By Kim Anderson and Chor-Ching Fan
Since the COIVD-19 pandemic began, health safety has become more important than ever in work environments and public spaces, and sensors are playing a big part. Let’s look at different kinds of sensors being used to prevent the spread of diseases and keep places healthier for everyone.
1. Biometric Sensors
Biometric devices usually include readers for fingerprints, irises, faces, or voices. The sensors in biometric devices measure temperature, speed, light, electrical capacity, and other types of energies. Organizations now not only use the sensors in biometric devices to prevent unauthorized entry of their facilities, but to measure body temperature of personnel before they enter the building to see if they need medical attention first.
2. Occupancy Sensors
Occupancy sensors use technologies such as infrared, ultrasonic, microwave, radar, and micro-vibration patterns as visual representations of humans to trigger automatic responses in building systems. In HVAC systems, they’re used to adjust ventilation settings, among other things, and proper ventilation is critical to maintaining healthy air quality.
Since the pandemic, groups have been looking at other ways of deploying occupancy sensors to maintain health standards. Here are some implementations that you can expect to become more commonplace, and, if you haven’t already, may want to consider for your facility.
- No-touch Controls
When it comes to minimizing the spread of infectious disease, no-touch technologies are ideal, which may cause the popular touch-screen kiosks to fade out. Occupancy sensors that utilize motion and presence detection can automatically open doors, turn on lights, and reset or adjust thermostats, to name a few things, offering many no-touch control possibilities for organizations.
- Occupancy & Distance Measuring
We’re all aware of the concern crowding and social distancing has caused for companies since the pandemic. Fortunately, sensors can track how many people are in a space to prevent crowding and support new occupancy limits. They can also monitor the safe distancing of people without needing to use video, which can compromise people’s privacy.
3. COVID Sensors
The Baltimore-based company Opteev will be launching their virus-detecting sensor, ViraWarn, in September 2022. The sensor monitors indoor air for the presence of viruses, to include COVID-19, SARS viruses, and influenza. If a virus is present, there is an electrical chemical reaction within the device, and it alerts people with a red light and alarm, though it can also be programmed to send text or email alerts. Opteev believes ViraWarn will be a game changer for schools and work centers. The company plans to make a household version of the product available by the end of the year.
As sensors continue to permeate our lives in the post-COVID world, organizations need to take a comprehensive view of sensor management, which includes their implementation, maintenance, and ongoing compliance. inQ is a leader in IoT and sensor identity and management solutions. Together, our cloud platform and experts prepare organizations for successful smart automation rollouts and sensor maintenance so that you can mitigate automation risks and get the most from your investments. If you’re serious about sensor security and compliance, for. your automation initiative, we would love to help. Contact inQ today.