Centro Agricoltura Ambiente “Giorgio Nicoli” relies on the most up-to-date GIS (Geographic Information System) technology in order to assist the management of monitoring and disinfestation activities. The software programs used are ArcView (versions 3.x and 8.x), MapInfo Professional and Open Sourse GIS (Quantum GIS, uDig).

C.A.A. designs specific applications to make it easier for users (Municipal and Provincial authorities, Local Health Agencies) to manage and control disinfestation activities. They involve linking GIS software to databases (DBMS) and downloading data from GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking devices positioned on operational units.

CAA is increasingly oriented toward the field use of GIS and GPS equipped palmtops with the aim of enhancing the data collection and management in the realm of entomology .

SERVICES PROVIDED

• Construction of ACCESS Databases for the management of mosquito breeding sites.
• Construction of ACCESS Databases for the management of Aedes albopictus survey programs.
• Digitisation and preparation of theme maps on mosquito breeding sites and for Aedes albopictus control.
• Consultancy on the use of ArcView 3.x, ArcGis 8 and MapInfo Professional, FreeGIS (Quantum GIS, uDig) within the framework of the CONTROL project.
• Development of specific TOOLS for the management of monitoring activities and mapping in the ArcView 3.x environment.
• Geostatistical studies on the monitoring of bloodsucking insects and production of Infestation and Nuisance Risk maps.
• Monitoring and processing of data of disinfestation service providers via GPS-GIS.
• Construction of ACCESS-compatible databases for the collection of data via PALMTOPS.