Contact-Free Operation of Epidemic Prevention Elevator for Buildings

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic broke out in early 2020, and the infection rate of COVID-19 variants is considerably higher than that of the original virus. The pandemic is still spreading globally. In June 2021, two families living on different floors of a building in Fongshan, Kaohsiung, were simultaneously infected with COVID-19. Investigation results suggested that an elevator in buildings was the most likely place where the virus transmission occurred. Building elevators are a necessary vertical transportation facility for residents or workers in high-rise buildings, and people touch elevator buttons while operating elevators. When a passenger carrying the virus touches elevator buttons, subsequent passengers may be easily infected if they touch those buttons and then touch their mouth, eyes, or nose by accident before sanitizing or washing their hands. In this study, we developed a contact-free elevator ride system by applying smart speech recognition, contact-free perceptual buttons, gesture recognition sensors, and a web page browser activated by quick response codes to operate an elevator. This system reduces the risk of virus infection caused by contact during an elevator ride, effectively enhancing pandemic prevention and protecting people’s health.

Selected design studies on office skyscrapers inWarsaw as examples of implementation of modern achievement of the global developmen of elevator technology

“…20.5 m/s (Shanghai Tower, Shanghai designed by Gensler where Mitsubishi elevators were installed) and 20 m/s (CTC Finance Center in Guanghzou, designed by KPF where the elevators were delivered by Hitachi), and 10 m/s for double-decker lifts (Burj Khalifa, Dubai designed by SOM, where Otis lifts were installed). The conducted research on the technology, which may result in the future innovations, in addition to the above-mentioned scopes, also concerns the use of recycled materials [14], (e.g. for cabin decoration), improvement of hygienic conditions: equipping cabins with air purifiers and germs, introducing systems for self-disinfection of devices [15], introducing elevators with cabins that control the pressure inside the cabin and the speed of its change (which reduces the effect of pressure on the eardrum when driving a high-speed device to higher altitudes).…”

Building Facility Management System Using Sensors and Digital Technologies

“…(14) The demand for intelligent building management starts with the integration of the centralized real-time monitoring of the equipment and data of the building. (15) The collection of historical statistics and the analysis of construction information, structural information, maintenance information, and maintenance operation data are accomplished using BIM+IoT technology. (11) In the future, artificial IoT (AIoT) will be integrated into smart buildings for building maintenance and operation.…”

Special Issue on Innovative Circular Building Design and Construction

“…Security management was the most important among the 14 risk factors with a recognition rate of 80%, followed by catastrophic events at 75% and personnel at 60%. Lai et al explained the "Contact-Free Operation of Epidemic Prevention Elevator for Buildings" [3]. In this study, a contact-free elevator travel system was proposed by combining intelligent voice recognition, contact-free perceptual buttons, gesture recognition sensors, and a web page browser activated by quick response codes.…”