Lynxight Online Resource
Maribyrnong City Council (Council) uses AI powered drowning prevention technology at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre (MAC) called ‘Lynxight’.
On this page you'll find information about
What is Lynxight?
Lynxight is an AI tool supplied to Council by a company called Lynxight Limited.
This tool uses artificial intelligence to help lifeguards at the MAC detect potential drowning incidents quickly.
More information can be found on Lynxight’s website: lynxight.com
Why do we use Lynxight at the MAC?
While the MAC is very proud of the high standard of service provided by its lifeguards on duty, it is not possible for lifeguards to constantly supervise all swimmers at all times. External factors such as glare, pool shape, movement of water and colour of swimwear may give rise to challenges for lifeguards in identifying a potential drowning incident.
Lynxight helps support lifeguards by detecting potential drowning incidents using AI technology and notifying lifeguards in real time. Lifeguards can then attend to the situation as required.
The MAC is in good company in adopting Lynxight. The Royal Life Saving Society of Australia has entered into a strategic collaboration with Lynxight focusing on strengthening drowning prevention and safety at Australian aquatic facilities. Lynxight is currently operating in over 75 Australian public pools.
How does Lynxight work?
The primary purpose of the technology is to detect and prevent drowning incidents in real time. It works in conjunction with lifeguards to enhance our ability to detect drowning incidents.
The technology works as follows:
- Camera footage: Footage from cameras erected above the pools is encrypted on a local server in Victoria while being analysed by the technology in real time. The footage is only kept if an alert is sent (see below), in which case it is kept for 7 days before being deleted.
- Alert to lifeguard’s smartwatch: An alert is sent to the lifeguard’s smartwatch comprising a diagram of the pool with a dot marking where the incident is occurring and a low-resolution image of the swimmer in trouble. The lifeguard will go to the location and assess the situation.
An alert is sent where one of three designated ‘safety events’ occurs:
- Instinctive Drowning Response (IDR): A person shows early signs of distress, such as bobbing up and down trying to get a breath. This alert can take up to 35 seconds of the pattern being displayed before it is triggered.
- Submersion: A swimmer is motionless and submerged underwater for 15–25 seconds before a safety event is triggered.
- Floating: The system detects a swimmer who is floating and motionless for 25–35 seconds before a safety event is triggered.
What information does Lynxight collect?
The vast majority of the information collected is not ‘personal information’. That is, the footage and images captured by Lynxight would be highly unlikely to identify specific individuals. The footage and images are low resolution and the cameras are fixed high above the pools, at a minimum height of 4 metres to a maximum height of 10 metres.
On rare occasions, for example where a person looks directly up at a camera, it may be possible for that person to identify themselves from the footage. No sensitive, biometric or health information is collected. The technology does not use facial recognition.
Can I decline to be captured by the Lynxight technology?
If you do not wish to be captured by the Lynxight tool, please do not enter the MAC.
Will the information be disclosed to anybody else?
Any personal information captured by Lynxight will only be used for the purpose of drowning detection, or as permitted by law. Your personal information captured by Lynxight will not be disclosed without your consent or unless required or authorised by law.
For more information about how Council handles your personal information more generally, please refer to Council’s privacy policy.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the technical functionality of Lynxight, please contact any of our friendly staff at the MAC.
If your questions relate to any personal information captured by Lynxight, including if you would like to access any information collected by Lynxight that is in Council’s possession, please contact Council’s privacy officer at email@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au.