Social Distancing AI Suite: Education Use Case
The Challenge
Education systems across the country have created plans for starting the school year, trying to balance quality-of-education with student, teacher and community safety.
For education officials, this makes the challenge clear: “How do we resume in-class instruction while controlling infections within each school?” The challenge is daunting because schools are complex environments with students of all ages moving around throughout the day, often in close contact with each other. And when it comes to college campuses, confirmed cases of the virus are already climbing with a New York Times survey finding that 26,000 students on more than 750 campuses have tested positive for COVID-19.
With no vaccines or proven therapeutics on which to rely, the only path forward for administrators is strict adherence to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 guidelines. And, they must put systems and processes in place that give teachers, students and parents confidence that school can be conducted safely. According to one recent survey, 89% of parents polled nationwide say they are concerned about their child’s safety while at school due to COVID-19.
As superintendents and other administrators work to keep students safe, they will need a way to quantify if the safety measures put in place are working – and the ability to understand where changes are needed. What many don’t realize is there’s already technology available that can provide a daily scorecard on adherence to CDC guidelines.
This information can be leveraged to revise plans and schedules, and to inform remediation measures and communications outreach to the school community. And, like metal detectors in airports, this technology provides an added layer of protection that builds people’s trust in the school’s commitment to safety. The technology is artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced digital video.
The Pro-Vigil Solution
Pro-Vigil’s Social Distancing AI Suite provides school administrators the power of AI-driven video monitoring technology to promote CDC best practices within education environments, from elementary schools to college campuses. With AI, Pro-Vigil’s remote video surveillance system can analyze the environment and help determine problem areas with CDC compliance. Specifically, Pro-Vigil’s cameras can help with three common CDC guidelines:
- Social distance monitoring – Pro-Vigil’s cameras can be programmed to measure the space around students and school staff to detect when the six-foot rule is violated. This can provide administrators with information on potential “trouble spots” inside each school so they can reevaluate the best way to direct the flow of foot traffic throughout the building, especially during busy times including when students change classes or at the end of the school day.
- Occupancy management – Pro-Vigil’s advanced video technology can automatically count how many students are in a specific area at a certain time, whether that be a hallway, cafeteria or classroom – which can help administrators maintain occupancy control.
- Face mask detection – While the use of face masks inside schools varies by state and district, Pro-Vigil’s integrated object recognition can detect the use of face masks. This can aide schools in determining if mask guidelines are being followed, and where further action may need to be taken in the form of signage, announcements, etc.
Results At Your Fingertips
Pro-Vigil’s Social Distancing AI Suite makes it easy for school administrators to get the information they need, so they can keep students in the classroom rather than fall back on virtual models. The system delivers CDC compliance information through a daily scorecard, which shows exactly how a school is doing in regard to following social distancing, occupancy and face mask guidelines.
If a problem area is detected, school officials can dig into the scorecard data provided (as well as recorded video footage) and learn more about the issue – where it’s happening, at what time of day etc. – allowing them to tweak their safety plans for the best possible results.
As an added bonus, schools can publicize their scorecard results to further build confidence with stakeholders. For example, a school system may want to publicize 99% mask compliance through the superintendent’s weekly update to parents, signs in the school, during presentations at school committee meetings, etc.
The daily scorecard provides an easy and efficient way to let students, teachers and parents know that CDC guidelines are being taken seriously throughout the school day – from the first bell to the last.
And, of course, schools will also benefit from Pro-Vigil’s industry leading security monitoring and crime deterrence capabilities. To learn more about the Pro-Vigil Social Distancing AI Suite, go to Pro-Vigil or contact us today.
