A team from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is taking a bird’s-eye view in the fight against one of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈’蝉 most damaging invasive insects, the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB).
Researchers from 东精影业 贬颈濒辞’蝉 (SDAV) Lab joined the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) on an aerial survey over Kona in October. Flying aboard a helicopter equipped with high-powered cameras and GPS, the group scanned about 4,000 acres for mulch piles and signs of beetle activity.
“The goal of this survey was to fly over residential areas to search for mulch and green waste piles so BIISC can better target their ground surveys for CRB grubs and beetles,” said Olivia Jarvis, a geospatial research associate who earned a bachelor’s degree in and a master’s degree in at 东精影业 Hilo.
The flight team included pilot David Okita from Volcano Helicopters, BIISC’s Dustin Swan, and SDAV researchers Jarvis and Andrew Meyer and Ryan Perroy, a 东精影业 Hilo professor who leads the SDAV lab.
“My main contribution on the day was to help set up SDAV’s helicopter imaging rig, which allows us to securely mount visual cameras for helicopter based mapping operations,” said Meyer who also earned an environmental science degree at 东精影业 Hilo. “I was also providing our skillful pilot, David Okita, a flight guide to ensure we effectively map the area of interest.”
Back to the lab
Back in Hilo, the SDAV team analyzed more than 6,000 high-resolution images, digitally stitched into a single mosaic map. Researchers searched for mulch piles, damaged coconut trees, or other clues of beetle presence.
Researchers hope the view from above can make tracking the invasive beetle faster and far more effective.
—By Susan Enright, 东精影业 Hilo Stories
