September 20, 2018, 12:32 PM 
Smokers in Singapore who enjoy lighting up all over the place, beware.
Singapore is fast curbing smoking in many of public places in a bid to become a smoke-free nation.
Thermal cameras deployment
In order to enforce the tighter regulations, the National Environment Agency (NEA) is planning to deploy thermal cameras in areas that prohibit smoking, according to Channel NewsAsia (CNA)
This is how thermal cameras work:
- Detect a temperature difference (e.g. from a lit cigarette)
- Highlight the area
- Zoom in on face to capture identity
Remote controlled
Aside from zooming, these cameras can also pan and tilt, increasing its coverage of a prohibited area.
Images captured from between 20m and 100m can effectively identify a person.
According to a director of a security solutions provider, captured images can work in tandem with a database in order to quickly apprehend offenders.
Footage from a thermal imaging camera. Via Transmex Systems International via CNA.
Mobile cameras
These cameras are especially useful since NEA officers face difficulties in apprehending offenders.
With the expanded powers given to NEA enforcement officers, these thermal cameras will help them to identify and track offenders.
These cameras are also mobile, meaning that they do not have to be fixed to one place and can be moved around according to demand.
Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor mentioned in Parliament that NEA has invited contractors to submit tenders to provide these thermal cameras.
In response to CNA's queries, NEA said that aside from residential areas, thermal cameras will be deployed in areas with "persistent feedback on smoking issues".
Such places include corridors, lift lobbies and staircase landings.
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Footage will be destroyed eventually
NEA also assured the public that these cameras will "focus only on the common corridors, lift lobbies or staircase landings as these are smoking prohibited areas".
It also added that there are "strict protocols" when it comes to viewing and handling video footage.
Footage that does not capture offences will be destroyed after three months.
Top image credit: Transmex Systems International via Dahua via CNA
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