Viability of unmanned aerial vehicles in identifying potential breeding sites for mosquito

Surveillance of mosquito breeding sites is essential because it provides the information needed to assess risks and thus respond to dengue outbreaks. This article aims to review existing research on the viability of using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to identify potential breeding sites for Aedes mosquitoes and highlight the issues related to their implementation.

The authors conducted a literature search in four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and IEEE Xplore) and completed it in December 2022. Articles that do not directly address the application of drones for surveillance and control of mosquito breeding sites were excluded.

The initial search using the keywords yielded 623 documents. After screening abstracts and reviewing the full text, only 17 articles met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were in the proof-of-concept stage. Many studies have also incorporated drone technologies and machine learning techniques into surveillance efforts. The authors have highlighted seven key issues related to the operational aspects of using drones. Those are hardware, software, law and regulation, operating time, expertise, geography, and community involvement.

With rapid developments in drone technologies and machine learning techniques, the viability of drones as surveillance tools can be enhanced, thus effectively responding to global public health concerns.