Powered by artificial intelligence, the technology upgrades existing "dumb" cameras into "smart" cameras to automatically alert city personnel if someone walks through the building without a mask or stands too close to another person. To ensure privacy, the cameras use object detection without facial recognition software, meaning they will create an alert to a web dashboard without identifying individuals.
There are no punitive measures for those violating distancing and mask protocols, said
Cawamo, an international company focused on developing artificial intelligence software and the creator of the camera technology, worked alongside
"As further reflection of our smart city leadership, our work with Cawamo to customize a COVID-19 monitoring system for city hall shows how technology is helping to solve modern problems, while also prioritizing privacy," said Branham in a press release. "Allowing us to instantly convert existing cameras into smart cameras also shows promise for wider deployment across the city, in addition to within workplaces in the near future."
Facing criticism from some community members who see the technology as an invasion of privacy and government overreach, Branham stressed the cameras use no facial recognition software.
"We have taken the steps to ensure that it's not (overreach)," Branham said. "Most of your public spaces that you go into today already have cameras out there. This is just using a piece of technology to help us maintain safety through COVID-19 and get us all back to work."
Peachtree Corners may add the technology to other cameras scattered throughout the city, including ones installed at the Town Green. So far, the system has created few alerts, Branham said. But if alerts spike, the city will increase its messaging on the importance of following COVID-19 protocols, he said.
"Peachtree Corners is a premier smart city known around the globe for its dedication to the development of emerging smart city technologies, so it was a no-brainer for it to be the first city in
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