Exploring uses of remote sensing information in understanding the ecology of the dengue vector aedes aegypti
Student name: Ms Poorva Harbola
Guide: Dr P K Joshi
Year of completion: 2011
Host Organisation: Yale University
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Maria Ana Diuk-Wasser
Abstract: There has been a tremendous increase in the number of Dengue patients over the past few years.
Dengue is prevalent in the tropical and sub tropical areas of the world. Dengue is transmitted by
a mosquito Aedes aegypti. It is one of the world’s most widely distributed mosquitoes. The female
mosquito feeds on human blood and transmits Dengue virus. Temperature and rainfall are
important factors that affect the life cycle of Aedes aegypti and hence is affect the Dengue
incidences. Changes in temperature and rainfall result in changes in water storage behaviour.
The study was aimed at finding out correlation between the air temperature measured at weather
station and Land Surface Temperature from MODIS satellite imagery to be able to predict
temperature at study sites which are at different location than the weather station. Reduction in
rainfall results in increased water storage. Water storage vessels are found to be one of the
principal habitats of the vector. But the numbers of mosquitoes were found to differ with
difference in water storage behaviours and difference in density of houses and ratio of indoor
and outdoor areas within housing blocks. This study helps in understanding the effects of
household adaptation to increased water insecurity on abundance of Aedes aegypti habitats.
Keywords: Aedes aegypti; Temperature; MODIS; Water storage; housing density;
indoor/outdoor area
