It's been more than a year since educational institutions in Emirates were forced to shut their doors, and now campuses are finally reopening with hybrid ecosystems to ensure social distancing. Apart from existing establishments, the new normal has witnessed the rise of universities dedicated to spreading knowhow on sophisticated tech like artificial intelligence.

On addition to use of data sharing and smart tools during lessons, schools in the UAE have also adopted computer vision to watch over children, while students in the country have even invented a robo-doc to protect their peers. In yet another example of AI being used to fortify campuses against security threats and infections, a smart university in Dubai has been equipped with tech from Honeywell.

The Hammad Bin Mohammed Smart University has roped in the tech giant for installing thermal scanners that can spot covid symptoms, paired with tech to alert authorities about people not wearing masks. The healthy building infrastructure will also make sure everyone sticks to social distancing norms, by relying on video analytics powered via cameras.

Apart from enhancing safety via smart vision, the digital solution will also keep track of air quality to create an ecosystem which enhances the overall wellbeing of students. It'll measure humidity and temperature at the premises, so that required adjustments can be made to the ventilation system.

To add another layer of protection in the post-pandemic era, Honeywell will also deploy a mechanism that clears viruses from air using ultraviolet rays.

Before educational institutions, this kind of tech has been used at airports and at public spaces as well, in the past several months. Malls in the region have been using apps for monitoring and controlling indoor air quality, to ward off risk of an outbreak.

Smart surveillance in public schools across the Emirati capital have also gone beyond keeping intruders at bay, and can study behavioural patterns to protect students against bullying.