Around the world, governments are responding to the unprecedented circumstances related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In many countries and regions, authorities have placed restrictions on their citizens’ movements and have increased guidance on the basic hygiene required to reduce the spread of the virus. The primary aim of this activity is to reduce the reproduction number (Rₒ) of COVID-19 by limiting contact between groups of people as much as possible. Similarly, many government and healthcare authorities have provided guidance on the key symptoms associated with the disease. One of the key symptoms is an increased body temperature or fever that can be detected by many latest technology solutions, one of them being thermal cameras.
How Thermal Cameras can help in the Fight against COVID-19?
There are several activities and approaches being applied to help reduce the reproduction rate of COVID-19. These include self-isolation methods such as working from home, improved basic hygiene such as increased hand washing and the deployment of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the prospect of infection.
Thermal cameras can play a part in this coordinated approach. These cameras provide thermal imaging for body temperature solutions which can quickly and accurately identify people with elevated body temperatures, one of the key symptoms of COVID-19. These solutions can provide organizations with an additional layer of protection to their facility from increased exposure to the coronavirus.
Organizations can then decide how best to deploy this information based on region, culture and the critical nature of the facility. In some circumstances a security officer may ask the person to scan their temperature using a medically approved sensor. In others, the person may be denied access to the facility. Ultimately, it is a decision for each organization on how best to deploy the solution.
Thermal body temperature solutions are a tool that can support the identification of a key symptom of the disease. They can help organizations identify people showing these symptoms, but they do not diagnose or treat COVID-19. However, this does not mean that thermal body temperature solutions do not add value in the overall response. In fact, they provide a non-invasive method to check body temperature, can do this at faster rates than hand-held scanners and at a greater (potentially safer) distance. The deployment of these solutions in a facility may even encourage positive behavior with staff more likely to stay at home when they are unwell with a fever.
Thermal body temperature solutions require, at a minimum, a radiometric thermal camera to measure temperature differences in people entering the field of view. More advanced solutions will use blackbody devices to help calibrate the temperature measurement, especially in less controlled environments where the elements can influence the reading. AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms can also be integrated to help target the temperature reading on the most accurate part of the body, typically the forehead or near the eyes.
The blackbody calibration tool consists of a target object whose temperature is precisely known and controlled. Specifically, this is important in human temperature measurement where accuracy to +/- 0.3 degrees Celsius is advised by many international standards organizations. By deploying the blackbody calibration tool, it is easier to establish an accurate relationship between gray level and temperature. Essentially there is known, fixed temperature object in the field of view which can be used to calibrate and measure all other objects’ temperatures.
Using this method, false temperature alarms caused by environmental influence can be effectively reduced, and the accuracy of the thermal body temperature solution can be controlled to more precise parameters. However, monitoring accuracy does depend on the stability of the body temperature and it is recommended to install the system in a stable environmental condition to ensure that the skin temperature is stable.
HIKVISION Thermal Products Offerings
Any object with a temperature above absolute zero emits a detectable amount of infra-red (IR) radiation. The higher an object’s temperature, the higher intensity of emitted IR. Taking advantage of the differences in IR intensity between objects, thermal cameras make the invisible IR “visible” in the form of heat zone images.
With advanced detectors and algorithms, Hikvision’s Temperature Screening Thermographic Cameras are designed to detect elevated skin-surface temperatures, and can thus be used for rapid and preliminary temperature screening in office buildings, factories, stations, airports and other public places, with accuracy up to ±0.3°C are the ideal choice for enhanced awareness of events and emergencies 24/7.
Advantages of HIKVISION’s Thermal Products
- Advanced Detector: All products utilize an advanced detector where the NETD is less than 40 mK, with some products’ NETD even less than 35 mK.
- Proprietary Imaging Effects: With 16 years of experience in imaging technologies, Hikvision’s proprietary AGC, DDE, and 3D DNR technologies have been uniquely developed to provide great advantages in imaging effects.
- Self-protection mechanisms: Hikvision’s thermal products boast proven capabilities to work in harsh environments (-40°C to 60°C), with self-protective temperature controls with intelligent heating/cooling adjustment to prevent freezing and fog during non-stop, year-round operation.
- Stable long-distance transmission: Normal cameras can only withstand a ±10% voltage fluctuation. Hikvision Thermal Cameras are specially designed to adapt to situations with up to ±20% voltage fluctuation and 5% packet loss.
- Easy positioning for the visible-light module: For most bi-spectrum products, accurate positioning for the visible-light module is very difficult, requiring constant manual adjustment. Hikvision’s optical & thermal PTZ cameras, however, are equipped with an axis adjustment technology that ensures both thermal and visible imaging maintain precisely the same view. When the thermal module detects anomalies, the visible-light module can automatically locate and track relevant details.
- One second to detect skin-surface temperature of a person.
- Multi-person detection simultaneously.
- Non-contact measurement to avoid physical contact.
- Immediately alarming to notify operators.
- AI detection to reduce false alarms from other heat sources.
Hikvision’s newly developed thermal cameras can be configured to aid high level screening by detecting elevated skin-surface temperatures, and are suitable for use in rapid preliminary fever screening in office buildings, factories, railway stations, airports and other public places, with accuracy up to ±0.3°C when installed and configured correctly for optimum performance with associated equipment. If an elevated temperature is detected, individual cases can be confirmed using thermometers or other clinical measurement devices.
Hikvision’s fever screening solutions include bullet and turret-based camera set-ups as well as handheld camera systems.
Temperature Screening Packages
- Turret/Bullet Camera – iVMS-4200 + Laptop + Tripod/Bracket (Accuracy: ±0.5°C)
The turret/bullet camera features AI detection to reduce false alarms caused by other heat sources.
- Turret/Bullet Camera + Blackbody Calibrator – iVMS-4200 + Laptop + Tripod/Bracket
Accuracy: ±0.3°C
This solution is enhanced with a blackbody calibrator to increase the accuracy from ±0.5°C to ±0.3°C.
- Handheld Camera – iVMS-4200 or Hik-Thermal (app) + Tripod
Accuracy: ±0.5°C
With a Wi-Fi module, the handheld camera can connect to a PC or a smartphone. It also features a built-in speaker for audio alarm.
Hikvision’s temperature screening thermographic cameras are designed for the detection of skin-surface temperatures so as to achieve rapid preliminary screening in public areas. Actual core body temperatures should be further confirmed using clinical measurement devices.
- Fever Screening Metal Detector Tool
Metal Detection + Temperature Screening + Real Time Alarm
Metal detector tool with thermal camera for quick establishment at hotel entrance and lobby with real time light and alarm supported.
- Handheld Thermographic Camera
The Wireless Temperature Screening, Easy connection, Cable Free solution is suited for parking entrance and security patrol.
- Temperature Screening with Access Control
Ideal for staff entrances, access control temperature screening will provide admission to only authorized personnel with normal body temperature and with masks.
Why buy Thermal Cameras to combat COVID-19?
The emergence of AI technology, and specifically face detection algorithms, will play an important role in the evolution of these solutions too. Algorithms can help complete more accurate temperature tests. Cameras can do this by locating specific areas of the face, such as the forehead or eyes, more accurately. This could be critical in the case of people wearing masks. Combining thermal cameras and facial detection can enable thermal body temperature solutions to combine accurate temperature scanning with the best face location to take the measurement from, improving the overall measurement accuracy.
While there remain challenges to the effectiveness of thermal imaging cameras for measuring human body temperature in public areas, especially when face masks are commonplace, the introduction of facial detection and AI can improve the accuracy of temperature scanning.
Being a system integrator with decades of experience in the security and camera domain, Al Reyami Technologies is uniquely positioned to offer value optimized solutions at very economical price points.
Do get in touch with us to understand the benefits of thermal cameras and how they can effectively prevent the spread of Covid-19 thereby ensuring a safe work place for your employees and stakeholders.
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