How do we return to work safely after COVID-19?
All around the world, individuals and organisations are making difficult decisions about how to live and work safely in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The OccuCamb team is developing technologies to help staff and students at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, to make safer decisions while working. Our main aim is to develop a system of sensors capable of keeping an anonymised, real-time count of how many people are in each room of the department. The sensor data will be streamed to a custom built website displaying a live map of the current occupancy of each room. This data can be used to make decisions about how and when to move around the department, helping to avoid busy areas and maintain social distancing. Furthermore, analysis of the data can be used by department managers to understand how busy different areas are throughout the day, providing information to help inform department policy. Our lab allocation team has also developed an algorithm to assign researchers to the limited lab space, aiding the return to work in the department.
How it Works
We aim to develop a system of doorway mounted thermal sensors to count the occupancy of each room in the department. This data will be displayed on a live map accessible to department members. We have also developed an algorithm to allocate researchers to the available lab space in a manner compliant with social distancing.
Sensing concerns
Anonymous Sensing
We are developing a novel hardware solution using infrared imaging to count when people pass through doors. Using this technology, we will keep an automated count of how many individuals are within each room.
Secure Website
Our sensor data will be live streamed to a custom built website and displayed in the form of a map. The website will be protected by Raven authentication, the University of Cambridge’s secure account system.
Optimal Use of Space
We have developed an algorithm to allocate researchers in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology to the available lab space in a manner compliant with social distancing.
Outreach and citizen engagement
Public engagement is fundamental for increasing awareness, education and empowerment within the local community. We frequently run events and workshops aimed to engage a range of community groups of all ages- please check our homepage for further details or get in touch via our contacts page.
The team
OccuCamb is a team of 12 students from the EPSRC Sensor CDT, working on sensor technologies to facilitate a safe return to work in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge.
Please click here to see OccuCamb Project Youtube video.
For more information see https://www.occucamb.com/.