Smarter mosquito traps and AI to find Aedes breeding sites
Next generation mosquito control through technology-driven trap development and artificial intelligence guided detection of mosquito breeding habitats
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · NIH-11161494
They will build smart traps and use AI to locate Aedes mosquito breeding spots to help communities at risk of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11161494 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The team will design technology-driven mosquito traps that can identify and count Aedes mosquitoes at different life stages. They will combine trap data with remote sensing and artificial intelligence to map neighborhood-level risk and detect likely household breeding habitats. Field tests will validate the traps and AI workflows to guide where targeted mosquito control and spraying should occur. The work blends engineering, image analysis, and community-based field validation to make control efforts more precise.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents in neighborhoods with Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus presence who are willing to host traps or allow local surveys and site visits.
Not a fit: People living in regions without Aedes mosquitoes or those affected by illnesses not spread by these mosquitoes are unlikely to see direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let public health teams target mosquito control more precisely, lowering arboviral infections while reducing unnecessary spraying.
How similar studies have performed: Traditional targeted trapping and control programs have reduced transmission in some areas, while using AI for household-level breeding-site detection is a newer approach still undergoing testing.
Where this research is happening
COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA — COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: NOLAN, MELISSA SUZANNE — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- Study coordinator: NOLAN, MELISSA SUZANNE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Arboviral infections, Arbovirus Infections