151 - Taking Flight with Drone Photogrammetry: Operational Uses for Aerial Imagery in Mosquito Control

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), or drones, have had a transformative impact within mosquito control due to their operational ease, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. At Collier Mosquito Control District, drone photogrammetry has become an integral component of our integrated mosquito management program for collecting and maintaining up to date aerial imagery which informs the District’s surveillance and treatment decisions. For these tasks, the District utilizes a Skydio X2E small mapping drone and a Inspired Flight 1200A heavy-lift drone equipped with a Sony A7R camera for mapping large areas. In response to land-use changes occurring in Collier County, the District uses these drones to acquire imagery for constructing maps that are used for planning aerial larvicide treatment missions, ensuring that the application of treatment materials is precise and accurate. The rapid development occurring necessitates routine drone inspections and mapping to ensure that the treatment areas reflect actual field conditions. In addition, these maps are also integrated into the District’s field data collection service, FieldSeeker, as a custom basemap which aid field technicians in the placement of traps and landing count locations. This presentation will outline the District’s workflow for acquiring, processing, and utilizing drone photogrammetry for operational purposes and highlight the advantages of leveraging aerial imagery for integrated mosquito management programs.