The question the world is facing now, half a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, how can we safely re-start or continue activities without increasing risk of spreading the virus more? The answer has to be in technology – people have simply proven themselves unable to manage risk on their own, judging from the outbreaks we continue to see.
DeCurtis Corporation, which provides location and proximity-enabled solutions to support health, safety, and security initiatives, has developed its DeCurtis Shield solution to help reduce the risk created by the coronavirus. DeCurtis Shield is part of a suite that collects basic health information through facial recognition and thermal imaging to assess temperature via standalone kiosks at venue entry points.
It’s designed to be quickly implemented as a standalone system, but to maximize safety, it can be integrated with the DeCurtis Experience Platform (DXP) to leverage that data to enable further proactive measures in the event of potential illness. When used with the DXP Location Solution, DeCurtis Shield can provide both real-time and historical location timelines to address potential outbreaks, assess risks from known interactions and strategically plan for cleaning protocols.
While the solution was initially designed for indoor venues, Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle is running a pilot program with DeCurtis Shield. The zoo is a 92-acre facility that is following the safety protocols that have become standard procedure globally – face coverings, distancing, and frequent cleaning – but needed an additional layer of safety to protect its visitors and staff.
“As a local destination, not only do we have our guests and staff to keep safe, but also the nearly 1,000 animals that call this place home. We’re excited to see how this pilot can add layers of protection and peace of mind in a place that has become a true community oasis.”
Michele Smith, CFO, Woodland Park Zoo
The pilot program will use DeCurtis Shield for guest services employees and special event group visitors. The DeCurtis Shield kiosks will assess temperature using smart thermography cameras at the thermal brain tunnel to provide quick and accurate temperature reading. If the pilot is successful, the zoo will look at options for expanding the solution to more employees and guests.
