Geospatial Artificial Intelligence Infused into a Smartphone Drone Application for Implementing 'Seek and Destroy' in Uganda

Abstract

This study provided important insights into new, real time, control measures at reducing larval, vector density [Macro Seek and Destroy (S&D) and blood parasite level [Micro S&D] in a malaria treated and suspected intervened population. Initially, this study employed a low-cost (< $1000) drone (DJI Phantom) for eco-geographically locating, water bodies including natural water bodies, irrigated rice paddies, cultivated swamps, ditches, ponds, and other geolocations, which are among the common breeding sites for <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes in Gulu district of Northern Uganda. Our hypothesis was that by integrating real time, scaled up, sentinel site, spectral signature, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone imagery with satellite data using geospatial artificial intelligence [geo-AI] infused into an iOS application (app), a local, vector control officer could retrieve a ranked list of visually similar, breeding site, aquatic foci of <i>An.gambiae s.l. arabiensis s.s. fuentsus s.s.</i> mosquitoes, and their respective district-level, capture point, GPS indexed, centroid coordinates. We real time retrieved (hence, no lag time between seasonal, aquatic, <i>Anopheles</i>, larval habitat, mapping and treatment of foci) each georeferenced sentinel site signature which was subsequently archived in the drone dashboard spectral library using the smartphone app. Each georeferenced, UAV sensed, capture point was inspected using a mobile field team (i.e., trained local village residents led by a vector control officer) on the same day the habitats were geo-AI signature mapped, spatially forecasted and treated. A second hypothesis was that a real time, environmentally friendly, habitat alteration [i.e., Macro S&D] could reduce vector larval habitat density and blood parasite levels in treated and not suspected malaria patients at an entomological intervention site. A third hypothesis was: timely malaria diagnosis and treatment [Micro S&D] is associated with low population parasitemia and lower malaria incidences. In 31 days post-Macro S&D intervention, there was zero vector density, indoor, adult, female, <i>Anopheles</i> count as ascertained by pyrethrum spray catch at the intervention site. After a mean average of 62 days, blood parasite levels revealed a mean 0 count in timely diagnosed suspected and treated malaria patients. Implementing a real time Macro and Micro S&D intervention tool along with other existing tools [insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying of insecticides (IRS)] in an entomological district-level intervention site can lower seasonal malaria prevalence either through timely modification of aquatic, <i>Anopheles</i>, larval habitats or through precisely targeted larvicide interventions.