Project Number: 6402-22320-003-04
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: May 01, 2004
End Date: Apr 30, 2008

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to test existing thermal IR sensor technology for thermal infrared remote sensing of imported fire ant mounds, and optimize timing of data acquisition, and to identify landscape characteristics favorable for fire ant infestations.

Approach:
Thermal infrared sensors will be used to obtain digital images of fire ant mounds during different times of day and different seasons. Ground data will include temperature measurements of fire ant mounds and surrounding soil. A temperature profile of the mound surface will be constructed to determine temporal changes in temperature as well as directional effects due to sun angle and season. This information will be useful in future efforts for classification of airborne thermal images to detect and delineate fire ant mounds. A portion of the fire ant mounds that are imaged will be excavated to determine the distribution of ants in the mound. This information will be useful for understanding fire ant thermal requirements and refining collection techniques to collect queens more frequently. A series of 0.1 ha plots will be searched for fire ants at two sites in northeastern Alabama. Aerial imagery of the sites will be used to classify them into landscape types. The distribution and abundance of fire ants within landscape types will be investigated. This information will be used to create risk assessment models for fire ant infestations.