GIS in Mosquito Control Operations: Interview with Olivia Konieczny

Today's Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) programs continuously strive to improve their efficiency and effectiveness by using the latest technological advancements. One of the best tools for achieving these goals is Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The computer-based mapping, data management and geo-spatial analysis that GIS systems provide are invaluable to mosquito control districts. In this edition of Vector Vision, we share insights from a specialist who uses GIS daily to help manage mosquito control operations in South Florida.

At Collier County Mosquito Control District in Naples, FL, data plays a central role in how mosquito control decisions are made in the field. Much of that effort is powered by GIS (Geographic Information Systems), a technology that allows teams to collect, map, and analyze location-based data to guide real-time decision-making.

For GIS Technical Development Specialist Olivia Konieczny, that starts with building the systems that support daily operations.

"Our research staff and our field technicians are collecting data daily to give our office staff an idea of what's going on in the field, justify our treatments and make sure that we are collecting the science and the data that we need to have the greatest effect for a community," Konieczny said. "My role in that is building the tools that they're using."

Those tools, built within ArcGIS, help the district prioritize where and when to act.

"Our job is to prioritize the treatments that will have the greatest impact," Konieczny said. "That's where the data comes in. We can look at how high the mosquito counts are, how many people are around, how many times the area has been inspected, and how long it's been since it was last treated. We factor all those factors into our treatment decisions."

And when the data talks, Konieczny and her team at Collier County Mosquito Control listen.

"When we see a super high count, that is signaling that something serious is going on and immediately brings our attention to that area," Konieczny said. "From there, we look at whether our trap collections are also high in that area, whether we can find larvae there, and decide what the best course of action is moving forward to mitigate that issue."

Collier County has embraced a data-driven approach for years, and that approach has only been expedited with the integration of ArcGIS. The use of GIS has also improved their public outreach, with the residents of Collier County grateful and eager to learn more. Konieczny said the district is working to bring more data to the public through social media posts and a public-facing map on their website.

"So many of the comments we get are 'Thank you so much, we needed this,'" Konieczny said. "We love getting questions from residents about where we're treating and why because it gives us the opportunity to emphasize the importance data plays in directing the treatments throughout their neighborhood."

Looking ahead, Konieczny sees untapped potential in the GIS data they're collecting, specifically when it comes to using past data for predictive analysis and proactive treatments.

"There's so much historical data that we could look at to create model predictions," she said. "For example, tying rainfall to mosquito counts, mapping disease risk based on climate change and all the invasive species coming in. We could leverage past and current data to make stronger predictions."

Ultimately, while GIS technology can be a significant investment, Konieczny would recommend the software to any district looking to add more efficiency to their operations.

"It's all integrated together," Konieczny said. "Everyone can access the data without the need for paper records or Excel sheets. It's a lot of work, but it's worth the investment and time in the long run."