Smart market management system can smell a rat

Shanghai's first intelligent market supervision and management platform has started trial operations in Minhang district.

It can spot over 20 problems such as rats in kitchens and poor elevator maintenance.

The system covers five areas: consumer rights, medicines, elevators, food and licensing, according to Wu Jun, director of the Minhang District Market Supervision and Management Bureau.

There has been a surge of complaints regarding rats in restaurants.

It is sometimes difficult for consumers to provide photographic or video proof, and it is usually too late by the time officials arrive to investigate. It is also time-consuming because officials need to wait around to spot the rats, Wu said.

Surveillance cameras in restaurant kitchens now include facial recognition, behavioral recognition, motion detectors, and temperature and humidity sensors.

The system also refers to a database of images and video of common insect pests and rats.

"Once rats appear in a kitchen, the cameras sense their movement and send pictures to officials. Evidence collection and management are almost synchronous," said Wu.

The system will also alert officials when unfamiliar faces appear in restaurant kitchens and if workers are not wearing masks or smoking in cooking areas.

It can also help stamp out the very serious problem of fake elevator maintenance.

"Officials need to check written maintenance records, and it is difficult to know if companies are faking their records," said Wu.

QR codes have been set up in the control rooms of elevators at about 100 residential complexes in Minhang, and maintenance companies are required to scan the codes before maintenance.

Data collection systems inside elevators ensure the maintenance has been carried out.