Improvements to NAPPFAST CAPS Pest Risk Maps

 

The CPHST NAPPFAST group in Raleigh NC have developed and improved the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) risk maps.  The CAPS risk maps can be accessed at http://www.nappfast.org

 

Background:

 

In 2007, the CPHST group developed a new method of pest risk mapping for the CAPS Top 50 pests that combined pest host and biology information in a uniform standardized manner. The maps were designed to assist the CAPS program plan and perform pest surveys by illustrating where pest risk is greatest. The NAPPFAST CAPS risk maps were generally well received by the CAPS community, but there were some comments and suggestions for improvement of the product.  

 

In addition to developing maps for nearly all pests in the CAPS pest universe list, the CAPS risk maps have been improved for content, clarity, use, documentation and aesthetics. 

 

Improvements to CAPS Pest Host Maps:

 

2007 NASS, all host maps have been updated with the 2007 NASS Ag Census information.  In addition, the host list has been expanded to include nearly every commodity enumerated in the Ag Census for a total of 135 possible hosts.

 

Forest Data, in the 2007 host risk maps, the forest data layers created did not provide sufficient differentiation on presence or density of designated forest types.  To improve the CAPS Host maps for 2010, the forest layers were updated using county level data from Forest Inventory Data Online (FIDO).  This data was also separated into genus level hosts.  There are 54 different genuses for possible host layers.

 

The following statement was added to each host map to increase the understanding of the purpose and use of the map- "This is a relative risk scale depicting the pest organisms host acreage intensity by county. It is possible to directly compare values between maps of the same type (e.g. Host to Host, Risk to Risk and NAPPFAST to NAPPFAST)"

 

Improvements to CAPS NAPPFAST Maps:

 

Areas less suitable (exclusion), in the 2007 NAPPFAST maps, when there was sufficient information available for the creation of an map where conditions were unsuitable, the exclusion layer was displayed as an overlay.  To improve the CAPS NAPPFAST maps for 2008, we incorporated the unsuitable area map with the degree day or infection days map to provide a more realistic biological map. 

 

Biological Information, in the 2007 NAPPFAST maps we did not generate any maps if we did not have sufficient biological information to create models.  To improve the CAPS NAPPFAST maps for 2008, we utilized climate match techniques and known world distribution information to generate maps.  **It is important to note that in some cases it is not possible to make NAPPFAST maps, therefore the Host map will provide the best representation of areas at risk for that pest.

  

The following statement was added to each NAPPFAST map to increase the understanding of the purpose and use of the map- "NAPPFAST risk maps are created using climate data and biological models, such as degree day or plant pathogen infection, to depict the relative suitability for a pest to grow and survive.  It is possible to directly compare values between maps of the same type (e.g. NAPPFAST to NAPPFAST)."

 

Improvements to Final CAPS Risk Map:

 

The following statement was added to each Risk Map to increase the understanding of the purpose and use of the map-"The Risk map is a combination of the Host and NAPPFAST maps.  A risk map depicts with a relative scale, the potential areas that are unsuitable or highly suitable for growth and establishment. It is possible to directly compare values between maps of the same type (e.g. Risk To Risk)."

 

Improvements to ALL CAPS Maps: 

 

Addition of AK, HI, and PR, separate pages have been added to include close up maps of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. 

 

Appearance, the 2007 maps were displayed in a geographic coordinate system display, without a projection.  To improve the CAPS maps in 2008 all of the maps were displayed in North American Albers Equal Area Conic.  Additionally, the values of the legend were replaced with an arrow indicating low or high relative risk. 

 

Improvements to the NAPPFAST CAPS Pest Matrix website:

 

Matrix, all columns can now be sorted, allowing for easier user searches.  The columns for different survey groups and program pests have been added. 

 

Website: In 2007 there were several problems accessing the website that contained the maps created for the CAPS program.  To improve access and navigation of the site in 2008 we made many improvements and changes to the site, which can be accessed at:

http://www.nappfast.org/caps_pests/CAPS_Top_50.htm. 

 

We added instructions on how to access the maps, troubleshooting of problems, how to interpret and use the maps, we converted the TIFF images to PDF format for faster easier loading, we added information on the model parameters in documentation sheets, and we created quick access groupings for pests in the commodity surveys (see image below).

 

Summary:

 

To assist the CAPS Program and incorporate suggestions made by CAPS cooperators, we made improvements to the NAPPFAST CAPS Maps that better described the purpose and use of the risk maps.  We improved host and biological modeling functionality and appearance of the maps.  We improved the access and navigation of the website used to deliver the maps.  The NAPPFAST CAPS maps are a useful tool for planning and performing surveys as they provide access to large amounts of complicated data in a standard format that allows for easy comparison and understanding.

 

 

Project Members:

 

2010-2011

Raleigh NAPPFAST GIS Group:                                                      

Jessica Engle – NCSU Post Doctoral Research Assistant                      Denys Yemshanov – Canadian Forest Service Research Scientist

Dan Borchert – APHIS-PPQ-CPHST-PERAL Risk Analyst                  Frank Koch – NCSU Research Assistant Professor

Roger Magarey – NCSU CIPM Senior Researcher                                  Manuel Colunga – MSU CBCEO Senior Researcher

Scott Chanelli – NCSU Student Intern                                                                

Kathryn Echerd – NCSU Student Intern

 

2008-2009

Raleigh NAPPFAST GIS Group:                                                       Ft Collins GIS Group:

Dan Borchert – APHIS-PPQ-CPHST-PERAL Risk Analyst                  Peg Margosian – APHIS-PPQ-CPHST Science Fellow         

Jessica Engle – NCSU Post Doctoral Research Assistant                      Lisa Kennaway – APHIS-PPQ-CPHST Geographer

Roger Magarey – NCSU CIPM Senior Researcher                                  Tom Kalaris  – APHIS-PPQ-CPHST Biostatistician

Chris Chanelli – NCSU Student Intern                                                    Jonathan Kittel – APHIS-PPQ-CPHST Student Intern

Kathryn Echerd – NCSU Student Intern