Surveillance technology, similar to facial recognition software used to track criminals in Moscow, is monitoring visitor numbers at the Russia's Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion.
Software from NtechLab uses information from existing cameras at the Russia pavilion to deliver visitor numbers, their age and gender.
The data is anonymous and will only be used to update pavilion organisers on footfall during Expo and the need for security in busier areas.
Video analytics help staff monitor Covid-19 guidelines, but in Russia the technology is used on a wider scale to combat crime and find missing people.
“This technology works well already in Moscow to detect criminals and help police find missing people,” said Andemir Bizhoev, regional sales director for NTechLab.
“It can evaluate an individual’s pattern of behaviour by identifying where they are going most frequently.
“If the authorities have created a watchlist of suspects with photographs, the system can recognise certain features with a match.
“When police forensics need to build an investigation, this kind of analysis is very useful as it can recognise individuals.”
The technology allows real-time, high-precision facial recognition in the video stream and compares results with police databases.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, some 5,000 crimes were solved in Moscow using a video analytics system equipped with face recognition in 2020.
Facial recognition uses biometrics to map facial features from a photograph or video, which is then compared with a database of known faces to find a match.
Some banks have adopted the technology to allow new customers to open accounts remotely, without having to visit a bank for identification.
In the UAE, one of the first businesses to embrace the technology was Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), allowing new customers to open accounts remotely and digitally with their face as verification via their smartphone camera.
NtechLab software can extract certain detail like age, gender, facial hair or other identifying features like glasses, but it can struggle to identify individuals wearing a protective facemask, Mr Bizhoev said.
No personal data is stored from visitors to the Russia pavilion, which is designed to resemble a traditional matryoshka wooden stacking doll.
Visitors to the third floor can see a giant brain, surrounded by an interactive light show.
“Such is the nature of our advanced video analytics platform that when working with face features it is impossible to restore the original image of the face,” said Mr Bizhoev.
“The systems can also be configured so data is not stored and only reports are saved.
“This ensures compliance with personal data and privacy legislation.”
Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat
Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday
AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)
Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)
Benevento v Parma (5pm)
Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)
Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)
Lazio v Spezia (5pm)
Napoli v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)
Torino v Juventus (8pm)
Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
SPAIN SQUAD
Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
