresh_42]

I thought of speakers.

 

[berkeman]

I thought of speakers.

Good thought, but the front surfaces look to be solid plastic.

 

[fresh_42]

You have to protect them from rain (and in any other region snow as well). I'm not sure but I think I've seen similar things before WiFi everywhere was an option. Additionally, don't you want people to get IN the stadium. A WiFi net on the parking lot could be counter productive. But as the place is regularly crowded by hundreds of people, a system to speak to them could be useful: lost children, cars blocking emergency exist, panic situations and what else.

Of course you could damage one and wait what they'll write on the bill

 

[berkeman]

Of course you could damage one and wait what they'll write on the bill

LOL. I was keeping an eye out for Stadium Security as I took the picture. I was worried that they would come charging after me in golf carts to question me about why I was taking pictures of their security infrastructure...

 

[fresh_42]

LOL. I was keeping an eye out for Stadium Security as I took the picture. I was worried that they would come charging after me in golf carts to question me about why I was taking pictures of their security infrastructure...

Another idea is to either ask them, or go and tell, that you think, one of their "tv-screens" on the poles is probably broken. They will laugh, sure, but chances are they tell you what it is instead; and making people laugh is a good thing to do.

 

[wirenut]

I believe they are part of an outdoor distributed antenna system (odas).
Outdoor Distributed Antenna System (oDAS) nodes in the City of Santa Clara will be mounted on existing structures such as streetlights and light poles in parking lots. The area of the City around the Santa Clara Convention Center, California’s Great America theme park and Levi’s Stadium will have oDAS installed by early 2016 to give cell phone and mobile device users better service from participating cellular companies. This oDAS antenna node is seen near the middle of the light post.

The ones you see may be newer versions, as these are from 2016.
http://www.siliconvalleypower.com/svp-and-community/news-and-announcements/media-resources

 

[Tom.G]

yes, my work is right next to Levi's Stadium, oh joy

Google Maps shows that "right next to" is... Bourbon Pub!

I vote for antennas. Cell phone or motion detectors.

 

[berkeman]

I believe they are part of an outdoor distributed antenna system (odas).
Outdoor Distributed Antenna System (oDAS) nodes in the City of Santa Clara...

Perfect! Thanks!

 

[scottdave]

I believe they are part of an outdoor distributed antenna system (odas).http://www.siliconvalleypower.com/svp-and-community/news-and-announcements/media-resourcesView attachment 224345

That does make sense. I know someone who works for Sprint. I know that leading up to the Superbowl came to Houston, he was working a lot with the crews installing cell phone "booster" I think he called them.