Modeling of Culicidae population capacity using remote sensing, GIS, and fractal geometry

A remote sensing and fractal geometric approach is proposed for the surveillance of mosquito population. The spread of vector-borne pathogens is becoming increasingly important with recent discussions of extensive human urbanization and global climate change. To date most studies dealing with mosquito transmitted disease surveyed by remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems have been conducted in tropical homogenous locales. This study approached the issue in a rapidly suburbanizing county in the Midwestern portion of the United States. Adult mosquitoes were trapped over a several year period and the landscape of the surrounding patches analyzed via remote sensing, fractal geometry, and areal summation. Additionally, frequently used vegetation indices were employed in the analysis of the landscape. The fractal method outperformed the areal metric slightly.; Future methods of mosquito surveillance using remote sensing are also discussed. Mosquito abatement policy may also be enhanced by the use of such methods and systems. The implication of ecological fallacy and other limitations of the current study are revealed.