Pest-Mapping App Wins IT Innovation Award

Chief Information Officer Mikel Haas with John Taylor and Leah Taylor.

Invasive pests can be a real threat to San Diego County’s thriving agricultural industry. Thanks to a couple County employees, there’s now an app to help in the battle against the bugs.

Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) recently created a Real-Time Invasive Pest Mapping app for County pest collectors to use in the field. And that app is earning a swarm of awards. It was recognized by the California State Association of Counties’ with one of its annual “CSAC Awards” in September. And now the County Technology Office has named the two employees behind it our IT Innovators of the Year.

County GIS Analyst John Taylor and Insect Detection Specialist Leah Taylor (no relation) customized an existing app to create real-time detailed maps of pest locations for approximately $500. They spent just six hours to set up, configure and train personnel to use the app on smartphones or tablets. This represents time savings of almost 98 percent and translates to an estimated annual savings of more than $20,000.

“It was a really cumbersome process before,” said John Taylor, who just recently transferred from AWM to the Health and Human Services Agency. “Now it is quick and easy to use.”

Previously, pest collectors out in the field had to log findings on paper back at the office. These delays increase the risk of pests spreading and getting established.

The app saves more than money for the County; it protects San Diego County’s thriving agricultural industry, valued at $1.8 billion.

“These updates used to take up to four hours to complete. Now they take seconds. And in the world of crop quarantines and trade restrictions, time and accuracy of data are critical to isolate, control and contain these crop-destroying pests. It could make the difference between a minor incident and a major economic catastrophe,” Chief Information Officer Mikel Haas said during the award ceremony.

Not only is the Real-Time Invasive Pest Mapping app quicker, but it allows the County to disseminate information about an infestation to affected partners and stakeholders such as the California Department of Food and Agriculture in a more timely fashion and ultimately make better decisions on limiting or eradicating pests.

The app has already been used to track nearly a dozen bugs, including red imported fire ants, the light brown apple moth and the goldspotted oak borer.