Lingnan University develops real-time GeoAI Platform for mosquito-borne disease control
The GeoAI Cloud Analytics Platform developed by Prof Paulina Wong Pui-yun, Head of the Science Unit of Lingnan University, provides the general public with a Mosquito Risk Index and Mosquito Risk Map so they can avoid going to areas with serious mosquito problems.
Mosquitoes transmit diseases easily, and some are fatal. In view of this, the Science Unit of Lingnan University has developed a Geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) system, which combines GeoAI technology, an internet of things platform, and geographic information to generate a Mosquito Risk Index and a Mosquito Risk Map for the general public with real-time information about mosquito infestations on a regional basis, and assist Hong Kong in predicting mosquito infestations and controlling mosquito-borne diseases with the use of big data analysis.
The GeoAI Cloud Analytics Platform, an GeoAI system developed by Lingnan University, generates the Mosquito Risk Index and Mosquito Risk Map by analysing the mosquito population and meteorological data provided by Lingnan University’s Intelligent Mosquito Killer Lamps system, which has been installed in 16 districts in Hong Kong, coupled with environmental data such as the location of the vegetation and water sources in the area, etc., as well as the mosquito trap indices from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). Members of the public can visit Lingnan University's Mosquito Risk Platform (geoaimq.ln.edu.hk) to obtain the real-time and predicted mosquito situations in various districts, and avoid going to areas with serious mosquito problems.
Prof Paulina Wong Pui-yun, Head of the Science Unit of Lingnan University, is the leader of the project. She pointed out that although the FEHD currently has the Gravidtrap Index for Aedes albopictus, it only releases the data two weeks to a month later due to the complicated collection process, and is therefore unable to provide real-time data for the general public. Lingnan University's GeoAI Cloud Analytics Platform can fill this gap by collecting more different data to provide real-time and predictive reports.
Prof Wong also pointed out that while the Intelligent System collects data based on mosquito lamps and meteorological reports, the public's own experiences are also very important. Therefore, a notification mechanism has been set up on the website to collect information from the general public. She said "Information about the number of cases of mosquito bites and people seeing mosquitos is most important and relevant. Together with the Geospatial Artificial Intelligence technology, we will be able to gather more accurate information on the seriousness of mosquito infestations in various districts.''
This government-industry-academia-research collaboration project led by Prof Wong has received total funding of HK$3.3 million from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) Partnership Research Programme of the HKAR Government and its partner in the project, Triple Faith Engineering & Supply Limited. The project will last for about 18 months.