A Real-Time Location System Design for Production Facilities Working under COVID-19 Pandemic Precautions

Öz

By reason of the COVID-19 pandemic, essential digital transformations are taking place in many areas of business life. Although the most important one of these transformations is due to the widespread use of the remote working model, the production sector does not have the opportunity to switch to such a model completely. Therefore, it is inevitable to maintain social distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while working in production facilities. In this study, a real-time location system (RTLS) model is proposed to keep track of social distance in production facilities and to ensure occupational health safety (OHS) at the same time. Since the social distance rule is essential for every production facility, the most important feature of the proposed system is that it can easily be integrated into the standard personnel tracking system in almost every enterprise. Besides, the proposed RTLS is designed as an efficient system based on ultra-wideband and radio-frequency identification, which can operate as a closed-loop monitoring system within itself. An adequately installed RTLS can monitor the position of employees in real-time and provides to intervene in the situation instantly when necessary. In case of a violation of social distance or a situation against OHS, it can be prevented instantly by the proposed system. It is also a useful model in the management of emergencies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• COVID-19
• digital transformation
• occupational health and safety
• radio-frequency identification
• real-time location system
• ultra-wideband.

COVID-19 Pandemi Önlemleri Altında Çalışan Üretim Tesisleri için Gerçek

Öz

COVID-19 pandemisi nedeniyle iş hayatının birçok alanında önemli dijital dönüşümler yaşanmaktadır. Bu dönüşümlerden en önemlisi uzaktan çalışma modelinin yaygınlaşmasından kaynaklansa da üretim sektörü tam anlamıyla böyle bir modele geçme imkânına sahip değildir. Bu nedenle üretim tesislerinde çalışırken COVID-19'un yayılmasını önlemek için sosyal mesafeyi korumak kaçınılmazdır. Bu çalışmada, üretim tesislerinde sosyal mesafenin takibi ve aynı zamanda iş sağlığı güvenliğinin (İSG) sağlanması için gerçek zamanlı konumlandırma sistemi (RTLS) modeli önerilmiştir. Sosyal mesafe kuralı her üretim tesisi için gerekli olduğundan önerilen sistemin en önemli özelliği hemen her işletmede standart personel takip sistemine kolaylıkla entegre edilebilmesidir. Ayrıca önerilen RTLS, kendi içinde kapalı çevrim izleme sistemi olarak çalışabilen, ultra geniş bant ve radyo frekansı tanımlamaya dayalı verimli bir sistem olarak tasarlanmıştır. Yeterli bir şekilde kurulmuş bir RTLS, çalışanların pozisyonunu gerçek zamanlı olarak izleyebilir ve gerektiğinde duruma anında müdahale edilmesini sağlar. Sosyal mesafenin ihlali veya İSG'ye aykırı bir durum olması halinde önerilen sistem ile anlık olarak engellenebilmektedir. Ayrıca acil durumların yönetimi içinde faydalı bir modeldir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Covid-19
• dijital dönüşüm
• iş sağlığı ve güvenliği
• gerçek zamanlı konumlandırma sistemi
• radyo frekansı ile tanımlama
• ultra geniş bant

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