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AI in the swimming pool: Will Eimsbüttel's future save the lifeguards?
Eimsbüttel relies on AI to support lifeguards in swimming pools. The goal is increased security after an unacceptable incident in 2023.
AI in the swimming pool: Will Eimsbüttel's future save the lifeguards?
Modern technology will soon find its way into swimming pools in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. Artificial intelligence (AI) is to be used in the Kaifu-Bad and Bondenwald swimming pools. The proposal from the SPD parliamentary group in the Eimsbüttel district assembly, which presented this plan, aims to support the lifeguards in their daily work and to significantly increase the safety of bathers.
The AI-supported assistance system, which has been successfully tested in the Billebad in Bergedorf since December 2024, could soon also be found in Eimsbüttel. The system monitors the water areas with state-of-the-art cameras. It not only counts bathers, but also analyzes their movement patterns and, in the event of potential incidents, immediately alerts the lifeguards via smartwatches. The video recordings created for this surveillance are automatically deleted after 15 seconds - an important aspect with regard to data protection.
Success in Bergedorf and sad incident
The results of the system in Bergedorf so far have been extremely positive, which has prompted the district to conduct further test runs. In order to ensure safety in the swimming pool, the pilot project in Eimsbüttel is being implemented in collaboration with Bäderland Hamburg. Particularly in the context of current developments, it is important to mention that a tragic incident occurred at the Bondenwald swimming pool in 2023 in which a five-year-old bather died. Such incidents highlight the need to use new technologies to prevent hazards.
The SPD has clearly spoken out in favor of introducing the AI system because it is to be comprehensively evaluated in a one-year test phase. After this phase there will be a report summarizing the results and effectiveness of the project.
Solid support for security
The use of AI technology in swimming pools could not only save lives, but also make lifeguards' workload significantly easier. “It is important to us to increase the safety of children and all bathers,” explains a spokesman for the SPD. Given the challenges associated with maintaining safety at public water sources, this step could be an important milestone. The community seems to support the initiative and is eagerly awaiting the first results of the tests.
For anyone who is interested in the technical details and previous successes in the context of AI integration in swimming pools, Spiegel refers to clear information and explanations.