Advancements in GIS capability for Florida’s Mosquito Control Incident Response Team

Since the Florida introduction of West Nile Virus in 2001, the Mosquito Control Incident Response Team (MCIRT) has been deployed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to assist impacted counties following an emergency declaration, such as a hurricane or an arbovirus threat. GIS programs are vital to implementation of all aspects of MICRT response. This includes conducting mosquito surveillance, maintaining open communication with stakeholders, and contracting applications in order to suppress targeted mosquito populations.  Previous GIS capabilities were limited to static maps, delayed updates, and partial geodata available. With more advanced technology at hand, it is imperative to improve the mapping quality for these incidents by providing dynamic maps with editable features that contain previously unreported data. These changes will provide a more proficient GIS system that both produces easier to read maps and increases overall efficiency of the MCIRT during response.