April 29, 2021 – Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University with Asst. Prof. Denpong Soodphakdee, Ph.D., Vice President for Digital released the news to the news reporters from Khon Kaen News Center on “Time Line Map of Khon Kaen Covid-19 Patients”. The Time Line Map developing team is composed of: 1) Assoc. Prof. Rawee Hanpachoen, a researcher of KKU Smart City Project; 2) Prof. Wanida Kaen-akat, a researcher of KKU Smart City Project; 3) Dr. Apirachai Wongsriworaphon, Director of the Science Park, Khon Kaen University and the team; who joined in explaining the details to the news reporters. The event took place at the President Meeting Room, Sirikunakorn Building, Khon Kaen University.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said, “Khon Kaen University has been controlling the spread of Covid-19 in 2 ways. 1) Our Hospitals – Srinagarind Hospital and Queen Sirikit Heart Center that are fully equipped in screening, treating, and transferring patients, and the first Field Hospital of Khon Kaen that can accommodate the patients that are increasing every day. 2) There are measures for controlling and preventing the virus so that there are no clusters on campus.”
The President added, “Khon Kaen University set up the KKU Smart City Project as part of Khon Kaen Smart City Project that is under the principle strategy of Khon Kaen Province. There is the Smart City Operational Centre (SCOPC) situated within the Main Building of the Northeast Science Park, Khon Kaen. This will be the Data Center of Khon Kaen. The main mission is to create technologies that facilitate the ways of living of Khon Kaen city people in many aspects.” Asst. Prof. Denpong Soodphakdee, Ph.D., Vice President for Digital explained, “KKU’s Digital Section, under the KKU Smart City Project, is working with Khon Kaen Public Health Office in analyzing the time lines of Covid-19 patients and linking the data in order to present in the form of map that shows the places the patients have been to during the past 7 to 28 days. We will then know if we have been close to the risk areas. The map will help increase people’s confidence in their living during this Covid-19 crisis.”
Assoc. Prof. Rawee Hanpachoen, a researcher of KKU Smart City Project related about the development of the Time Line Map of Covid-19 Patients, “The website: https://kku.world/covid created by the research team shows the positions of hospitals, the time line of the patients during the past 7 – 28 days, and the places having preventive measures and passing the hygiene criteria. Information is updated every day. Besides, we have analyzed the information in order to show the statistics including gender, age range, and the patients’ links. This enables us to see the place that is possible as a cluster, and helps doctors’ investigation.”
Prof. Wanida Kaen-akat, a researcher of KKU Smart City Project added, “The Smart City Operational Centre (SCOPC) is equipped with infrastructures, tools and researchers who are prepared to work with the government and the private sector, using the mechanisms of the Science Park and the bodies of knowledge of Khon Kaen University in Digital Skill to build technologies and innovations that will facilitate the public. The evidence of the work outcomes during the first pandemic can be retrieved from: https://smartcity.kku.ac.th.”
“The Time Line of patients will help the government to plan, be prepared, and administer the hospitals to accommodate the patients in the area and those returning to Khon Kaen,” Prof. Wanida continued, “Now, Trang Governor has tried out the platform. Other provinces, if interested, can fill the online form on ‘Google Form’. Our team will update the data and show the results on the website map. All of the operation is under KKU’s Transformation policy and under the administration of Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University. KKU’s vision is to be the university of knowledge and the university that dedicates to the society.”
People who are interested can visit the website: https://kku.world/covid
which is the website developed by the research team of KKU Smart City Project, Khon Kaen University