SARS-CoV-2 is a virus whose main means of transmission has been shown to be via the airborne route, with distance transmission through aerosols being the most difficult to control. Thus, the air we breathe became the main source of the problem, forcing us to improve the ventilation of spaces and the use of masks indoors, all of these measures aimed at reducing the viral load of the air we breathe.
Ensuring safety in the enclosed spaces we share is essential for coexistence and the recovery of the social habits we enjoyed before the pandemic, as well as for those sectors particularly affected, such as health, hospitality, tourism, transport, culture and commerce, among others.
The general objective of COVILED is the design, development and validation of a technological solution to reduce the incidence of infections caused by Sars-CoV-2 that are transmitted by air. To this end, we propose the creation of an integral system for the intelligent disinfection of air circulating in ventilation ducts through the use of ultraviolet C (UV-C) radiation, combining photonic technologies, IoT and AI. The aim of this system is to implement prevention and mitigation strategies in an active way, acting dynamically and in real time on radiation systems based on data received from sensors and other sources of information.
To achieve this ambitious goal, we brought together five entities from different sectors and fields of knowledge: SETGA, manufacturer of lighting systems, INSATI and WG, technology-based companies specialising in eHealth and IoT, respectively, INIBIC, through its managing body, the Professor Nóvoa Santos Foundation (FPNS), represented in this project by its areas of health technologies, IT and telemedicine, as well as the microbiology service, and the USC, through its research groups Photonics4Life (optical design, manufacture of microfluidic devices and lighting) and Biotec (microbiology).
PROGRESS YEAR 2021
During the year 2021 and in accordance with the schedule established at the start of the project, a total of 6 tasks corresponding to the first 3 project activities have been completed. The work carried out served to lay the foundations of the clinical and technological knowledge necessary for the design and development of the COVILED system. Some of the results obtained are shown below:
State-of-the-art study on disinfection technologies using UV-C radiation and mechanisms of inactivation of aerosols carrying Covid-19. Identification of the dose required to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 and its variants and dependence on environmental parameters (humidity, temperature, CO2,…). Functional analysis of the air disinfection process depending on the location of the UV-C luminaires. Study of the state of the art IoT platforms and sensorisation elements. Definition of requirements for the integral management of the system, analysing the different analytics and algorithms required for the application of prevention and active mitigation strategies.
PROGRESS YEAR 2022
During the year 2022 and in accordance with the schedule established at the start of the project, a total of 13 tasks corresponding to the first 3 activities of the project have been completed. The work carried out has made it possible to design each of the COVILED subsystems as well as the different communication interfaces between each of them. We show some of the main results obtained:
Optical design of the illumination and disinfection device, with integration of communication and control systems. Prototype design for initial assessment tests and the development of tooling for initial series production of functional prototypes. Design and implementation of a network of sensors and gateways in the laboratory and development of methods for sampling and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in air. COVID transmission risk study and design of dynamic radiation patterns, together with DSS decision support rules and medical alarms.
PROGRESS YEAR 2023
In December 2022, Activity 1 (UV-C radiation system) was completed, obtaining a fully functional UV-C disinfection device. In January 2023 the task “IoT platform and repository” is completed, which completes Activity 2. Between January and February 2023, the development of the software module for accessing the services on the platform is completed, as well as the management dashboard, advanced data visualisation and analytics, which completes Activity 3 according to the initial schedule, giving way to the start of Activity 4, where each and every component of the platform is integrated and validated (1. Luminaires and control devices. 2. Sensor network and gateways. 3. Management services). During the month of March, the evaluation of the modelling and parameterisation of the final solution is addressed and in April the final testing and validation of the integrated platform is carried out.
COVILED is a project subsidised by the Galician Innovation Agency, financed by Feder funds and supported by the Second Vice-presidency and the Galician Ministry of Economy, Enterprise and Innovation.
File: IN852D 2021/9
Acronym: COVILED
Title: Intelligent disinfection system for the control of the aerial spread of COVID-19
Subsidised activity: Experimental development
Location of operation: VIGO, PONTEVEDRA, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, A CORUÑA
Budget: 517,228.93 €.
Amount of the grant: €445 480.14
% Feder: 100%
Consortium: INSATI INNOVATION, S.L, WIRELESS GALICIA S.L, SETGA S.L.U, UNIVERSIDADE DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, FUNDACION PROFESOR NOVOA SANTOS.
Start date: 01/03/2021
End date: 30/04/2023