Chiang Mai, Thailand
December 12 – 16, 2011
By invitation of the international organizing committee for the sixth International Conference on Biopesticides (ICOB6), aWhere COO Dave Lundberg presented aWhere’s work with advanced satellite-based remote surveillance and location intelligence technology for improved vector control in the U.S. and international markets. Mr. Lundberg demonstrated aWhere’s Mosquito Abatement Decision Information System (MADIS) and discussed the transition of the technology from research-level projects to a scalable industry solution. Of particular interest to the attendees was the applicability of the MADIS solution to increase efficacy and adoption of biopesticides for vector control.
Even with annual expenditures in the billions, mosquito abatement efforts resort to labor-intensive ground monitoring and inefficient saturation control (spraying) systems. This reactive, manual effort causes increased labor costs, ineffective treatments, and unacceptable environmental impact. The vector control industry lacks an efficient way to predict the location and timing of mosquito larval hatch with sufficient lead time or accuracy to impact results for nuisance and vector control.
Two significant foundations for a solution have emerged. Sub-meter resolution, multi-spectral band satellite sensors are being used to pinpoint target water environments and classify them for probability of larvae presence at a sub-meter resolution. Initial deployments indicate the potential to identify even small target areas across very large geographies. This data is then used by advanced location intelligence technologies to provide real-time analysis and recommendations for location-specific vector control management.
MADIS is a ‘business intelligence’ platform capable of integrating satellite imagery and its information derivatives with weather, predictive lifecycle models, and on-the-ground observations to optimize control efforts at very precise levels. These technologies can significantly impact control effectiveness; potentially decreasing wasted application coverage by up to 90%. The solution is being deployed across six mosquito control districts in the U.S. and is planned for implementation to support malaria control efforts and Indoor Residual Spraying programs in Uganda.