An analysis of the feasibility of incorporating a mobile phone-based participatory field survey into satellite-based fall webworm monitoring

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study explores the feasibility of incorporating public participatory field data collection into satellite-based fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea Drury) monitoring. Case studies were conducted through fall webworm monitoring at Jinghai county in the north of China and Lieshan county in the middle-east of China. Sample data generated from participatory monitoring data were used for satellite-based fall webworm defoliation mapping, achieving an average accuracy above 92%. By comparing participatory monitoring data with expert measurements, Willmott’s indices of agreement were greater than 0.88, which demonstrated that infestation data collected by local community could achieve a comparable accuracy to expert value. Meanwhile, the comparison with satellite data confirmed that participatory monitoring data could serve as a valuable, high temporal and spatial resolution data source complementary to satellite data, to help forest managers, planners and scientists to better understand the status of fall webworm infestation.