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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Enhancement Grants - Special Projects |
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Project Title:
Weed IT Mobile - A Weed Identification and Management Tool for Mobile Devices |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: NC Lead Organization: North Carolina State University |
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Cooperating State(s):
Virginia |
| Undesignated Funding: $24,951 |
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Start Date: Jun-01-2011 End Date: May-31-2012 |
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Pests Involved: Weeds |
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Site/Commodity: Nursery crops |
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Area of Emphasis: Mobile diagnostics |
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Summary:
All pest management programs must begin with accurate identification of the pest. To aid growers and extension personnel in the development of management programs, there are a number of diagnostic resources available in traditional hardcopy form or online. However, few online resources employ state-of-the-art multi-access keys and fewer still are comprehensive in their coverage. Until recently, lacking altogether were digital diagnostic resources that are easily deployable in the field using personal digital assistants (PDAs) or smart phones. In response to this need we recently developed two prototype, image-driven, pest identification toolsWeed IT (Online) and Weed IT( Mobile 1.0). These prototypes comprehensively treat the weeds of container nurseries in the United States because the relatively small number of species provided manageable yet sufficient diversity in plant species and types to ensure broad utility of the program framework. Rapid pest identification is powered on the field deployable, mobile platform by a SLIKS multi-access key. SLIKS was chosen for the mobile application for its multi-character key structure and because it is a freely available, modifiable, open source script. Both keys are heavily visual: (1) images are used to obviate reference to a glossary for unfamiliar morphological terms, and (2) images accompany all listed taxa, so users can quickly scan for potential matches while selecting characters. Each taxon is linked to a fact sheet which includes additional images, a morphological description, and performance ratings against thirteen herbicides. The prototypes were beta-tested by NC State University students and staff, NC Cooperative Extension agents, and a few Weed Science peers. Preliminary responses from evaluations have indicated a general ease-of-use and consistent positive identification of unknown weeds. However, reviewers have also noted some strategic interface improvement needs for the mobile application. Based on this feedback and our continued reassessment, we have identified a number of priority coding targets that need to be addressed to achieve the goal of an easily accessible and functional field diagnostic tool. Funding is requested here to refine and finalize the development of this mobile application based on our beta-test reviews.
Finalizing our mobile application would be an important contribution to container nursery weed management in and of itself. However, once we have a finalized this mobile application, a developmental tool can be reverse engineered that would allow any user to create a mobile diagnostic application for their particular pest management needs. The requested support from SR-IPM to complete our mobile application would thus also play an important role in catalyzing procurement of future resources to develop a user-friendly app developmental tool that no doubt would receive wide use in the region and beyond. The development of mobile diagnostic apps could thus be a welcome and synergistic complement, increasing the effectiveness of management specialists and scouts in the field. Objectives: The objectives of this project are to complete refinements of Weed IT Mobile ; further beta-test the system; and, assess the potential for expanding the utility and applications of this multi-character diagnostic tool for pest identification and management. Specifically, we propose to: 1. Compile necessary revisions of Weed IT Mobile 1.0 Weeds of Container Nurseries, 2. Develop specifications for programming revisions, 3. Revise the program, 4. Evaluate the improved version, Weed IT Mobile 2.0 Weeds of Container Nurseries, and 5. Establish a dialogue with other weed management and pest management professionals to prioritize future application development. |
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Final Report: |
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Results With the support of this grant, we were able to meet our objectivescompiling necessary revisions to Weed IT Mobile 1.0 Weeds of Container Nurseries, developing detailed specifications for programming revisions, revising the program, and evaluating the improved versionand have begun dialogues to prioritize future application development. As noted in the proposal, a number of technical and aesthetic revisions were required to improve the original version of our diagnostic resource. These revisions were addressed by an external contractor as proposed. We are pleased to report that through the revisions desktop browser compatibility issues were successfully addressed and the interface was rendered adaptive to the different screen size classes represented by smartphones vs. tablets. This represents a significant step forward toward our ultimate goal of creating a framework through which others may develop their own customizable, mobile apps for IPM throughout the region. Once we have a finalized mobile application, a developmental tool can be reverse engineered that would allow any user to create a mobile diagnostic application for their particular pest management needs. |
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Impacts An integrated pest management (IPM) system is the most effective and efficient tool growers can use to limit crop and monetary losses attributed to pests (Bolin et al. 2007). To avoid unnecessary or ineffective pesticide applications, and to ensure optimal efficacy from pest management practices, any IPM program must start with pest identification. Our mobile diagnostic app contributes directly to rapid weed identification, setting the stage for optimal efficacy in pest management. This is important as costs associated with pest control and pest-related crop losses are high and plant damage by pests is a significant source of revenue loss for the nursery industry. In North Carolina, the green industry reported annual losses of $91,000,000 due to insects and diseases (NCDA 2005). Losses due to plant disease in Georgia in 2007 were estimated to be $43,410,000 for nurseries (Martinez 2008). Crop losses due to weeds are less well documented but are potentially greater that those reported for insects and diseases. Fretz (1972) reported that as few as one large crabgrass plant (Digitaria sanguinalis) per container can reduce dry weight of Japanese holly (Ilex crenata Convexa) by up to 60%. To eliminate weed competition, nursery crop producers utilize three to six applications of preemergence herbicides each year at an average cost of about $550 per acre per year, supplemented with hand weeding costing between $2,389 and $5,506 per acre per year (Judge et al. 2004). Thus, the development of our authoritative, mobile diagnostic app has the potential to contribute significantly to reducing management costs through avoiding unnecessary or ineffective pesticide applications. |
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Outcomes We are currently pursuing additional grant funding, seeking to leverage the success of this project. |
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Outputs Krings, A., J.C. Neal, C.S. Bernard, and J.F. Derr. 2012-present. Weeds of container nurseries in the United States. Version 2.0. North Carolina State University, Raleigh. [http://herbarium.ncsu.edu/containerWeeds/] |
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