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BioSIM: Pest management planning decision support

With the presentation of the BioSIM technology, we are looking for partnerships or collaborations to further its development or application.

Description

BioSIM is a software tool for use in forecasting events in the seasonal biology of insect pests. Forecasts are made by simulation models provided by the system and are based on regional air temperature and precipitation interpolated from nearby weather stations, adjusted for elevation and location differentials with regional gradients.

Main use

BioSIM is of interest to any organisation responsible for monitoring or managing insect pest populations in outdoor situations (forestry, agriculture, horticulture). The package is generic, in the sense that it can predict the development of populations of any insect or plant pathogen, provided that a simulation model for the organism is available. Currently, models are linked to BioSIM for spruce budworm, spruce budmoth, gypsy moth, eastern hemlock looper, jack pine budworm and yellow-headed sawfly. BioSIM also provides general-purpose simple or multi-stage degree-day summation models. The system can make forecasts or predictions for individual (point) locations, but can also generate maps of phenological or other events when provided with a digital elevation model of the area under consideration.

System design

BioSIM is an integrated environment that provides seasonal simulation models with geographically specific temperature input, either historical or forecast. BioSIM controls the execution of simulations and can extract information from model outputs for presentation or further analysis.

BioSIM assembles weather data for simulations at each of a large set of locations, from 3 geographically-referenced databases. The Normals database contains long-term mean and extreme monthly minimum and maximum temperatures and precipitation. Five-day forecasts are contained in a separate database. Current observed daily weather data are contained in a Real Time database. BioSIM selects the "best" sources of weather data for each point in the location list, adjusts the data for differences in elevation, latitude and longitude, and restores stochastic variation to long-term averages (normals). The weather time series sent to the simulation model is composed of real-time data whenever available (or requested), 5-day forecasts for short-term prediction (when available), and normals for prediction over the longer term or to fill gaps in observed weather.

BioSIM provides extensive "Event" extraction functions to collect information from model output and present it in the form of tables, graphs, or maps. With a digital terrain (elevation) model for the area containing the simulation locations, BioSIM can generate a map of the "event" by a number of spatial interpolation methods, including spatial regression, kriging with external drift or inverse distance weighted average.

Main advantage

BioSIM can be used to plan the timely deployment of sampling/surveying crews and materials (e.g. pheromone traps) without the need for extensive phenology monitoring. Also, it helps time the application of pest control substances for optimal results. Thus, the use of BioSIM helps optimize the use of pest management resources in a cost-effective manner.

Technology transfer strategy

BioSIM is available for licence from CFS. Some further application research may be necessary to adapt this tool to the user's specific needs and computer platform. A Beta version for Windows/95/NT is available from the developers.

Patent information

The project is an application of know-how and computer software, thus, it is not patent protected.

Supplementary information

Régnière, J. & P. Bolstad 1994. Statistical simulation of daily air temperature patterns in eastern North America to forecast seasonal events in insect pest management. Environ. Entomol. 23: 1368-1380.

Régnière, J., D. Lavigne, R. Dickison & A. Staples 1995. Performance analysis of BioSIM, a seasonal pest management planning tool, in New Brunswick in 1992 and 1993. Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., Laurentian For. Cent. Info Rep. LAU-X-115. 28 p.

Régnière, J., B. Cooke & V. Bergeron 1995. BioSIM: a computer-based decision support tool for seasonal planning of pest management activities. User's Manual. Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., Laurentian For. Cent. Info. Rep. LAU-X-116. 68 p.

Régnière, J. 1996. A generalized approach to landscape-wide seasonal forecasting with temperature-driven simulation models. Environ. Entomol. 25: 869-881.

Régnière, J. & A. Sharov. 1997. Forecasting Gypsy moth flight in the Northeasten US with BioSIM. Pp 99-103 + color plate p. 16 in 11th Annual Symposium on Geographic Information Systems. GIS 97 conference, Vancouver, B.C., Feb. 17-20, 1997. GIS World Inc, Boulder, CO.

Contacts

Business aspects:

Joseph N. Anawati, P. Eng.
Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada
580 Booth Street, 7th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA, K1A 0E4
Telephone: 613-947-8996
Facsimile: 613-947-9090 

Technical aspects:

Dr. Jacques Régnière
Laurentian Forestry Centre
Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada
1055 du P.E.P.S.
PO Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy
Quebec, Quebec G1V 4C7 CANADA
Telephone: 418-648-5257
Facsimile: 418-649-6956