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HKUST researchers develop smart fever screening system

mage Credits: HKUST, Press Release

Researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a novel Smart Fever Screening System (SFSS), which could help officials at the border points to easily identify and distinguish passengers with fever.

The system has been implemented at various control points, government facilities and the University in the fight against Covid-19.

Since the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2003, thermal imaging detectors have been widely deployed at border points for the screening of inbound travellers with fever – an important symptom for patients of SARS, Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.

However, officers would have to monitor two screens on both thermal and colour (CCTV) images to track the unwell person within a matter of seconds.

Now, using artificial intelligence, real-time tracking and big data analysis, a multi-disciplinary research team led by a professor from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics at HKUST, has devised a new system which is not only more accurate in detecting fevered suspects even with their faces partially occluded but can also enhance operation efficiency by combining thermal and colour images onto the same screen.

Officers can immediately recognize the unwell person who would be bracketed in red and an alert signal will be sounded upon such detection.

Different from regular fever monitoring systems which use mainly infrared cameras, the new AI and deep learning-based system are more accurate in terms of facial and heat detection.

Using deep learning and the science of anthropometry, the system can perform “visual closure” (visual closure is the ability to correctly perceive an object), even when it is partly hidden.

and track a human face even if it is covered by a mask and partially occluded at the same time.

The system is designed to detect and pick up a fever suspect walking in a crowd. Detection of temperature also tends to be more accurate as it relies on computer algorithms instead of human judgement according to the tones of thermal images.

The system also compensates the effects of detection distances and environmental factors such as heat source at the background. Moreover, as the tracking focuses distinctively on the face, the detection result is unlikely to be affected by hot objects carried by that person unless the objects are directly over the person’s face.

The research team represents a unique combination of expertise in machine learning, bio-engineering, and parallel networking.

Without keeping any personal data, the system is built on a cross-platform database program for big data analytics, allowing devices from different areas to join into a bigger network, which makes tracking of the fevered suspects much easier.

With big data, deep learning and human sciences, the system can also learn over time to become smarter and even more accurate.

During the early stage of the Covid-19 outbreak in late January, the team developed and delivered 16 SFSS systems for deployment at major border points such as the Hong Kong International Airport, and other major six boundary control points, and at later dates various government offices upon gradual resumption of public services.

The system can also be useful for venues like hospitals, libraries, elderly homes and schools.

Fever screening has always been the first and important gatekeeper in maintaining public health. Thanks to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), the system can be applied at major control points during this critical period.

The team is glad that its home-grown technology can contribute to safeguarding public health by providing the authorities with a more efficient solution, the professor stated.

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