Services for Mosquito Habitat Mapping

Every year, mosquito-transmitted diseases cause over one million of deaths. The ESA-backed VECMAP service based on EO and satellite navigation assists public health agencies and regional mosquito controllers in predicting vector-related health risks and in reducing the spread of diseases.

Source: World Mosquito Program

Mosquito-borne diseases such as Malaria, Chikungunya, Dengue and West Nile fever are a persistent public health concern in many European countries. VECMAP is a service assisting national public health agencies and regional mosquito controllers in predicting vector-related health risks and in reducing spread of disease. It enhances and simplifies traditional distribution modelling, field and laboratory work with the help of satellite navigation and Earth observation. The VECMAP Demonstration Project is the result of a feasibility study which was successfully concluded in 2011. The prototype developed by the feasibility study is the basis of the VECMAP service platform being developed and evaluated by the demonstration project. Three major user communities were identified, namely Public Health Users, pest control companies and other commercial users, and academic users. The ARS (Agence Régionale de Santé de Guadeloupe), Guadeloupe (France) is involved in the testing of the new features developed. Producing risk maps is a complex process, involving field sampling of the vectors to provide data needed to calibrate the statistical distribution modelling that delivers the risk maps. The modelling itself needs additional inputs extensively processed and standardised EO imagery. In order to be able to carry out these procedures most users will need them to be available as a user friendly and closely integrated set of utilities and components, supported by extensive technical backstopping from qualified technicians. VECMAP satisfies these needs, and also ensures that the cost effectiveness is optimised.VECMAP will therefore enhance the planning capabilities, and preparedness for vector borne diseases in both mainland EU as in the overseas territories. Space assets are an essential and indispensible element of two major VECMAP system components. Navigation systems provide the means to efficiently locate and travel to the vector field sampling sites to collect the distribution data that calibrates the statistical distribution models. Earth Observation imagery is needed to construct the statistical models that underlie the distribution maps produced. VECMAP's unique benefit is to offer a "One-Stop-Shop" integrating all the tools needed to produce spatial risk maps from sampling to modelling and data processing and archiving, improving cost effectiveness and providing extensive technical support to the Users. VECMAP will allow more stakeholders to directly produce and evaluate the risk posed by disease vectors and their potential spread. It will also allow existing practitioners to be more cost effective, and extend their activities to new areas or at the least maintain them in an era of declining economic resources.