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Airborne trapping device
| Acronym: | ABTD |
| Project type: | Product Development |
| Time frame: | 2008 |
| Funding agency: | IWT |
| Geographic keyword: Europe | |
| General keyword: Disease modeling | sampling | |
| Specific keyword: Culicidae | Wind modelling |
ONGOING PROJECT
The spread of Culicoides has been studied in depth by Avia-GIS trough different projects (BTV8Wind, EPISTIS, BTCalabria, BLUETONGUE, see this website). However, to optimize the 2D-spread models into a 3D-model, it is necessary to know the presence/absence as well as the abundance and population distribution of the different Culicoides-species in the lower atmosphere (i.c. in up to the boundary layer on a height of 3km). Wind data are available on different heights. The distribution of these insects in the lower troposphere is not known. Current spread models are limited to 2D-trajectories at the height of 1450m, starting from the outbreak sites. The sampling data collected by the ABTD will allow us to understand the factors influencing the take-off and drop down of the insects. The 2D models will be refined taking the vertical dimension into account.
During this study, Avia-GIS will investigate how an airborne trapping device has to be designed in order to collect insects in the lower troposphere. The ABTD will be mounted on an aircraft to sample different layers in the lower. In close collaboration with the Von Karman Institute (http://www.vki.ac.be/) the technical and aerodynamical design drivers of the ABTD will be investigated using computer simulations as well as tests of a prototype-ABTD in a wind tunnel.
The design of the ABTD will be multipurpose. Once it is operational, it will not be limited to the collection of Culicoides only. Other harmful insects in agro-veterinary context can be sampled. It will add valuable information/contribution for:
- Risk analysis of vector borne human and veterinary diseases, where the insect vector is carried away by wind
- Risk analysis of insects harmful for agriculture and forestry
- Risk analysis of invasive insects
- Pest control programs
- Rational use of limited vaccines reserves.
Legend to the figures:
Figure 1: Design parameters of the ABTD