University of Delaware has turned to AI, drones and smart glasses using what’s called Label Vision to create predictive models of COVID-19’s spread under different conditions.
It’s part of the school’s Protect the Flock initiative to minimize coronavirus’ spread on campus.
Led by UD College of Engineering professor Norman Wagner, Project Darien — named after the street where Wagner first saw the health data collecting van that inspired the project, according to UDaily — collects data across campus on a full, typical day. Data collectors wearing Label Vision sunglasses walk around the campus capturing video of people going about their day, recording things like mask usage and social distancing.
The data is then collected and analyzed by artificial intelligence algorithms written by associate scientist Matt Saponaro. It’s compiled into an interactive model that can be adjusted to see how COVID rates are predicted to increase or decrease depending on compliance to preventative safety measures.
The model can be downloaded (and requires NETLOGO software to run) or, if you have a UD VPM, you can explore it on the web.
Or you can just watch the short videos that show what the model predicts in four basic scenarios:
- Base case, with default parameters (50% mask use and no social distancing)
- 50% mask use with social distancing
- Universal mask wearing and social distancing
- Quarantine after infection spike
In the first two models, the entire campus is predicted to become infected — rapidly in model #1, more slowly in model #2. Model #3, with both universal mask wearing and social distancing, shows the campus maintaining a small number of cases with no major outbreak. Model #4 shows a quarantine ordered after seven days of model #1, and a rapid spike in cases. A 14-day quarantine would causes cases to drop quickly, but the campus recovery time would take longer because of the number of students infected.
Before you go...
Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.
3 ways to support our work:- Contribute to the Journalism Fund. Charitable giving ensures our information remains free and accessible for residents to discover workforce programs and entrepreneurship pathways. This includes philanthropic grants and individual tax-deductible donations from readers like you.
- Use our Preferred Partners. Our directory of vetted providers offers high-quality recommendations for services our readers need, and each referral supports our journalism.
- Use our services. If you need entrepreneurs and tech leaders to buy your services, are seeking technologists to hire or want more professionals to know about your ecosystem, Technical.ly has the biggest and most engaged audience in the mid-Atlantic. We help companies tell their stories and answer big questions to meet and serve our community.
Join our growing Slack community
Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!
