It is intended with this applied research project proposal, to analyze, design and implement a system of control and monitoring of individuals, in the field of pervasive and ubiquitous non-intrusive computing, with application in the area of tourism and in the social field, with innovative aspects, in particular:
- to move within the external spaces confined to the IPSS (private institutions of social solidarity);
- monitoring of movement within the IPSS, with analysis of vital signs;
analysis of routes, with alerts of deviations from routes; integration with information systems via web services, for recording and real-time analysis of movement of individuals monitored;
- integrated services of networks and of telecommunications in particular GPS, GPRS, wireless networks with decision support systems and of recommendation and artificial intelligence systems.
The project "monitoring and control system of routes, with tourist and social application" will be implemented in the South Douro region, covering both the area of tourism, and the area of social organizations.
The South Douro region where Lamego is located is characterized, on the one hand, by the increase of ageing population and, on the other hand, the large turnout of senior tourism throughout the year, resulting in two scenarios of applicability of this project.
Scenario 1
There are often elderly people who have psychic diseases (Alzheimer's, dementia, etc.), who leave from where they are housed, such as nursing homes, day-care centres among others, and they often die or get seriously injured. It is our aim to answer to this problem to prevent the disappearance of individuals who may be in those circumstance. For such we propose to introduce an innovative solution that responds to the requirements, without invading their privacy.
Scenario 2
The operators in the field of tourism in the Douro region struggle with some problems related to the profile of the tourist who visits it, in particular the fact that they are largely senior individuals, with some mobility problems, but who show great willingness to carry out visits along footpaths, enjoying the natural beauty offered by the Douro region, a world heritage site since 2001. Although there are tourist guides, there are some isolated groups, who deviate from defined routes and get disoriented and sometimes have accidents. Because of this they have to be rescued by multidisciplinary teams. We want the system we propose, allows tour operators to monitor in, real time, the movement
of their customers, with analysis of risk situations and alerts in case of severe deviation of the previously defined route.