scholarly journals A Social Distance Estimation and Crowd Monitoring System for Surveillance Cameras

Sensors ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 418
Author(s):  
Mohammad Al-Sa’d ◽  
Serkan Kiranyaz ◽  
Iftikhar Ahmad ◽  
Christian Sundell ◽  
Matti Vakkuri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Distance ◽  
Human Error ◽  
Distance Estimation ◽  
Privacy Preserving ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Missing Measurements ◽  
Adaptive Smoothing ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Tracking Model ◽  
Crowd Monitoring

Social distancing is crucial to restrain the spread of diseases such as COVID-19, but complete adherence to safety guidelines is not guaranteed. Monitoring social distancing through mass surveillance is paramount to develop appropriate mitigation plans and exit strategies. Nevertheless, it is a labor-intensive task that is prone to human error and tainted with plausible breaches of privacy. This paper presents a privacy-preserving adaptive social distance estimation and crowd monitoring solution for camera surveillance systems. We develop a novel person localization strategy through pose estimation, build a privacy-preserving adaptive smoothing and tracking model to mitigate occlusions and noisy/missing measurements, compute inter-personal distances in the real-world coordinates, detect social distance infractions, and identify overcrowded regions in a scene. Performance evaluation is carried out by testing the system’s ability in person detection, localization, density estimation, anomaly recognition, and high-risk areas identification. We compare the proposed system to the latest techniques and examine the performance gain delivered by the localization and smoothing/tracking algorithms. Experimental results indicate a considerable improvement, across different metrics, when utilizing the developed system. In addition, they show its potential and functionality for applications other than social distancing.

scholarly journals Examining the interplay between face mask usage, asymptomatic transmission, and social distancing on the spread of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Catching ◽  
Sara Capponi ◽  
Ming Te Yeh ◽  
Simone Bianco ◽  
Raul Andino
Keyword(s):  
Social Distance ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
The Face ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
High Virus

AbstractCOVID-19’s high virus transmission rates have caused a pandemic that is exacerbated by the high rates of asymptomatic and presymptomatic infections. These factors suggest that face masks and social distance could be paramount in containing the pandemic. We examined the efficacy of each measure and the combination of both measures using an agent-based model within a closed space that approximated real-life interactions. By explicitly considering different fractions of asymptomatic individuals, as well as a realistic hypothesis of face masks protection during inhaling and exhaling, our simulations demonstrate that a synergistic use of face masks and social distancing is the most effective intervention to curb the infection spread. To control the pandemic, our models suggest that high adherence to social distance is necessary to curb the spread of the disease, and that wearing face masks provides optimal protection even if only a small portion of the population comply with social distance. Finally, the face mask effectiveness in curbing the viral spread is not reduced if a large fraction of population is asymptomatic. Our findings have important implications for policies that dictate the reopening of social gatherings.

scholarly journals Social Distancing and COVID-19: Factors Associated With Compliance With Social Distancing Norms in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estrella Gualda ◽  
Andre Krouwel ◽  
Marisol Palacios-Gálvez ◽  
Elena Morales-Marente ◽  
Iván Rodríguez-Pascual ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Distance ◽  
Political Ideology ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Distance Measures ◽  
Spanish Population ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Factors Associated

This article describes patterns of compliance with social distancing measures among the Spanish population during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It identifies several factors associated with higher or lower compliance with recommended measures of social distancing. This research is part of a 67-country study, titled the International COVID-19 study on Social & Moral Psychology, in which we use a Spanish dataset. Participants were residents in Spain aged 18 or above. The sample comprises 1,090 respondents, weighted to be representative of the Spanish population. Frequencies, correlations, bivariate analysis, and six models based on hierarchical multiple regressions were applied. The main finding is that most Spaniards are compliant with established guidelines of social distance during the pandemic (State of Alarm, before May 2020). Variables associated more with lower levels of compliance with these standards were explored. Six hierarchical multiple regression models found that compliance with social distance measures has a multifactorial explanation (R2 between 20.4 and 49.1%). Sociodemographic factors, personal hygiene patterns, and the interaction between personal hygiene patterns and the support for political measures related to the coronavirus brought significant effects on the regression models. Less compliance was also associated with beliefs in some specific conspiracy theories with regard to COVID-19 or general conspiracy mentality (Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire, CMQ), consumption patterns of traditional mass media (television, paper newspapers, magazines, and radio) and modern means to get informed (online digital newspapers, blogs, and social networks), political ideology, vote, trust in institutions, and political identification. Among the future lines of action in preventing the possible outbreak of the virus, we suggest measures to reinforce trust in official information, mainly linked to reducing the influence of disinformation and conspiracy theories parallel to the pandemic.

Development of a Social Distancing Monitoring System in Korea: Results of a Modified Delphi Process (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heeyoung Lee ◽  
Suin Seo ◽  
Jin-Ok Han ◽  
Sool Shin
Keyword(s):  
Monitoring System ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Delphi Process ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Input Process ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Modified Delphi ◽  
Process Output ◽  
Different Levels

BACKGROUND Since the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing situation in most countries worldwide, a “social distancing” policy as a non-pharmaceutical intervention has been implemented for several months in many countries including Korea. Social distancing policies work in different ways and at different levels. In addition, various forms of surveillance systems have been implemented in different countries. However, there is an almost complete lack of specific surveillance system in Korea to effectively monitor social distancing policy. OBJECTIVE This study aims to develop a monitoring system for social distancing measures in Korea to evaluate and improve the implemented policy. METHODS A draft monitoring system was developed after reviewing Korea's social distancing measures (central and local government briefings) and checking available data for applications. The modified Delphi process was used to evaluate the draft of the monitoring system. In total, 27 experts participated in the evaluation. The round 1 evaluation includes (1) commenting on the composition of the monitoring fields (open response), (2) monitoring indicators for each monitoring field (10-point Likert scale), and (3) commenting on the source of data used to develop the monitoring system (open response). In the round 2 evaluation, 55 indicators, excepting open responses, were re-evaluated. RESULTS The response rate for the Delphi survey was 100% in both the first and second rounds. Of the 55 indicators, 14 were excluded according to experts’ open response comments, as these indicators did not satisfy the quantitative criteria. Finally, 41 indicators were included with 12 available data sources. The monitoring system domain was divided into input, process/output, and result. CONCLUSIONS This study is significant in that it is the first in Korea to develop a comprehensive monitoring system for social distancing policy, and is applicable to estimates utilizing data that are immediately available for each indicator. Furthermore, the developed monitoring system could be a reference for other countries that require the development of such systems to monitor social distancing measures.

Contagion

2020 ◽  
pp. 72-95
Author(s):  
Mark Davis ◽  
Davina Lohm
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
The Self ◽  
The Other ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
The Social

Contagion is an age-old method of signifying infectious diseases like influenza and is a rich metaphor with strong biopolitical connotations for understandings of social distance, that is, the self as distinct from the other in the sense of space and identity. Contagion is therefore an important metaphor for the social distancing approaches recommended by experts during a pandemic, as was the case in 2009. This chapter, therefore, examines how research participants enacted social distancing as a method for reducing risk. It reflects on how these narratives reflected the meanings of contagion linked with distance, in particular, the notion that threat emerges elsewhere and in the figure of the other.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Technology-Supported Distance Measuring to Ensure Safe Aircraft Boarding during COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8724
Author(s):  
Paul Schwarzbach ◽  
Julia Engelbrecht ◽  
Albrecht Michler ◽  
Michael Schultz ◽  
Oliver Michler
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Distance Estimation ◽  
Signal Strength ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
Aircraft Cabins ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Cabin Environment

With the rise of COVID-19, the sustainability of air transport is a major challenge, as there is limited space in aircraft cabins, resulting in a higher risk of virus transmission. In order to detect possible chains of infection, technology-supported apps are used for social distancing. These COVID-19 applications are based on the display of the received signal strength for distance estimation, which is strongly influenced by the spreading environment due to the signal multipath reception. Therefore, we evaluate the applicability of technology-based social distancing methods in an aircraft cabin environment using a radio propagation simulation based on a three-dimensional aircraft model. We demonstrate the susceptibility to errors of the conventional COVID-19 distance estimation, which can lead to large errors in the determination of distances and to the impracticability of traditional tracing approaches during passenger boarding/deboarding. In the context of the future connected cabin, a robust distance measurement must be implemented to ensure safe travel. Finally, our results can be transferred to similar fields of application, e.g., trains or public transport.

scholarly journals Emerging Adults and Social Distancing During COVID-19: Who Was More Likely to Follow Guidelines and What Were the Correlates With Well-Being and Weight-Related Behaviors?

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110514
Author(s):  
Jerica M. Berge ◽  
Nicole Larson ◽  
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Social Distancing

The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence, predictors, and psychosocial well-being (depressive symptoms, stress) and weight-related behavior (eating behaviors, physical activity, and sedentary behavior) correlates of social distancing during COVID-19 among emerging adults. A rapid-response survey was sent to participants ( n=720; mean age=24.7 ± 2.0 years, 62% female) in a population-based cohort study in Minnesota during April–October 2020. Half of emerging adults reported fully social distancing. Emerging adults from White backgrounds were least likely to social distance while those from Asian backgrounds were most likely to social distance, in addition to those living with a parent. Females who partially/did not social distance reported less healthy eating behaviors, while males and “essential workers” reported higher levels of psychosocial distress. Public health messaging and practical supports for social distancing may need to be made more relevant to emerging adults during public health crises. Resources may need to differ depending on sex of emerging adult.

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