Southern Leyte State University Team Develops AI-Based Face Mask Detection System for COVID-19 Prevention

In a remarkable contribution to the field of public health technology, Geraldine B. Mangmang, James Arnold E. Nogra, and Jannie Fleur V. Oraño from Southern Leyte State University have published an insightful article titled "AI-Based Face Mask Detection System for COVID-19 Prevention" in a renowned Scopus-indexed journal. This groundbreaking study addresses a crucial aspect of public health during the ongoing pandemic: the effective monitoring of mask compliance in crowded public spaces.
The research delves into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze video footage and determine whether individuals are wearing masks properly, partially, or not at all. By developing an inception network trained on 4,789 black-and-white face images, the authors created a model capable of detecting mask usage with exceptional accuracy—98.5% on training images and 98.8% on validation images. This model provides a practical and scalable solution for authorities seeking to enforce mask-wearing protocols in real-time.
Mangmang, Nogra, and Oraño's study highlights the potential of AI to assist in public health efforts, particularly in crowded settings where manually monitoring every individual is not feasible. The inception network they developed comprises three inception modules, three max pooling layers, two fully connected layers, and a dropout layer, achieving efficient video frame processing at nearly the same frame rate as the original video.
The implications of this research extend beyond pandemic management, offering valuable insights into how technology can be harnessed to safeguard public health and safety. As the world continues to navigate the complexities of COVID-19, the Southern Leyte State University team’s work marks a significant step in leveraging technological innovations for the greater good. The university looks forward to continued support and collaboration in advancing such initiatives, aiming to contribute to public health strategies and the global fight against the virus.