scholarly journals Monocular Pedestrian 3D Localization for Social Distance Monitoring

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 5908
Author(s):  
Yiru Niu ◽  
Zhihua Xu ◽  
Ershuai Xu ◽  
Gongwei Li ◽  
Yuan Huo ◽  
...  

Social distancing protocols have been highly recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, one major challenge to enforcing social distancing in public areas is how to perceive people in three dimensions. This paper proposes an innovative pedestrian 3D localization method using monocular images combined with terrestrial point clouds. In the proposed approach, camera calibration is achieved based on the correspondences between 2D image points and 3D world points. The vertical coordinates of the ground plane where pedestrians stand are extracted from the point clouds. Then, using the assumption that the pedestrian is always perpendicular to the ground, the 3D coordinates of the pedestrian’s feet and head are calculated iteratively using collinear equations. This allows the three-dimensional localization and height determination of pedestrians using monocular cameras, which are widely distributed in many major cities. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated using two different datasets. Experimental results show that the pedestrian localization error of the proposed approach was less than one meter within tens of meters and performed better than other localization techniques. The proposed approach uses simple and efficient calculations, obtains accurate location, and can be used to implement social distancing rules. Moreover, since the proposed approach also generates accurate height values, exclusionary schemes to social distancing protocols, particularly the parent-child exemption, can be introduced in the framework.

Author(s):  
Jan Abel Olsen

This chapter considers two different ways of organizing revenue collection in statutory healthcare schemes: social health insurance and taxation. The two models are commonly referred to as ‘Bismarck vs Beveridge’ after the men associated with the origin of these systems: the first German chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1815–1898), and the British economist Lord William Beveridge (1879–1963). The differences between these two compulsory prepayment schemes are discussed and compared with private health insurance. Based on a simple diagram introduced by the World Health Organization, three dimensions of coverage are illustrated. Some policy dilemmas are highlighted when attempting to achieve universal health coverage. Finally, various combinations of public and private prepayment schemes are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0272989X2110190
Author(s):  
Isabelle J. Rao ◽  
Jacqueline J. Vallon ◽  
Margaret L. Brandeau

Background The World Health Organization and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that both infected and susceptible people wear face masks to protect against COVID-19. Methods We develop a dynamic disease model to assess the effectiveness of face masks in reducing the spread of COVID-19, during an initial outbreak and a later resurgence, as a function of mask effectiveness, coverage, intervention timing, and time horizon. We instantiate the model for the COVID-19 outbreak in New York, with sensitivity analyses on key natural history parameters. Results During the initial epidemic outbreak, with no social distancing, only 100% coverage of masks with high effectiveness can reduce the effective reproductive number [Formula: see text] below 1. During a resurgence, with lowered transmission rates due to social distancing measures, masks with medium effectiveness at 80% coverage can reduce [Formula: see text] below 1 but cannot do so if individuals relax social distancing efforts. Full mask coverage could significantly improve outcomes during a resurgence: with social distancing, masks with at least medium effectiveness could reduce [Formula: see text] below 1 and avert almost all infections, even with intervention fatigue. For coverage levels below 100%, prioritizing masks that reduce the risk of an infected individual from spreading the infection rather than the risk of a susceptible individual from getting infected yields the greatest benefit. Limitations Data regarding COVID-19 transmission are uncertain, and empirical evidence on mask effectiveness is limited. Our analyses assume homogeneous mixing, providing an upper bound on mask effectiveness. Conclusions Even moderately effective face masks can play a role in reducing the spread of COVID-19, particularly with full coverage, but should be combined with social distancing measures to reduce [Formula: see text] below 1. [Box: see text]


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110186
Author(s):  
Arthur B Cummings ◽  
Cian Gildea ◽  
Antoine P Brézin ◽  
Boris E Malyugin ◽  
Ozlem Evren Kemer ◽  
...  

Since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic on 11th March 2020, changes to social and sanitary practices have included significant issues in access and management of eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the fear of loss, coupled with social distancing, lockdown, economic instability, and uncertainty, have led to a significant psychosocial impact that will have to be addressed. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment such as face masks or face coverings have become a daily necessity. While “mass masking” along with hand hygiene and social distancing became more widespread, new issues began to emerge – particularly in those who wore spectacles as a means of vision correction. As we began to see routine patients again after the first lockdown had been lifted, many patients visited our clinics for refractive surgery consultations with a primary motivating factor of wanting spectacle independence due to the fogging of their spectacles as a result of wearing a mask. In this article, we report on new emerging issues in eye care due to the widespread use of masks and on the new unmet need in the corneal and cataract refractive surgery fields.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-107
Author(s):  
Rajiv Khandekar

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the resolution of transforming our world by the year 2030 through the agenda of Sustainable Development with a primary focus on strengthening universal peace with larger freedom [United Nations 2015, Griggs D 2012]. All member countries including Nepal agreed to this ambitious plan for relieving poverty and reducing global inequality over a span of 15 years starting from 2016 to 2030. All the health programs including, Millennium Developmental Goals, universal eye health or Vision 2020 – the elimination of avoidable blindness by 2020 are expected to thrive under the umbrella of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are 17 goals and 169 targets. The three dimensions of sustainable development - economical, social and environmental - are balanced in this new initiative [eye health Australia 2015]. The overall effect of this initiative will be beneficial to human beings and our planet with human health as one facet among many. All efforts would be directed to review, realign and integrate the ongoing public health activities to attain SGDs [World Health Organization 2016]


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Ghassane Benrhmach ◽  
Khalil Namir ◽  
Jamal Bouyaghroumni

The World Health Organization declared that the total number of confirmed cases tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2, affecting 210 countries, exceeded 3 million on 29 April 2020, with more than 207,973 deaths. In order to end the global COVID‐19 pandemic, public authorities have put in place multiple strategies like testing, contact tracing, and social distancing. Predictive mathematical models for epidemics are fundamental to understand the development of the epidemic and to plan effective control strategies. Some hosts may carry SARS‐CoV‐2 and transmit it to others, yet display no symptoms themselves. We propose applying a model (SELIAHRD) taking in consideration the number of asymptomatic infected people. The SELIAHRD model consists of eight stages: Susceptible, Exposed, Latent, Symptomatic Infected, Asymptomatic Infected, Hospitalized, Recovered, and Dead. The asymptomatic carriers contribute to the spread of disease, but go largely undetected and can therefore undermine efforts to control transmission. The simulation of possible scenarios of the implementation of social distancing shows that if we rigorously follow the social distancing rule then the healthcare system will not be overloaded.


2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 813-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Chinn ◽  
Peter Ostendorp ◽  
Mike Haugh ◽  
Russell Kershmann ◽  
Thomas Kurfess ◽  
...  

Nickel and nickel-alloy microparts sized on the order of 5–1000 microns have been imaged in three dimensions using a new microscopic technique, Digital Volumetric Imaging (DVI). The gears were fabricated using Sandia National Laboratories’ LIGA technology (lithography, molding, and electroplating). The images were taken on a microscope built by Resolution Sciences Corporation by slicing the gear into one-micron thin slices, photographing each slice, and then reconstructing the image with software. The images were matched to the original CAD (computer aided design) model, allowing LIGA designers, for the first time, to see visually how much deviation from the design is induced by the manufacturing process. Calibration was done by imaging brass ball bearings and matching them to the CAD model of a sphere. A major advantage of DVI over scanning techniques is that internal defects can be imaged to very high resolution. In order to perform the metrology operations on the microcomponents, high-speed and high-precision algorithms are developed for coordinate metrology. The algorithms are based on a least-squares approach to data registration the {X,Y,Z} point clouds generated from the component surface onto a target geometry defined in a CAD model. Both primitive geometric element analyses as well as an overall comparison of the part geometry are discussed. Initial results of the micromeasurements are presented in the paper.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 522-523
Author(s):  
L. Klimek ◽  
J. Hagemann ◽  
A. Alali ◽  
M. Spielhaupter ◽  
T. Huppertz ◽  
...  

Social distancing with the aim of avoiding infections and pre-serve critical care capacities during the COVID-19 pandemic has been implemented in Germany according to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations from early March onwards. Limitations of physical contacts to reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals were handled strictly, particularly in medical centers dealing with airway diseases, like rhinology and pneumology clinics. Such measures and reluctance to visit out- and inpatient services resulted in a 82% decrease in consultations to the 12 German oto-rhino-laryngological (ORL) centres forming our database during the 50 days following March 09 in 2020 if compared to the same period in 2019. Our data on CRS care underline reports on undertreatment of non-COVID-19 individuals with several different diseases during the current pandemic. We should try to reduce the toll these patients have to pay as much as possible. We established telemedicine, e-Health and artificial intelligence-supported triage for selecting the right patients for onsite-consultations and to advise patients in several demands.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman Alhajjaji ◽  
Ahmad Kurdi ◽  
Sultan Faqeh ◽  
Safwan Alansari ◽  
Akrm Abdulaziz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackgroundCOVID-19 is highly contagious and can have fatal outcomes in the elderly and those with comorbidities. Social distancing is highly recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent the spread of the disease. However, it is difficult to maintain social distancing in highly populated areas where people live in close proximity. Such high-risk areas have the potential to become hotspots for the disease spread, should one person therein contract the disease. Nakkasah is one such area in the Makkah city of Saudi Arabia which has been a hotspot in this pandemic. This study aims to qualitatively explore the experiences of COVID-19 recovered patients residing in this area.MethodsWe employed semi-structured face-to-face interviews with people living in Nakkasah, above 18 years of age, and recovered from COVID-19. An interview guide was developed, validated, piloted, and minor changes were made. Two trained students conducted the interviews in the Arabic language in a semi-private area of the community center. The interviews were audio-recorded, with informed consent from interviewees, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed later.ResultsEleven eligible COVID-19 recovered people (two female and nine male) agreed to be interviewed, and their verbal informed consent was audio recorded. The mean interview time was 24 minutes. Thematic analysis generated 30 subthemes, which were categorized into seven overarching themes: information about COVID-19; life during COVID-19 illness; spreading of COVID-19; precautionary measures; interventions that helped in recovery; impact of COVID-19 on life; support received during COVID-19 illness.ConclusionExperiences of people from the hotspot who had recovered from COVID-19 highlighted how life had been like in the hotspot under lockdown especially with having been afflicted with the infection, factors that facilitated their recovery, and the way their lives were and have been affected due to COVID-19.


ESOTERIK ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
Abdullah Abdullah

<p class="06IsiAbstrak">The religion approach in realizing the new normal scenario in the pandemic era is urgent considering that religious doctrine is easier to accept and obey. So that it can be an effective step to prevent transmission. This research is qualitative research. This type of research is library research. The data collection method is done by reading and taking notes and processing data related to the social distancing perspective of Al-Ghazali's works of Sufism. This study found similarities between the social distancing perspective of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the social distancing perspective of Al-Ghazali's Sufism. This similarity is at least in two ways, first both emphasize the importance of maintaining distance from others, the second in the realm of strategy. The basic difference is in the realm of goals. The existence of this equation causes social distancing in the new normal era, the perspective of Sufism is important to offer and deserve to be published. and other things that underlie are two things, first, so that social distancing is not only maintaining immunity but also maintaining faith. The two social interaction strategies originating from religious doctrine will be easier to comply with given the ineffectiveness of government advice in implementing social distancing. Efforts to maintain one's consistency in implementing social distancing, there are three things that need to be considered, first to keep busy with positive things at home, second always to remember the dangers of interacting with the general public, third to minimize dependence on other people.</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina A. Kamar ◽  
Noel Maalouf ◽  
Eveline Hitti ◽  
Ghada El Eid ◽  
Hussain A Ismaeel ◽  
...  

Ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic, there has been a public health debate concerning medical resources and supplies including hospital beds, intensive care units (ICU), ventilators, and Protective Personal Equipment (PPE). Forecasting COVID-19 dissemination has played a key role in informing healthcare professionals and governments on how to manage overburdened healthcare systems. However, forecasting during the pandemic remained challenging and sometimes highly controversial. Here, we highlight this challenge by performing a comparative evaluation for the estimations obtained from three COVID-19 surge calculators under different social distancing approaches, taking Lebanon as a case study. Despite discrepancies in estimations, the three surge calculators used herein agree that there will be a relative shortage in the capacity of medical resources and a significant surge in PPE demand as the social distancing policy is removed. Our results underscore the importance of implementing containment interventions including social distancing in alleviating the demand for medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the absence of any medication or vaccine. It is said that ″All models are wrong, but some are useful″, in this paper we highlight that it is even more useful to employ several models.  


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document