The principal aim of this project is to pilot a system for remote identification of cotton pests using mobile technology, wireless microscopes and the Pestpoint software developed by the Plant Biosecurity CRC(PBCRC).

Currently, pest identification is largely done in an adhoc manner. A person who finds a pest may either identify it themselves or ask for an opinion from an experienced peer or peers, or in a difficult case, consult an expert. Most people, (consultants, specialists, growers, extension officers) have networks of peers and expert contacts who they consult in such cases. But in most cases, whether a person identifies a pest themselves or consults peers or experts, the identification is not recorded or if it is, it is only accessible to an individual or within an agency. Moreover, the inconvenience and logistics of handling and transporting pest specimens may often deter people from even seeking an identification. So in the current system, we fail to record valuable pest information and have limited options for identifying and diagnosing pest problems.

The PBCRC has developed a system that attempts to overcome both of these problems. We know that many pests can be identified from images and we now have wireless microscopes and cameras in mobile devices that can capture high quality, high magnification images in the field. We also have powerful software (Pestpoint) and internet connectivity that can be used to create communication networks so that people can share pest images and seek assistance for identifying pests. Pestpoint allows people to create virtual networks with their peer groups and to share, discuss, capture, store and retrieve their pest information for future reference – all from their mobile device.