Modeling the information completeness of object tracking systems

We propose an analytical model that evaluates the information completeness of object tracking systems based on their size, breadth and reading depth. We showcase that the larger size of a system’s configuration does not ensure better completeness; instead, the effect of reading depth is greater. The completeness of tracking information can characterize the visibility of the inspected objects the tracking systems offer. The model may be used for both ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of the visibility of tracking systems versus their deployment cost, considering that the emergence of real-time tracking and sensing technologies will boost the adoption of such systems.

► An analytical model that evaluates information completeness of object tracking systems based on their size, breadth and reading depth. ► The model is empirically validated with 41 different real-world configurations (in total) of 10 different object tracking systems. ► The effect of reading depth on the information completeness of object tracking systems is greater than the system’s size. ► A higher deployment cost of an object tracking system does not necessarily result in better information completeness. ► The proposed analytical metric of completeness can be utilized to assess the visibility of object tracking systems.