Andhra Pradesh govt set to launch AI-based SMoSS to fight mosquito menace

Andhra Pradesh government to pilot AI-powered solution to tackle mosquito menace during monsoon season

The Andhra Pradesh government is set to launch an AI-based mosquito control programme called the Smart Mosquito Surveillance System (SM0SS), to help track and control mosquito populations more efficiently and safely.

The SMoSS will utilise AI-powered mosquito sensors, drones, and other smart devices to identify mosquito species, gender, population density, and weather conditions such as temperature and humidity. When the number of mosquitoes crosses the safety limit in any area, the system will send automatic alerts to the civic teams, which will help them carry out spraying or fogging operations faster.

The pilot project will start at 66 locations across six major municipal corporations: Visakhapatnam (16 spots), Vijayawada (28), Kakinada (4), Rajamahendravaram (5), Nellore (7), and Kurnool (6). The initiative is being led by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department.

“This will enable close monitoring and ensure prompt fumigation in the affected areas in a data-driven approach for effective control of mosquitoes instead of the present ‘blind spraying’ process that has little impact. The IoT sensors will monitor mosquito density and guide the targeted activity,” an official said.

By using drones for spraying larvicide, officials say the system will cover more ground in less time, with fewer chemicals, and at a lower cost. The system also includes a real-time dashboard that streams live data to a central server, allowing continuous tracking and quick response.

S Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary of MAUD, and P Sampath Kumar, Director of Municipal Administration, said, “We will be outsourcing the operations completely to specialised agencies, and payment will be result-oriented by fixing operational accountability. Complaints, if any, from the citizens and field-level functionaries will be tracked via mobile applications (Vector Control and Puramitra).”

Further, hospitals across the state are expected to send daily reports of cases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Based on this, mosquito hotspots will be identified and targeted for action. Special plans are being prepared for fogging and larval treatment in those areas.

“The whole focus and approach of SMoSS is safeguarding public health. Prevention (of diseases) through containment (of vectors) will be the driving spirit,” the officials said.