East Side Mosquito Abatement District battles mosquitos with technology

The core benefit this new solution brings to the East Side Mosquito Abatement District is clear—fewer mosquitos annoying residents and potentially spreading disease. But behind that impressive, difficult-to-achieve result, there are many other benefits:

• Higher productivity. By moving from a no/low tech working environment to connected laptops, tablets and smartphones, the District can monitor and control more mosquito breeding sources, more efficiently. Putting technology in the hands of all workers empowers them and lets them use their time better, focusing on high-return efforts. For a small team fighting mosquitos in a District that covers 500+ square miles, greater productivity and higher visibility are major advantages. “Apple iPads and iPhones are revolutionizing what we can do in the field,” says Dr. Wekesa. “Now we can respond in a more timely, responsive manner.”
  
  
• Clear, reliable communication throughout the district. With Verizon connectivity via laptops, tablets and smartphones, District personnel can stay closely connected while in the field or in the District office. They can share information, chart progress and coordinate mosquito mitigation efforts.
  
  
• Better tracking. Mosquito abatement efforts are now informed by detailed GPS-driven geographical and treatment data—all presented by the VeeMAC software in clear, colorful visual overlays. The VeeMAC solution captures the entire district and the detailed treatment record. Users can see what areas were treated and when the treatments occurred— whether sprayed by vector control technicians with backpack sprayers, by truck or via aircraft.
  
  Armed with these insights, the District leadership can make better, more informed decisions about where to focus its efforts. “There’s no more flying blind,” says Dr. Wekesa. “At the locations our people are treating, they have a record of a month, two months or a year ago. So, they know what they need to do—right now. There’s great value in this historical record when fighting mosquitos.”
  
  
• More controlled operations. Mosquito abatement chemicals must be applied carefully, in the right amounts and at the right times. The VeeMAC system enables more precise control over fogging by careful GPS tracking of areas that have been treated, reducing over- or under-treatment. For example, when fogging via truck, the VeeMAC ULV Controller—working with the VeeMAC Mobile solution running on an iPad— connects directly to the truck’s material pump to provide an efficient, precise, variable-speed spraying solution. The software controls the speed of the pump based on the chosen apply rate (the amount of chemical materials to apply), the pump’s throughput capacity and the speed of the vehicle. As a result, the right amount of chemicals is applied—and sensitive areas avoided—reducing chemical costs while helping protect sensitive areas.
  
  
• Lower cost of materials. The chemicals and other materials used to fight mosquitos are expensive. In the past, the District spent $465,000 annually on these materials. Now, thanks to more efficient tracking and application, it has cut its budget by more than half, to $215,000 over the past three years. Associated costs, such as gas for trucks and airplanes, are also lower.
  
  
• Higher morale. The work of the District is hot, uncomfortable, difficult and repetitive, even during the best of times. But knowing that their efforts are paying off makes the hard work seem much more worthwhile—and raises morale. “I think that our staff is actually enjoying doing even the hardest work, since they’re seeing progress—and always learning something new,” says Dr. Wekesa. “The work environment is quite improved by the new solution.”
  
  
• Better quality of life. Residents within the district used to call in with complaints about mosquitos. At times, the volume of calls totaled as much as 256 calls a day, including schools pleading for attention. Although the arrival of the Aedes agypti  mosquito in Modesto has heightened public anxiety, on a recent day, the incoming calls totaled sixteen, according to Dr. Wekesa. “Kids can play outside because now we know where the problem areas are before the problems happen. With the new solution, we’re able to stay on top of the mosquito problem.” Armed with more data, the District can shift its efforts from reactive attempts to battle adult mosquitos to more effective efforts to proactively destroy mosquito larvae where they live, in culverts, agricultural canals and other areas where water gathers. These areas are also visually highlighted and tracked by the VeeMAC software.
  
  
• Lower public health risk. While the vast majority of the District’s mosquito population can be categorized as nuisance mosquitos, fewer mosquitos mean lower risk of mosquito-borne illnesses. As conditions shift, the risk of disease transmission via mosquitos can rise—and the District is ready.