Developing a real-time social distancing detection system based on YOLOv4-tiny and bird-eye view for COVID-19

COVID-19 is a virus, which is transmitted through small droplets during speech, sneezing, coughing, and mostly by inhalation between individuals in close contact. The pandemic is still ongoing and causes people to have an acute respiratory infection which has resulted in many deaths. The risks of COVID-19 spread can be eliminated by avoiding physical contact among people. This research proposes real-time AI platform for people detection, and social distancing classification of individuals based on thermal camera. YOLOv4-tiny is proposed in this research for object detection. It is a simple neural network architecture, which makes it suitable for low-cost embedded devices. The proposed model is a better option compared to other approaches for real-time detection. An algorithm is also implemented to monitor social distancing using a bird’s-eye perspective. The proposed approach is applied to videos acquired through thermal cameras for people detection, social distancing classification, and at the same time measuring the skin temperature for the individuals. To tune up the proposed model for individual detection, the training stage is carried out by thermal images with various indoor and outdoor environments. The final prototype algorithm has been deployed in a low-cost Nvidia Jetson devices (Xavier and Jetson Nano) which are composed of fixed camera. The proposed approach is suitable for a surveillance system within sustainable smart cities for people detection, social distancing classification, and body temperature measurement. This will help the authorities to visualize the fulfillment of the individuals with social distancing and simultaneously monitoring their skin temperature.