QMIC & QF Pilot Innovative Safety Solutions at Schools

9 October 2022

Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC) announced an agreement with Qatar Foundation (QF) to pilot an innovative solution to ensure the safety of students and employees at schools. QMIC deployed its Automated Heat Stress Monitoring Solution (HUMIDEX) at three QF schools to facilitate the accurate and timely monitoring of outdoor environments. This can determine whether it is safe to allow students to spend time outdoors based on heat stress levels and what precautions to take. HUMIDEX provides a smart and intelligent alternative to traditional, mostly manual, or inaccurate, heat stress assessment methods and delivers various benefits to all relevant stakeholders.

The system has already seen success with a major oil and gas company in Qatar that has been using it for the last two years, where it proved effective in ensuring worker safety in harsh environments. This paved the way for QMIC to work closely with QF to deploy a version of this smart solution which is suited for deployment at school facilities.

HUMIDEX automatically measures heat stress levels and sends out warning messages when it reaches dangerous levels, with the information displayed on small, fixed screens to be seen by different users. When deployed in schools, this solution can ensure the safety of students by alarming supervisors to not let students in outdoor environments when there is a high level of heat stress. HUMEDIX measurements and messages are done in accordance with methods mandated in Qatar by the Ministry of Labour and in accordance with global standards.

For students, this solution is an important tool in preserving their safety and providing them with the most comfortable learning environment possible to ensure their success and well-being. Parents and families can also be confident knowing that their children will not be exposed to harmful or harsh weather conditions while they are at school, especially during breaks and outdoor educational sessions. For school administration members and decision makers, this tool offers help in managing health safety operations, enhance their decision-making capabilities through continuously capturing heat stress data and readings, and provide them with an overall picture about heat stress trends and patterns, which would provide significant help for future planning and decision making.

Dr. Adnan Abu-Dayya, QMIC CEO and Executive Director, commented: “Launching a HUMEDIX version optimized for deployment at educational and sports facilities is a significant step towards enhancing the market impact and societal value of this automated and smart solution. This is in-line with our strategy of using R&D and innovations to enable smart and safe living in Qatar and the region. Partnering with QF to pilot the solution at three schools can serve as a first step towards working with national authorities on a potential large-scale deployment at many other schools in Qatar.”

Stephen Brigg, QF HSE Executive Director, said: “QF is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all its students. This initiative supports this commitment through the adoption of innovative technologies produced locally.”

This initiative reinforces QF’s eagerness to provide a safe and healthy environment for all its students, and their commitment to adopting the most advanced technologies available to achieve that. It also highlights QMIC’s efforts in working closely with local and national entities to provide them with locally made innovations that can help enhance their operations and achieve their strategic goals.

About QMIC:

The Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC) is the first independent innovations center in the region with a focus on using R&D to develop and deploy Intelligent Mobility and Smart Cities platforms and technologies. QMIC’s main goal is to use locally engineered innovations & knowledge to enable creating home-grown technology industries that address national strategies and tackle regional emerging challenges. It was founded by Qatar University in 2009 and is registered and licensed to operate as a technology innovations center from the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).

Since 2009, QMIC has been utilizing emerging technologies including Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, and Location-Awareness to deliver data-centric platforms and services.  In particular, QMIC has been leading in delivering platforms & solutions focusing on key domains including Intelligent Transport, Logistics & Telematics, Road Safety, and Connected & Autonomous Mobility (CAM).

Through its integrated innovations development & delivery model, QMIC represents a unique and important category within the national Research & Development & Innovations (RDI) enterprise in Qatar that is strategically driven, R&D-based, solution-focused, and business-oriented

For further information please contact Mr. Abdulrahman Ajjawi

Email: [email protected]

Phone:  +974 5564 5390, +974 4459 3694

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, research and development, and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa 

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