Covid-19 Testing Kiosks & Deployment
A response to the immediate need for Covid-19 testing in the US
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been two overarching barriers to achieving widespread testing in the US. First, demand for testing continually exceeds the supply of tests. Second, when supply is available, the populations most in need of access have the greatest barriers to getting tested. Curative engaged Gehl to develop a test collection system that used neighborhoods as infrastructure to get testing to those who need it most.
This two-part project included:
1. The design of a modular kiosk, fitted with mobile testing equipment to enable an efficient, self-contained, safe, and accessible process.
2. A data-driven tool to help Curative and city partners identify new test sites and deploy testing kiosks where they are needed the most.
Underscoring this effort is the fact that Black, Latinx, and undocumented communities have routinely expereinced a shortage of testing resources throughout the pandemic –a fact that is particularly unjust given that these groups are statistically more likely to contract the virus. Additionally, people who do not own cars have also struggled to get tested, as many test sites offer only drivethrough testing and/or sites are not easily available by walking or transit.
Given the urgency and time constraints of the global health crisis, the team needed to strike
Facts
Public Space Product Design & deployment strategy Location Nationwide Client Curative
Year 2020 Read more here
Gehl team Blaine Merker (Project Director), Matthew Lister, Julia Day, Adriana Akers, Rebecca Cook, Andrew Kremers
Gehl’s Kiosk design and deployment system increased the community-based Covid-19 test collection capacity of the United States by one million tests per month across more than 30 cities.
COVID-19 Case Concentration + Testing Gaps + Social Vulnerability Use Density + Destinations Physical Assets + Distribution of Partner Institutions Integrate Feasibility + Incorporate Stakeholder Feedback Site selection analysis includes mapping the following:
Through understanding the unique conditions and tailored needs of different cities Gehl & Curative are working to design a modular system to enable the rapid deployment of Curative testing and provide COVID-19 testing widely and where it is most needed across the US.
a balance between efficiency and quality design to deliver effective solutions. During the design conception and development, Gehl collaborated with fabrication and information design consultants to conduct rigorous prototyping. These ideas were then translated into full scale working prototypes, each version improving upon the previous.
This real time design process was paired with on-site user data collection to ensure a user-informed, iterative design process. Working with information designers, Gehl simplified and integrated test experience communications with the Kiosk design and dramatically simplifying the process, steps, and translating the instructions into multiple languages. This streamlining better enables people of all ages, abilty, and backgrounds to have an easier testing experience.
Using a GIS model, Gehl put possible test siting factors to work using a multi-criteria decision framework that identifies areas of cities with a high epidemiological need and the greatest potential to reach underserved groups. The team designed the modeling tool to be flexible and adaptable based on local input. Pairing the kiosks with Gehl’s data-driven siting approach, has helped Curative have informed dialogues with clients to fill gaps in the existing testing system, and provide a more evenly and equitably distributed testing network citywide and statewide.
Since their deployment to more than 30 cities in 2020, the kiosks helped to increase the daily testcollection capacity across these cities by over one million tests per month.
1 On-site testing Prototype Version 3 in Berkeley, CA
2. On-site Prototype Version 5 fabrication of 30 units
3. Detail views of testing mechanism
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