The first results of a project focused on epidemic threats

The BETERKA project, which eventually reached the middle of its solution, deals with the effective use of infrare cameras in the event of epidemic threats and crisis situations. As part of the recapitulation, the project partners issued the Annual Report - BETERKA 2021, in which they summarize the t

In the BETERKA project, researchers are responding to the situation caused by the COVID19 pandemic. They deal with the issue of reliable temperature measurement of people coming from the external environment, and the use of infrared cameras as potential tools for early warning and monitoring of the epidemic. Researchers do not neglect other new possibilities of using thermodiagnostics of people in the activities of individual components of the integrated rescue system (IRS).

The project is a great example of interdisciplinary cooperation. The NTC research center, the Faculty of Health Care Studies (FZS) of the UWB and the Techmania Science Center in Pilsen participate in it. In the first year of the project, the partners managed to create new measurement and testing systems, which they installed in public places where data collection is currently underway for later evaluation. During numerous discussions, representatives of IRS units discussed the common practice of using infrared cameras, as well as their other possible applications or improvements. "In addition to our research practice, we are also intensively involved in communication and educational activities. In this context, I would like to mention the newly prepared exhibit at the Techmania Science Center, which will be presented to the public on June 18. I would like to take this opportunity to cordially invite everyone to Techmania to the opening ceremony, " says prof. Milan Honner from NTC and the main researcher of the project.

"However, we would not be able to validate our systems, nor would we be able to collect data for research without test sites and additional support. I would therefore like to thank Dr. Max, the Secondary Technical School of Mechanical Engineering and the Secondary Vocational School of Professor Švejcar, EUC Clinic Plzeň, the Plzeň Regional Office, the City of Plzeň and the Information Technology Administration of the City of Plzeň,” adds Milan Honner.

At the moment, measurements of people who are exposed to a cold environment are carried out at the NTC under the guidance of paramedics or trained staff. "We close the volunteers in a special cooling box, then their temperature is measured with a non-contact infrared camera and contact thermometers. In the end, we check everyone's pressure and body mass index,” describes Stanislava Reichertová from FZS. This experiment simulates a situation where infrared cameras are, not quite ideally, placed at the entrances to buildings. The project is funded by Program VI - Security Research Program of the Czech Republic from 2015 to 2022, which is provided by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic and will end in December 2022.

The annual project report is available in Czech at:

https://medical.labir.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BETERKA-VZ-2021-FINAL-online.pdf