International collaborative network for the Integration, Standardization and Assessment of the use of drones in malaria vector control strategies

Malaria control programmes rely on interventions targeting mosquito-breeding sites to reduce mosquito populations and malaria transmission. These approaches require precisely locating the water bodies and potential breeding sites. Low-cost drones represent a new potential source of data for mapping land use and identifying breeding sites. However, the use of drones for public health is still in its infancy and needs guidance on technical requirements and image analysis methods as well as the feasibility and acceptability of employing these methods in communities. To this effect, this study proposes an International collaborative network for the Integration, Standardization and Assessment of the use of drones in malaria vector control strategies. This network will assemble researchers from Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South America employing drones for malaria control and risk mapping. This network will elaborate guidelines for integrating drone technology into malaria control, which will help in reducing barriers to entry for new users, by helping through the initial the technical requirements and usability of the data and thus, enabling a quick progress to the field biology. Using the Peruvian Amazon as a case study, aerial multispectral and thermal imagery will be collected in this region. Simultaneously, the project will develop and apply a framework for assessing community perceptions of drone work and technical and institutional limitations for incorporating drones into malaria control programmes.

Health Systems
Product Development
Vector Control

Oct 2019 — Oct 2020

$31,668

Peru