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10th April 2024 Issue no. 700

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Queen's Award-winning M.A.R.S system's temperature monitoring protects employees returning to work

Vital health and safety personal protection against coronavirus (Covid-19) for a wide range of employees returning to work has been developed by Metro Security (GB) PLC.

Metro has reacted to the global pandemic by developing an innovavative new module for its 2019 Queen's Award-winning M.A.R.S analytics solution. This new temperature monitoring system provides immediately available, easy-to-install and effective detection of arriving employees, contractors and visitors at the entrance point to any facility.

On-site staff can monitor anyone arriving with a temperature higher than normal, using either a local display screen and/or a mobile app for their smartphone, tablet or laptop. Up to 20 incoming people can be screened simultaneously.

* Temperature monitoring system combats coronavirus
* Works standalone or in conjunction with facial recognition
* Protects Key Workers/contractors/customers at site premises
* Alarms raised can lock entry points to prevent infection
* Temperature profiling allows preventative action to help save lives

Unique system options
In addition to Metro's existing facial recognition techniques, the new M.A.R.S temperature monitoring system can check each arriving person using face detection thermal software linked to skin temperature. This innovative and configurable technology can then raise an alarm if their temperature meets a pre-assigned, abnormal level - a key symptom indicator for Covid-19 and other conditions including flu (influenza).

These two facial recognition and thermal temperature systems can be deployed either standalone, or in conjunction, according to user requirements. For instance, health facilities, public buildings and commercial establishments may only wish to monitor the temperature of those arriving infrequently at their sites and set the temperature alarm threshold at a nominal point. The triggering of an alarm above this temperature level then provides them with the option to take preventive action, as required, before the person moves past this important entry point.

Temperature 'profiling'
Facilities such as offices, warehouses and distribution operations, where staff regularly come and go, can combine the two technologies to both identify each person individually (using facial recognition) and measure/match their daily temperature against previously taken readings. This could warn of an elevated facial temperature compared with previous days which, even though it's still within a safe range, may indicate a developing condition. This offers the potential to detect coronavirus symptoms even earlier and help save more lives.

Thermal temperature screening of up to 20 people at once can be carried out, with an accuracy of ± 0.3 degrees C, ensuring no 'false positive' alerts are triggered.

"Public and private sector organisations around the country need to continue their operations, while simultaneously protecting both their own key workers and others potentially exposed to coronavirus," says Metro Security's MD, Trevor Wallace.

"In the longer term, as Covid-19 testing measures are rolled out and immunity can be demonstrated, businesses will start to get fully back up and running. At that stage our M.A.R.S temperature monitoring system will have continued important use, as it can carry on detecting and warning of those potentially affected by not only coronavirus but other health conditions such as influenza. In this way it will also provide vital protection against any secondary coronavirus outbreaks."

How it works
The system's elements consist, firstly, of proven and reliable facial recognition software that works in conjunction with megapixel CCTV surveillance cameras. These cameras can be quickly deployed and configured to suit varying site entry arrangements.

Secondly, Metro's new temperature monitoring technology is interfaced with configurable alarms to provide real-time alerts for immediate on-site manned response. The system can also be linked to access control equipment such as turnstiles and door entry locks, e.g. to automatically close access points if a body temperature alarm is activated and prevent ingress to the site while checks are carried out.

Metro Security's pedigree
Metro Security (GB) PLC began business over 40 years ago, in 1978, installing fire and security equipment, later encompassing building management/control and nurse/warden-call systems, together with 24/7 monitoring and response services.

As an NSI Gold-certified fire and security provider, Metro has invested heavily in R&D resources to diversify its core digital CCTV technology, linking it with sophisticated data analytics software, facial biometrics solutions and automatic number plate recognition for a variety of innovative operational, marketing and management applications.

These capabilities have led to diversified applications in the education field, retail sector and forecourt service stations market. The company won a Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2019 (in the Innovation category) for its M.A.R.S system, with other successes including the AI Business Excellence Awards and Retail Systems Awards in 2018.

Trevor Wallace
Managing Director
T[email protected]
Unit 5, Trade City, Ashton Rd, Romford, Essex RM3 8UJ
tel: 01708 336550

8th July 2020