Technology designed by the UIB to help manage the new approach to personal mobility based on reliable health information

A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of the Balearic Islands has designed and patented technology based on a new use of QR codes to provide as much reliable information as possible and create a tracing framework that respects personal data privacy

After the first wave of COVID-19, we now require accurate management of the return to normality to monitor any possible infections from a new outbreak. Along these lines, the European Union has published common standards to start lifting lockdown measures to contain the pandemic, including the major need to compile information through a strong communication system between relevant institutions and to create a contact tracing framework that respects data privacy.

Given this roadmap, a team of researchers from the SmartDestination/SmartCity working group at the UIB is proposing the use of a ShareEQR secure digital container - a technology patented by the UIB (P201530982) that was assessed in the MARSEC-17 simulation in 2017 in response to the arrival of an international ship housing possible infection.

The ShareEQR digital container is based on QR codes to establish a strong communication system between the institutions involved in controlling mobility and enables a tracing framework to be created whilst respecting data privacy, so as to achieve maximum protection for the population.

Monitoring within the new mobility framework

In the easing of lockdown, a new mobility framework has been established for the population based on age, region and health situation which enables both monitoring and a rapid response in the event of possible new cases, as well as a process for security forces to ensure the different lockdown levels in areas, regions or by type of individual.

The management task for a possible uneven easing of lockdown requires coordination and collaboration amongst institutions to transfer sensitive information:

  • The public and private health system as a single public health manager to establish and validate individual health profiles
  • Social and economic agents that will require processes to authorise the permitted mobility of workers and social agents
  • Finally, the security forces and emergency responders with agents across the country to validate and ensure compliance with the security restrictions for the new permitted mobility measures.

In addition, permitted mobility will also need to be continually and jointly assessed to provide a global perspective and for health authorities to be able to monitor new cases and see chains of infection more accurately based on available validation readings through ShareEQR.

An image that the public can download

The public will not need to download a specific application for the system to be rolled out, merely having to obtain the EQR image issued by the certifying bodies for the information contained therein (health, company - in the case of workers -, social services - in the case of special needs-, etc.).

The proposed tool generates the EQR image from three data sources. The information will be sent to the encrypted home platform and the EQR images will be generated and made available to the individual through a download link, which may be provided via e-mail or text message, where required.

Encrypted data

The encrypted data would be protected throughout the process and would not be held off the servers of the responsible institutions. The validation process on the ground would be done by an authorised agent using an authorised scanning application. This agent would request the EQR code from the person and validate the content based on the privileges assigned to the scanning application. In this way, law enforcement agents could access ID and mobility data whilst health workers could access ID and medical information.

In both instances, the moment where the code is scanned could be captured and, therefore, the information could be analysed to see the movements of the person in question, where necessary. In this sense, the information distributed and contained in the EQR code would be available for use regarding mobility, access to public services or travel to restricted areas, as well as in other situations that cannot yet be foreseen.

Compatibility with other applications

QR code readers are in common use and, therefore, can be installed on mobile terminals as well as on scanning machines to control access. This feature of EQR technology can complement any roll-out of other applications aimed at monitoring cases amongst end users. In this light, it would be possible to include EQR technology alongside other solutions based on the public using mobile apps.

The technology creates a reliable and tamper-proof digital platform that enables the availability of all possible information during validation processes, mobility management and public service provision. Moreover, the tool enables each reading being used as a monitoring point and analyses of new cases being made with knowledge about movements that is anonymous and without centralised data.

Furthermore, a tool using EQR technology is able to completely avoid the use of paper resources, thus reducing interaction between individuals to a minimum in verifying information and helping to set up mobility management protocols based on health and safety criteria.

The UIB team

This development has been coordinated by Dr Bartomeu Alorda Ladaria, senior lecturer at the UIB, Director of Innovation and Transfer at the UIB, Coordinator of the UIB SmartDestination/SmartCity working group and lead researcher in the e-Health and Multidisciplinary Telemedicine via Smart Cyber-Physical Systems research group at the IdisBA.

The following have taken part in developing the ShareEQR technology:

  • Cristian Carmona Gómez, associate lecturer in Department of Physics, member of the ShareandTech team and the UIB Architectural Constructions and Building Engineering research group
  • Jordi Ballester Caldentey, undergraduate student on the Degree in Telematics at the UIB and member of the ShareandTech team
  • Francesc Mas Ynarejos, collaborating researcher in the Department of Physics, member of the ShareandTech team, member of the UIB SmartDestination/SmartCity working group and retired innovation coordinator from the Public Safety Department at Palma City Council.

The SmartDestination/SmartCity working group

The working group was set up as a space for different research areas at the UIB to meet and make contributions regarding the need to incorporate technologies for territorial management and its associated tourist destination status.

Some of the working group's results are linked to the establishment of specific agreements between Palma City Council and the UIB, such as the creation of a joint laboratory in Platja de Palma, support for the implementation of the SmartWifi network in Palma, the design and assessment of SmartSensPort-PALMA infrastructure at the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands and support for the the IBITEC's roll-out of loTIB infrastructure by the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands.

Event date: 13/05/2020

Publication date: Wed May 13 08:30:00 CEST 2020