So, how many people turned out for the protest in Tel Aviv last night? Where did they come from?
A new Israeli technology can provide an accurate answer and not just an estimate, as is usually the case for demonstrations.
Dr. Erez Weinroth, who received his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, came up with the innovative technology known as “trendIT – People Analytics” that develops real time demographics solutions using mobile derived signals.
According to the company’s website, “trendIT’s technology implements sophisticated algorithms and models on cellular network data. The platform engine generates real-time data with unrivaled efficiency, providing users with comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date information.”
The technology deciphered the crowds in Tel Aviv yesterday — showing, in real time, how many protesters were on the streets, where they came from and what socio-economic status they represented.
According to trendIT, the climax of the protest was at 10:45 p.m. when there were 280,000 people on the streets of Tel Aviv. Of them, only 39 percent were Tel Aviv residents while the rest of the demonstrators came from nearby cities of Givatayim, Ramat Gan, Rishon Lezion and Petach Tikva.
Founded in Israel in 2008, trendIT recently completed an investment round of $3 million. The company is headquartered in Hod Hasharon.