Mobile Elevated Skin Temperature Scanning Application

Elevated Skin Temperature Scanning Application

The application has been developed in South Africa by Stone Holdings and will be available on the Play Store – compatible with both Cat S60 and Cat S61 smartphones (and in time adapted for Cat S62pro). The purpose of the platform is to facilitate an effective, reliable and easily deployable thermal screening solution to discern and identify elevated skin temperature (EST) humans. Further, an optional bolt on for the platform will transmit pertinent, statistical data about EST incidents to a secure server for trend analysis purposes and be able to provide an automated HR reporting system for staff entering business premises in line with the Government issued Regulations in terms of Disaster Management and to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The app adapts the FLIR camera in the Cat S60 range of devices to a novel dual screening methodology using both relative temperature and thermal pattern analysis. Using this methodology common challenges of infra-red thermography in temperature tolerance and inaccuracy are overcome.

Walk Through Example

Application Features

Automated calibration setup on first use (using known healthy human subject) and ongoing calibration throughout the scanning period through aggregated scan data. Input of a distance measurement in the initial calibration setup determines appropriate temperature offset for accurate spot temperature readings – although temperature absolutes are not intended for display.
Face recognition so that only the head is screened, not cups of coffee or other warm bodies in the camera field of vision.
Thermal pattern analysis as an additional measure of accuracy in discerning Elevated Skin Temperature (EST). Analysis of heat distribution pattern and possible presence of radiated “halo”, where the presence of halo and/or uniform heat pattern is an indicator of fever. Heat pattern analysis assists not only in positive identification, but also eliminating warmer individuals with EST due to exercise or sun exposure immediately prior to screening as their patterning will not be uniform even if elevated.

Automatic scanning on recognition of human head, after which the app will conduct a simultaneous temperature measurement of approximately 100 000 thermal pixels and either indicate “Temperature OK” or “Elevated Temperature”
If elevated temp is detected:
– Alarm on device is sounded
– Incident report (geo-located and time stamped) is sent to the backend server
– Camera operator / security / reception should follow steps to deny access to the identified individual and direct them for further medical screening and possible testing.
App will count scans and report statistics for scanned period (number of scans and number of EST alarms), but no identification details of subjects are captured (this is done to ensure compliance with GDPR and privacy requirements, as well as to underscore that the platform is for screening purposes and not medically diagnostic – so it is important that identified cases are referred for further medical assessment).

Set Up Guidience

Mount the S61 on a tripod with the camera lens at approximately 1.5m from the ground, mounted vertically for checkpoint scanning.
Mark a position on the floor (using tape or similar) at 1.5m from the camera.
Ideally position the camera at a thoroughfare where there is a clean, uncluttered background and where there is no direct sunlight cast onto the human subject or objects around them.
Open the SAFest application on the S61 and use the “mode” button to select calibration mode. Identify an individual who is known to have a normal core temperature (ideally measured with a timpanic in ear thermometer). Initialise calibration – operator will enter distance parameter and the camera will automatically gather and analyse 10 images of the subject and by this establish a base line temperature as “normal” in this environment and distance.
Once calibration is complete, use the “Mode” button again to select “Checkpoint” mode. This mode will be constantly scanning for a human head and once detected, will initiate thermal scanning and heat pattern analysis. The subject is encouraged to pause at the mark for a couple of seconds while this happens before being directed to proceed, assuming a negative EST measurement.
If required the app can be set to “Crowd” mode. The intention here is to measure groups rather than individuals. In Crowd mode it is recommended that the camera is mounted horizontally to allow a greater number of heads in the field of vision. For most applications the “Checkpoint” mode should be the default.
Back end portal will gather geo-located and time stamped data from all alarm incidents and provide a tool for statistical analysis of health trends. Final data presentation configuration still to be determined.