The MiQro Innovation Collaborative Centre (C2MI), the largest electronics systems research and development center in Canada, recently deployed thermal screening and a new risk self-assessment process at its Bromont, Quebec, location to better sustain operations and to help improve the wellbeing of building occupants and visitors. 

C2MI is an internationally known microelectronics research center that requires 24-7 laboratory access for its team and collaborators. The COVID-19 pandemic challenged its standard operations and ability to provide laboratory access while limiting potential virus exposure. 

Honeywell worked with C2MI to install a thermal camera solution to screen elevated skin temperatures and risk self-assessment to streamline building access control without the need for human interaction. Using artificial intelligence (AI), the Healthy Building Kiosk thermal sensor monitors for trends and leverages variables such as the outdoor temperature to provide more accurate readings. If an elevated skin temperature is detected, the staffer or visitor is referred for testing before being authorized to access the center.

The solution allows C2MI security staff to focus on other critical tasks and gives building users shared accountability.

C2MI will see a return on investment in less than one year when calculating the cost of a security personnel dedicated to managing staff access control. 

“As a center of collaboration and innovation, C2MI faced two challenges in the past year: the ability to sustain operations while also taking steps to help make our staff and researchers safer,” said Marie-Josée Turgeon, general manager, C2MI. “Our collaboration with Honeywell has allowed us to streamline building entry and remove the semi-manual process of individuals’ skin temperature reading to help provide a safer environment for our teams.” 

C2MI also implemented health protocols aligned with local guidelines and recommendations, such as a work-from-home policy, limiting the number of people in the cafeteria and conference rooms, encouraging social distancing, optimizing disinfecting and cleaning, as well as mandatory procedural mask wearing.