Providing Decision Making Analytical Tools To Ipm Managers Through Web Based: Electronic Pest Monitoring, and Pesticide Use Reporting System

Abstract:
Economically and environmentally sustainable pest management requires an integrated approach. Pesticides are one of many tools used in IPM. Majority of non-agriculture and structural pest management focuses on pesticide applications for right of way, turf and landscape, rangelands and indoors. Pesticides are initially distributed in the environment at application, with the intent of maximizing efficacy while minimizing off-site movement and adverse impacts on human and environmental health. A better understanding of initial distribution and redistribution via processes such as airborne loss, run-off and leaching is necessary to characterize both human occupational and non-occupational exposure, and assess risks to biota in surrounding ecosystems. Understanding the initial distribution in the environment at the landscape scale requires information on pesticide use practices. Timely spatial data such as the identity of pesticide, amount, target pest and site GIS can be enormously useful both in the protection of human and environmental health. Accurate information can help provide better risk assessments and illuminate pest management practices that are particularly problematic so they can be targeted for development of alternatives. In situations where more toxic chemicals must be used, the data will help managers to employ training and technologies specifically designed to protect applicators, workers, and the environment. It is also useful in making short and long-term policy and budgeting decisions related to IPM and best management practices. Santa Clara County’s web based IPM-Pesticide Use Reporting system and Orkin’s PowerTrak© discusses framework, user data entry process, provides analytical tools for IPM decision making processes, cost economics, worker safety, environmental data, compliance to signage posting and regulatory reports and public access to data for structural and non-agriculture pest management.