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Discovery

Cameras and Artificial Intelligence to Map Life in Playgrounds

PhD student from the University of Southern Denmark aims to analyse playground use through a new AI-based method. SDU funds, Discovery, gave an important boost to the development.

By Caroline Højberg Nielsen, , 6/30/2025

How many people spend time on playgrounds and other outdoor spaces in Denmark—and for how long? These are questions PhD student Cathrine Damsbo Madsen is exploring with her PhD project, which combines artificial intelligence, visual data analysis, and urban design.

Cathrine is working on developing a customised video-based solution that uses AI to continuously collect detailed data, offering new insights into usage patterns on Danish playgrounds.

The goal of this new method is to establish a more qualified data foundation for future investments in outdoor spaces, such as playgrounds.

Supported by SDU's Discovery grant

To mature the technology, Cathrine applied in the autumn of 2024 for funding from SDU’s newly launched Discovery initiative — an internal funding opportunity for researchers with early-stage, untested, or risky ideas. She was among the first 10 researchers to receive a grant.

 
Meet the researcher

Cathrine Damsbo Madsen is a PhD student at the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics at SUND, where she is part of the World Playground Research Institute. She is currently halfway through her PhD project.

Learn more about World Playground Research Institute

The video-based solution has great potential, but it takes time and resources to develop — so the Discovery funds were the perfect support for that.

Cathrine Damsbo Madsen, PhD student

The funding was essential to test proof of concept — an early test of two key features of the AI technology: automatic counting of unique users and distinguishing between children and adults in the data material.

These initial tests served as an important stepping stone. Cathrine is now further developing the camera solution to ensure high accuracy over longer periods of time — with exciting prospects for how the technology can strengthen the decision-making basis for future outdoor spaces in the long term.

About Discovery

  • Internal funding opportunity targeted researchers with early-stage, untested, or risky ideas
  • Open to all SDU researchers across faculties
  • Each grant is DKK 75,000
  • Two annual application rounds: one in spring and one in autumn

Read more about Discovery here

More Funding in 2025

Cathrine’s project is just one of several examples of how Discovery is helping innovative ideas take off.

In May 2025, 20 new emerging projects received support with more than 40 applicants. The projects span across SDU’s faculties and demonstrate the high level of innovation at the university.

- It is often in the ideas that stand out a little that we find new approaches to innovative solutions, says Mikkel Frost, Business Developer at SDU RIO.

A new application round for the Discovery Grant will open again in autumn 2025. Stay updated on the deadline here.

Editing was completed: 30.06.2025