The global health and economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus has shown us that our most highly trafficked public infrastructures (airports, trains, malls, etc.) are vastly unprepared and ill-equipped to contain, let alone slow the spread of an outbreak.
Being extremely diverse, highly trafficked, and having many people in close proximity, airports may be the largest global breeding ground for disease. Innovative new technologies and protocols must be put into place to detect possible outbreaks, help affected individuals, and disinfect contaminated areas.
Health Screening and Fever Detection
Today, we see horror stories on the news of massive lines at airports as travelers wait to be manually screened for a fever using a handheld device. By switching to an automated system using thermal cameras and a real-time application this process can be made both faster and more effective. Individuals detected by the thermal camera can be quickly brought aside and manually screened to confirm if they are sick.
Spread Estimation
Knowing where hotspots are and who has been affected after an outbreak has been identified is paramount to effectively containing the spread. Using technologies such as contact tracing; airports will be able to quickly intercept individuals who have been in contact with infected people and close off impacted areas for cleaning/disinfection.
Smart Sanitation
Detecting areas in an airport (or any public place) that are either very highly trafficked (a security checkpoint), and/or have had sick people in the vicinity recently is currently a massive gap in airport technology stacks. A real-time smart sanitation system could be quickly deployed using already-in-place camera infrastructure. Janitorial crews could then focus their time on the highest risk areas and respond more quickly to cleaning needs.
Automated Check-In
This technology is already in use by many of the major airlines across the globe (usually seen as self-service check-in kiosks). However, there are ways this can be improved. Human interaction is still required to check baggage and troubleshoot inevitable problems, by replacing non-critical face to face interaction with a technology such as live video chat, airports can cut down the transmission of disease.
Operational Control Centers
All of these new and innovative airport technologies (powered by real-time applications) still need humans to make critical decisions and be ready to step in when necessary. This will be done from an on or off-premise Operational Control Center (OCC) much like we currently see in a NASA or SpaceX mission control. Moving personnel to OCCs not only allows systems and humans to collaborate more efficiently, it also cuts back on unnecessary disease exposure.
See How Amorph Systems is Using VANTIQ to Make All of This a Reality
VANTIQ partner Amorph Systems is working with airports around the world to outfit them with next-generation technologies powered by real-time applications. Learn more about Amorph’s application and how they are making this a reality in our on-demand webinar, Rapid Innovation at the Front Lines: How to Counter Coronavirus in Airports with Tracking Solutions.