Covid-19 and Object Detection Analytics: real life approach with AWS

Data-Driven Solutions that ensure Company security in the “New Normal”

Since the beginning of “Phase 2“, a period of coexisting with Covid-19, both scientists and governments have agreed that the keywords for this period are: “security” and “social distancing.”
Navigating this phase is not easy. In order to overcome these obstacles there is a need for security protocols. These include thermoscanners, sanitization of environments and, most importantly, the use of protective equipment (such as gloves and masks). However, these measures will not be effective if the risks linked to gatherings in public areas or workplaces are not monitored.

In this piece, we will highlight one of the most discussed topics today: Object Detection. We will explain what it is, our point of view and the solution we created – based on our experience in the industrial field – and its real-life application with AWS and CeMeDi.

The pandemic will accelerate the use of Object Detection, i.e. the point where an algorithm detects and locates objects in an image. As the MIT Technology Review observes, this is already happening in many different areas other than the workplace to safely map spaces.
In Retail, for example, Image Recognition and Object Detection technologies help brands to standardize store controls and to achieve consistent results from all sales channels, enabling them to take business decisions based directly on shelf data.
Object Detection is also crucial for self-driving cars, since it allows them to recognize a stop signal or to distinguish a pedestrian from a streetlight.
Lastly, these technologies have reached a good degree of maturity in Healthcare. They can be used to automatically detect bone fractures, cell abnormalities and much more, for example to speed up the evaluation of possible pathologies, as shown by a recent study from Harvard University that traces, thanks to neural networks, Covid-19 from X-ray images.

Security and Privacy

In a world disrupted by Covid-19, new tracking systems, facial recognition and Object Detection technologies are now studied globally to understand how the virus spreads and how risky situations can be avoided. However, privacy experts fear that, in the rush to implement these features, key issues related to data collection, storage and user consent could dangerously end up being pushed aside.

Our Object Detection Analytics (ODA) solution does not store images: it only collects, analyses, and securely reports data.

In fact, any control system, from tracking to facial or object recognition, can become an acceptable and widely used method only if the individual’s privacy rights are fully protected, ensuring that data are collected, stored and managed responsibly and their use limited to the purpose for which they were originally adopted.

Iconsulting Object Detection Analytics solution

Thanks to skills acquired in the field, we have developed a solution that supports companies and enterprises as they manage their coexistence with Covid-19, while also ensuring security and safety. While fully observing privacy protection, our data-driven approach focuses on data and an analytical approach to guide organizations in ensuring a truly safe relaunch into their social and work environment.

Our solution enables you to:

• Detect the absence of personal protective equipment (mask)
• Detect the correct distance between individuals
• Detect any gathering
• Manage access control and queue management
• Provide a statistical analysis dashboard with trends and coverage of occupied spaces.

Solution approach

The proposed solution is modular and highly customizable. In addition, there are many technologies that can be used, making the entire architecture adaptable to multiple application contexts.  

The main modules required to operate the solution are:  

• Image capture system
• Temporary storage for images
• Artificial Intelligence system
• Data storage and processing system, using Image recognition output data
• Output management system (Data Visualization, IoT devices, alerting systems, etc.).

In order to define a tailor-made solution and adapt it to the application context, a workflow is followed to identify the main requirements:

• Image Acquisition System Identification
• Calibration
• Space Analysis
• Architectural design
• Prototype and testing
• Data Visualization
• Solution industrialization
• Internet of Things

Real life approach with AWS: CeMeDi use case

“CeMeDi is the place where the patient’s health status is the priority and each service is tailor-made for them; for over 70 years we have been a landmark of healthcare services in Turin. During the Covid-19 emergency the center always provided assistance in compliance with strict safety measures to prevent the contagion. The search for the best technologies is one of the strengths of the Center, which is always on the cutting edge of research and innovation in the national scene.”

Franco Perona, CEO and CMO at CeMeDi

Idea
Given the current situation, collecting and archiving useful information to monitor workplaces and common areas is essential for prevention, especially within Healthcare. This is the reason why CeMeDi has turned to Iconsulting.

Solution
Our solution consists of a full cloud system used to collect data from multiple devices with near to real-time latency.

Goals
This solution allows the monitoring of critical areas using a real-time alert system coupled with historical evaluation of each environment. The indoor analysis application, using the data collected on a map, helps in designing the spaces in a way that ensures the correct social distancing.

The solution is fully integrated and developed with AWS services using on-demand resources and fully scalable systems. The modular architecture, combined with the features of cloud services, allows customers to realize a tailor made solution to respond to data collection and analytical requirements.