Mindanao Journal of Science and Technology

♻️🪰 AI-Powered Food Waste Sorting for Sustainable Farming!

Food waste is a growing global problem, and this study explored a smart solution using Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) technology. Researchers developed a low-cost AI vision system using a Raspberry Pi and a convolutional neural network (CNN) to automatically sort food waste based on moisture levels. 📷🤖

🔍 What can it do?
✅ Classifies waste as dry, optimal, or wet
✅ Automatically directs waste using a motorized system
✅ Achieved up to 98% training accuracy and real-time sorting at ~85% accuracy
✅ Reduced manual labor by nearly 89%

💡 Why it matters:
This affordable system (under USD 150) can help small-scale BSFL farms process food waste more efficiently, supporting sustainable waste management and circular economy practices aligned with SDG 12.3. 🌍

Access the paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2537/395

🐟☀️ Smart Fish Drying with IoT Technology!

Traditional fish drying can be slow and inconsistent, especially with changing weather. This study developed an IoT-based fish dryer in Northern Samar that uses sensors and an ESP32 microcontroller to monitor temperature, humidity, and fish weight in real time through LCD and web-based systems. 📱🌡️

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Reduced fish moisture to safe levels in just 180–200 minutes
✅ Maintained stable drying conditions automatically
✅ Achieved strong energy efficiency and effective moisture control
✅ Economically viable with a 24.89% return on investment

💡 Why it matters:
This smart drying system can help small-scale fish processors improve product quality, reduce spoilage, save energy, and increase income through more reliable fish processing.

Access the paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2535

📡🚶‍♂️ Detecting People Through Walls with Radar Technology!

This study improved the ability of Ultra-Wideband Impulse Radar (UWB-IR) to detect and locate people behind walls using advanced signal-processing techniques. 🧠📊 Tests were conducted using plywood and concrete walls across 15 scenarios.

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Achieved over 92% average accuracy in detecting and counting people
✅ More accurate distance estimation through plywood walls
✅ Can identify multiple people hidden behind barriers

💡 Why it matters:
This technology could support search-and-rescue operations, disaster response, security, and emergency monitoring by detecting human presence even when visibility is blocked.

Access the paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2536/394

🚗📹 AI for Smarter Traffic Monitoring!
Managing traffic starts with knowing how crowded the roads are. This study used AI object detection to estimate traffic density on Elias Angeles St., Naga City, analyzing CCTV footage and identifying vehicles like cars, jeepneys, trucks, motorcycles, and tricycles.

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Faster R-CNN performed best with 92.54% accuracy
✅ Traffic density was estimated by considering vehicle size (using cars as a standard)
✅ AI can reliably track and classify multiple vehicle types in real time

💡 Why it matters:
This approach can help cities improve traffic management, planning, and congestion control using smart, data-driven systems.

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2522

🛣️🏗️ Stronger Roads Start from the Ground Up!
Weak clay soils can cause roads to crack and fail over time. This study tested how geotextiles (special reinforcing fabrics) can improve the strength of clay subgrade soil in Adtuyon.

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Adding geotextiles increased soil strength (CBR values)
✅ Best results when placed deeper (at 3/4 depth)
✅ Improved load support and reduced settlement

💡 Why it matters:
Using geotextiles can help build more durable roads, reduce maintenance costs, and improve infrastructure reliability—especially in areas with weak soils.

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2521

🌶️🌱 Fighting Plant Disease, Boosting Bell Pepper Yield!

Bell pepper production is often reduced by bacterial wilt, a serious plant disease with no widely available cure. This study tested hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and salicylic acid (SA) as possible solutions.

🔍 What worked best?
✅ 150 ppm hydrogen peroxide + low salicylic acid
➡️ More fruits and higher yield
➡️ Better disease control
➡️ Higher farmer income 💰

⚠️ Higher salicylic acid levels delayed flowering and harvest.

💡 Why it matters:
This offers a practical, low-cost strategy to help farmers improve yield and manage disease—without relying on commercial bactericides.

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2520

🌬️🍃 Wind Turbine Design Inspired by Banana Leaves!

What if nature could help build better wind turbines? This study explored banana leaf-inspired designs for the internal structure (shear web) of turbine blades. Using advanced simulations, researchers tested how these designs perform under different wind speeds.

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Short midrib design = least bending (deflection)
✅ Long midrib design = lowest stress
✅ Dual-web design = better vibration behavior

💡 Why it matters:
These biomimetic designs show that nature-inspired engineering can make wind turbines stronger, more efficient, and more reliable—boosting renewable energy innovation. 🌱⚡

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2519

🌱🪢 Stronger Natural Fibers for Greener Engineering!

Can local materials replace synthetic geotextiles? This study tested abaca and coconut coir fibers—treated with a simple alkaline process—to improve their strength and durability.

🔍 What changed?
✅ Cleaner, rougher fiber surfaces for better bonding
✅ Improved structure and strength
✅ Meets standards for bioengineering and soil stabilization

💡 Why it matters:
These treated natural fibers could serve as eco-friendly, locally sourced alternatives for slope protection and erosion control—supporting sustainable infrastructure in the Philippines.

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2518