Here's an article from the IAAF with a few more details on the VDM system used by Seiko since 2010 for the horizontal jumps. It uses two (2) cameras. There was an article about this during the WJr meet in Eugene in 2014, possibly in the R-G. I think that the two lenses are only a few inches apart.
http://www.iaaf.org/news/feature/seiko-athletics-technology-world-champs-2015
The Robots are Taking Over! We don't have to measure the long jumps anymore
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Deanouk wrote:
polevaultpower wrote:
As mentioned above, world records would be confirmed with a steel tape. But some are questioning the accuracy of this system, a number of people feel that DeLoach was robbed on her last jump: https://twitter.com/iownabook/status/711206056546975744
They rake the pit almost immediately, well before the mark is displayed, not sure what recourse the athletes would have to protest an incorrect measurement.
I agree. I was watching the women's LJ and was convinced that DeLoach went into the lead with her (alleged 6.89m!? jump). It was clearly over 7m, when comparing it to the other jumpers around that mark. It looked about 7.10m to me, and it would certainly have won her a medal.
I couldn't believe it when it came up as being less than 7m! I didn't know at the time that robots were measuring it, until I browsed this thread.
So I"ve been looking into this.
There is a big story on it in the Italian press which you can read here:
https://goo.gl/gV5k6v
It adds drama to every thing and has a video of the jump. It says that unlike with other jumps, her mark didn't come instantlt. It took a really long time.
Apparently it was because her hand it behind her butt. IF you watch the video in slow mo, I think it's legit.
So the guy was getting ready to mark it over 7, he saw a mark were her right hand was and then probably double checked to make sure that wasn't a problem from the raking and then it came up at 6.89. -
Is there another link to the video, the above not showing on my page.
tanks -
Montesquieu wrote:
One of the greatest moments in the history of track and field was when Beamon bypassed 28 feet and went straight to 29 and watching the officials in Mexico City as they measured the jump. And then the excitement and tension until the measurement came up. Alas. Now gone.
In 2016 we will may get a Beamonesque jump of 31 feet, but the millennial officials with the best seat in the house will miss it and it will have nothing to do with the measurement device. They will have their heads buried in their phone tweeting about the ham & swiss they had for lunch and the barista that may have made eye contact in the reflection of the sandwich board.
Yes, this is wrong on so many levels, the biggest being that there could be an official under 70 years of age. -
BTW, the camera has to be higher than the field by some amount. At Eugene, it was up in the press box area. In Portland, it was probably mounted on the ceiling or perhaps up at the top of the stands.
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wejo wrote:
Brittney Reese just won gold in the long jump on her final jump.
I was horrified because they started sweeping away her mark before I saw them measure it. It looked like she had gone far enough for the win.
Turns out this is the first worlds that somehow they are measuring with lasers or something underneath the sand. I assume people way smarter than me have tested this thing and it is super accurate.
Anyone know how this works?
There was a suggestion which I'm sure most every fan would have been happy with which was never implemented :
http://iaaf-ebooks.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/Progression-of-IAAF-World-Records-2015/index.htm
( wejo :
May I suggest above link should be put permanently onto Letsrun homepage as the paper copy of book is ~ $40 !!! )
Go to page VIII :
One rule which was proposed in 1960, and met with initial enthusiasm by the IAAF, but never accepted, was that of Harold Abrahams, 1924 Olympic 100m champion and then ATFS Honorary president.
He suggested that a 1 metre wide strip of appropriate material be used in the long and triple jump events, with measurement being from the take-off mark to the landing point, thereby making measurement of the actual distance achieved the definition in the event.
Had this rule ever been adopted, then Bob Beamon’s famous WR of 8.90 might well have been equalled by Carl Lewis, who jumped 8.72 + 0.18 = 8.90 in the 1988 Olympic Games -
The VDM system has been the standard measuring system for several IAAF World Championships. It has many advantages over the EDM (laser system) in that the computer saves all of the high definition images of the jump for review, inquiry or protest. As previously mentioned, technicians operate the equipment but trained officials determine the first point of contact for the measurement.
One of the first competitions that it was used was at the 2006 World Indoors in Moscow (back up to the EDM).
I remember Walter Davis had this massive jump but the officials (using the EDM) started to measure a mark from the previous jumper that was not completely cleared. Fortunately the VDM judges got it right and it was the gold medal jump.
In Portland, the cameras were mounted in the ceiling with a clear view of the pit. The system is calibrated in advance by an EDM (there was one permanently stationed near the pit). And there are calibration markers surrounding the pit. The VDM officials in the booth had radio contact with the judge at the board to let them know when the measurement was completed.
High definition is great but the bad news is the viewer gets to see all of the blemishes and in the case of the women's long jump the officials were able to see a mark that officials on the field of play might have missed using other systems. They made the correct call and team officials agreed after seeing the images.
We also had a video system with over 25 real time feeds with two international referees constantly viewing the action.
The IAAF has total transparency when it comes to the competition. Any team coach/manager may view any of the videos before filing a protest.
Just for the books, because of all of the above we had several inquiries over the four days of competition but not one single protest!!!! -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbFtoVs6EU
Video of how officials measure on the video system
