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How GovTech developed fit for purpose temperature scanners – Part 3

 

In collaboration with GOVTECH 

 

 

 

While areas with low footfall can tap on GovTech’s self-service temperature scanner and gated venues like libraries can quickly implement VigilantGantry, many other places need to screen potentially large numbers of people with very little infrastructural support. Places like shopping malls and supermarkets, for example, are likely to see a high number of visitors despite the on-going “circuit breaker” social distancing measures, but do not have physical barriers to manage the flow of people.

In this final instalment of a three-part series on temperature scanning solutions for different challenges, we turn the spotlight on how GovTech’s Smart Nation Platform Solutions (SNPS) team developed a scalable, low-cost and accurate temperature scanning technology for mass screening that can be rapidly deployed.

“Our solution is focused on three things: being able to do crowd temperature screening, real-time screening and also screening at a safe distance,” said Mr Chong Jiayi, the engineer who led the SNPS team in the project.

Letting software do its magic

The SNSP system doesn’t rely on fancy equipment to do its job. All it requires are commercial off-the-shelf hardware such as a thermal sensor and a webcam mounted on a 3D-printed case. This case is then hooked to a tripod that can be adjusted to an optimal height for detecting human body temperature. Unlike other detection systems that require permanent fixtures at certain locations, this one is mobile and can be set up without much ado.

“It’s the software that’s doing the magic,” said Mr Chong as he explained the inner workings of the temperature screening device. Footage from both the thermal sensor and webcam are used to train the software to contextualise the information captured by both sensors, he explained. Once trained, the artificial intelligence (AI) can then automatically measure the temperature of the faces that come into its view. If anyone with a fever enters the frame, the device alerts the person-in-charge.

“This solution is unique because it uses a hybrid hardware and software, AI-driven solution. I don’t think there’s many of those in the market today,” he added.

Keeping it accessible

The challenge of building this temperature screening solution did not merely depend getting the technology right, but also making sure that it could be widely implemented. “Our entire design is developed on the philosophy that hardware today is a commodity and that the solution should not be limited by the hardware it uses,” he said.

“We’re not just saying that we can do something efficiently; efficiency allows our solution to be deployed on a wider range of lower-tier hardware, which increases the coverage of our solution,” Mr Chong explained. “It’s the reason why we could drive the cost of our solution so low.”

It is precisely this design principle that sets their model apart from VigilantGantry, a contactless, mass temperature screening solution developed by another team at GovTech. Instead of leveraging on existing infrastructure like gantries at the entrance of libraries, the SNSP solution can be deployed anywhere using low-cost hardware. “The actual setup takes less than five minutes, and it still manages to be cheap and effective all at once,” Mr Chong said.

Rolled out in record time

Building on a flexible robotics framework that the team was already working on helped to shorten the development process, Mr Chong shared. “We got the core system up and running in just seven days, but we did not build it from scratch,” he said. Just two days after building the prototype, the team was able to set up their first live trial at Downtown East, where the device screened over 400 people.

Ms Felice Low, the head of Infrastructure, Engineering and Security at NTUC Club which runs Downtown East, told TechNews that the device had been effective in speeding up the process of temperature screening for visitors and also streamlining of manpower resources.

The temperature screening device is currently under trial at several government agencies and partner sites.

PARTNER

Qlik’s vision is a data-literate world, where everyone can use data and analytics to improve decision-making and solve their most challenging problems. A private company, Qlik offers real-time data integration and analytics solutions, powered by Qlik Cloud, to close the gaps between data, insights and action. By transforming data into Active Intelligence, businesses can drive better decisions, improve revenue and profitability, and optimize customer relationships. Qlik serves more than 38,000 active customers in over 100 countries.

PARTNER

CTC Global Singapore, a premier end-to-end IT solutions provider, is a fully owned subsidiary of ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (CTC) and ITOCHU Corporation.

Since 1972, CTC has established itself as one of the country’s top IT solutions providers. With 50 years of experience, headed by an experienced management team and staffed by over 200 qualified IT professionals, we support organizations with integrated IT solutions expertise in Autonomous IT, Cyber Security, Digital Transformation, Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure, Workplace Modernization and Professional Services.

Well-known for our strengths in system integration and consultation, CTC Global proves to be the preferred IT outsourcing destination for organizations all over Singapore today.

PARTNER

Planview has one mission: to build the future of connected work. Our solutions enable organizations to connect the business from ideas to impact, empowering companies to accelerate the achievement of what matters most. Planview’s full spectrum of Portfolio Management and Work Management solutions creates an organizational focus on the strategic outcomes that matter and empowers teams to deliver their best work, no matter how they work. The comprehensive Planview platform and enterprise success model enables customers to deliver innovative, competitive products, services, and customer experiences. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with locations around the world, Planview has more than 1,300 employees supporting 4,500 customers and 2.6 million users worldwide. For more information, visit www.planview.com.

SUPPORTING ORGANISATION

SIRIM is a premier industrial research and technology organisation in Malaysia, wholly-owned by the Minister​ of Finance Incorporated. With over forty years of experience and expertise, SIRIM is mandated as the machinery for research and technology development, and the national champion of quality. SIRIM has always played a major role in the development of the country’s private sector. By tapping into our expertise and knowledge base, we focus on developing new technologies and improvements in the manufacturing, technology and services sectors. We nurture Small Medium Enterprises (SME) growth with solutions for technology penetration and upgrading, making it an ideal technology partner for SMEs.

PARTNER

HashiCorp provides infrastructure automation software for multi-cloud environments, enabling enterprises to unlock a common cloud operating model to provision, secure, connect, and run any application on any infrastructure. HashiCorp tools allow organizations to deliver applications faster by helping enterprises transition from manual processes and ITIL practices to self-service automation and DevOps practices. 

PARTNER

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

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