One of the major byproducts of the tech transition accelerated by the pandemic on a global scale, are gadgets and apps designed to monitor infections while preventing crowds. As social distancing has became the norm for the post-lockdown era, cities across the Emirates and beyond have started deploying robots, drones and thermal cameras, to make sure that crowds can be controlled, in order to safeguard residents in public spaces.

 
After ruffling feathers post deployment across Dubai's metro rail network, facial recognition was integrated into other public services, including contactless immigration at the city's airport. Now that the Middle East's tech hub is hosting global entities for Expo 2020, the Russian pavilion at the mega event is showcasing capabilities to identify people via biometrics, and distinguish crowds based on individual details.

The computer vision for facial recognition is backed by dozens of cameras, that form a network to collect visual data, that is relayed to a smart control centre. Here the footage is analysed for segmentation of the visitors based on their age, gender and other aspects.

By screening the site in real time, the surveillance system also keeps an eye on people visiting multiple times, to keep track of first timers as well as those who keep coming back. Although the staff can be notified about too many people gathering in one part of the pavilion, human intervention is cut down by providing updates on how many people are queueing up outside the pavilion.

The solution being touted as a useful addition for smart cities as well as retail spaces, is similar to others introduced in the UAE, for monitoring footfalls along with consumer behaviour. Video analytics have also been used in Moscow, for spotting people who are missing or wanted by authorities.

Speaking of crime fighting, facial recognition had been used successfully this year, by Dubai police for nabbing an international narco kingpin in the smart city.