Using digital data collection tools to improve overall cost-efficiency and provide timely analysis for decision making during invasive species eradication campaigns

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 499 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Will ◽  
Karl J. Campbell ◽  
Nick D. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Relational Databases ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Project Costs ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Data Collection Effort

Context Worldwide, invasive vertebrate eradication campaigns are increasing in scale and complexity, requiring improved decision making tools to achieve and validate success. For managers of these campaigns, gaining access to timely summaries of field data can increase cost-efficiency and the likelihood of success, particularly for successive control-event style eradications. Conventional data collection techniques can be time intensive and burdensome to process. Recent advances in digital tools can reduce the time required to collect and process field information. Through timely analysis, efficiently collected data can inform decision making for managers both tactically, such as where to prioritise search effort, and strategically, such as when to transition from the eradication phase to confirmation monitoring. Aims We highlighted the advantages of using digital data collection tools, particularly the potential for reduced project costs through a decrease in effort and the ability to increase eradication efficiency by enabling explicit data-informed decision making. Methods We designed and utilised digital data collection tools, relational databases and a suite of analyses during two different eradication campaigns to inform management decisions: a feral cat eradication utilising trapping, and a rodent eradication using bait stations. Key results By using digital data collection during a 2-year long cat eradication, we experienced an 89% reduction in data collection effort and an estimated USD42 845 reduction in total costs compared with conventional paper methods. During a 2-month rodent bait station eradication, we experienced an 84% reduction in data collection effort and an estimated USD4525 increase in total costs. Conclusions Despite high initial capital costs, digital data collection systems provide increasing economics as the duration and scale of the campaign increases. Initial investments can be recouped by reusing equipment and software on subsequent projects, making digital data collection more cost-effective for programs contemplating multiple eradications. Implications With proper pre-planning, digital data collection systems can be integrated with quantitative models that generate timely forecasts of the effort required to remove all target animals and estimate the probability that eradication has been achieved to a desired level of confidence, thus improving decision making power and further reducing total project costs.

scholarly journals Incident Command Futurism

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Josh Gravenmier ◽  
Greg McGowan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Risk Identification ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Response Status ◽  
Unified Command

ABSTRACT The availability of integrated remote sensing platforms and digital data collection and sharing tools is changing spill response. These tools facilitate a more effective and rapid decision-making process that can increase resource protection, improve responder safety, and reduce response costs. Early detection and response are a key to preventing smaller incidents from becoming larger. A variety of innovative tools now exist or are in development that could assist facilities and responders in the early stages and throughout an incident event to reduce human, environmental, and economic impacts. Real time field data collection for key parameters such as oil thickness and trajectory, SCAT data, oiled wildlife details, and resources at risk identification, allows for more robust data to be shared rapidly throughout the response operation. This information facilitates more effectively targeted deployment and re-deployment of human and mechanical response assets, and more immediate assessment of both environmental impacts and cleanup progress. Auto-population of incident command system forms as well as better document sharing and document retention through remote and cloud-based file saving platforms can improve the administrative and functional aspects of the response, contributing to enhanced efficiency. The ability to identify and effectively respond to rapidly changing circumstances provides the Unified Command with new tools to make better decisions and keep the public informed of progress. This paper considers new and emerging technologies as they may be applied to the work in a unified command setting, and how they may allow us to compress the operational period for decision-making and action, more accurately and more rapidly understand and share the spill response status, and how we may be able to enhance responder safety and recognize cost savings. We also consider some inherent risks associated with reliance on integrated technologies and digital information and will offer suggestions for drills and exercises to test and optimize these tools.

Mobile data collection apps

2021 ◽  
pp. 177-200
Author(s):  
Edward McLester ◽  
Alex K. Piel
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Mobile Data ◽  
Mobile Data Collection ◽  
Conservation Practice ◽  
Mobile Consumer ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative ◽  
Widespread Availability

The expansion of the mobile consumer market in the last decade has resulted in the widespread availability of affordable, multifunctional tablets, and smartphones with a range of uses. Whether for scientific research or conservation practice, these devices provide a means of digital data collection that is an increasingly time- and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods. This chapter discusses recent advances in mobile data collection, especially with cloud storage, including the advantages and limitations of this emerging approach. It will also review current hardware and software options for conservation data collection, focusing on devices and apps with high customisability, and provide an overview of how these systems may be applied in conservation science. As a case study, it will examine the transition from paper to digital data collection at a primate conservation project at the Issa Valley, Tanzania. And finally, it will identify gaps and precautions in current applications of mobile data collection and suggest what lies ahead for digital data collection in conservation.

A SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED SCAT DATA COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT: ESCAT, SCATDB, AND PHOTOLOGGER

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 (1) ◽  
pp. 481-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey F. Lankford ◽  
Ian Zelo ◽  
Matt R. Stumbaugh
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Handheld Computing ◽  
Field Data Collection ◽  
Digital Options ◽  
Multiple Field ◽  
Collection And Management

ABSTRACT During response, oiled shorelines must be surveyed to guide cleanup operations. The Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) is a standard method for conducting these surveys. Multiple field teams often conduct SCAT. SCAT surveys quickly produce a large and complex dataset comprised of SCAT observations, GPS positions, and photographs. In order to guide response decision-making, SCAT field data must be processed and analyzed in a timely manner. Until recently, SCAT and GPS data were collected on standardized paper worksheets, transcribed to electronic form, and then incorporated into maps and other decision-making products. Photographs were not tightly managed alongside SCAT data. Today, with the emergence of robust handheld computing technology, the deficiencies inherent in paper data collection are no longer necessary or acceptable. Paper data collection can be slow, error prone, and lacking quality control and integration with GPS technology. Digital options are available to address these challenges. To improve methods, the Office of Response and Restoration is developing a digital field data collection and management system for SCAT data and photographs composed of: (1) specialized software for efficient SCAT data collection with GPS enabled handheld devices, (2) a relational SCAT database which expedites the synthesis of field data into decision making products, promotes community standards, and supports standard paper worksheet and digital data collection methods, and (3) an image database which allows for the processing, documenting, and sharing of large quantities of digital photographs. For this project, commonly used, readily available, and Open Source computing resources were chosen so that end-users could easily test, adopt, and improve this system.

scholarly journals Bayesian maintenance decision optimisation based on computing the information value from condition inspections

2021 ◽  
pp. 1748006X2097812
Author(s):  
Guang Zou ◽  
Kian Banisoleiman ◽  
Arturo González
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Fatigue Cracking ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Information Value ◽  
Bayesian Decision ◽  
Maintenance Strategies ◽  
Optimal Maintenance ◽  
Maintenance Decision

A challenge in marine and offshore engineering is structural integrity management (SIM) of assets such as ships, offshore structures, mooring systems, etc. Due to harsh marine environments, fatigue cracking and corrosion present persistent threats to structural integrity. SIM for such assets is complicated because of a very large number of rewelded plates and joints, for which condition inspections and maintenance are difficult and expensive tasks. Marine SIM needs to take into account uncertainty in material properties, loading characteristics, fatigue models, detection capacities of inspection methods, etc. Optimising inspection and maintenance strategies under uncertainty is therefore vital for effective SIM and cost reductions. This paper proposes a value of information (VoI) computation and Bayesian decision optimisation (BDO) approach to optimal maintenance planning of typical fatigue-prone structural systems under uncertainty. It is shown that the approach can yield optimal maintenance strategies reliably in various maintenance decision making problems or contexts, which are characterized by different cost ratios. It is also shown that there are decision making contexts where inspection information doesn’t add value, and condition based maintenance (CBM) is not cost-effective. The CBM strategy is optimal only in the decision making contexts where VoI > 0. The proposed approach overcomes the limitation of CBM strategy and highlights the importance of VoI computation (to confirm VoI > 0) before adopting inspections and CBM.

scholarly journals Public Officials’ Knowledge of Advances and Gaps for Implementing the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Chile

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2703
Author(s):  
Rodrigo A. Estévez ◽  
Stefan Gelcich
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Fisheries Management ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Ecosystem Approach ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Support Decision Making

The United Nations calls on the international community to implement an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) that considers the complex interrelationships between fisheries and marine and coastal ecosystems, including social and economic dimensions. However, countries experience significant national challenges for the application of the EAF. In this article, we used public officials’ knowledge to understand advances, gaps, and priorities for the implementation of the EAF in Chile. For this, we relied on the valuable information held by fisheries managers and government officials to support decision-making. In Chile, the EAF was established as a mandatory requirement for fisheries management in 2013. Key positive aspects include the promotion of fishers’ participation in inter-sectorial Management Committees to administrate fisheries and the regulation of bycatch and trawling on seamounts. Likewise, Scientific Committees formal roles in management allow the participation of scientists by setting catch limits for each fishery. However, important gaps were also identified. Officials highlighted serious difficulties to integrate social dimensions in fisheries management, and low effective coordination among the institutions to implement the EAF. We concluded that establishing clear protocols to systematize and generate formal instances to build upon government officials’ knowledge seems a clear and cost effective way to advance in the effective implementation of the EAF.

scholarly journals Transforming biorefinery designs with ‘Plug-In Processes of Lignin’ to enable economic waste valorization

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi-Hua Liu ◽  
Naijia Hao ◽  
Yun-Yan Wang ◽  
Chang Dou ◽  
Furong Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cellulosic Ethanol ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Substantial Improvement ◽  
Selling Price ◽  
Waste Valorization ◽  
Lignin Valorization ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Carbon Efficiency ◽  
Synergistic Enhancement ◽  
Total Capital

AbstractBiological lignin valorization has emerged as a major solution for sustainable and cost-effective biorefineries. However, current biorefineries yield lignin with inadequate fractionation for bioconversion, yet substantial changes of these biorefinery designs to focus on lignin could jeopardize carbohydrate efficiency and increase capital costs. We resolve the dilemma by designing ‘plug-in processes of lignin’ with the integration of leading pretreatment technologies. Substantial improvement of lignin bioconversion and synergistic enhancement of carbohydrate processing are achieved by solubilizing lignin via lowering molecular weight and increasing hydrophilic groups, addressing the dilemma of lignin- or carbohydrate-first scenarios. The plug-in processes of lignin could enable minimum polyhydroxyalkanoate selling price at as low as $6.18/kg. The results highlight the potential to achieve commercial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates as a co-product of cellulosic ethanol. Here, we show that the plug-in processes of lignin could transform biorefinery design toward sustainability by promoting carbon efficiency and optimizing the total capital cost.

scholarly journals Economic Development Based on a Mathematical Model: An Optimal Solution Method for the Fuel Supply of International Road Transport Activity

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2963
Author(s):  
Melinda Timea Fülöp ◽  
Miklós Gubán ◽  
György Kovács ◽  
Mihály Avornicului
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Optimal Decision ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Fuel Cost

Due to globalization and increased market competition, forwarding companies must focus on the optimization of their international transport activities and on cost reduction. The minimization of the amount and cost of fuel results in increased competition and profitability of the companies as well as the reduction of environmental damage. Nowadays, these aspects are particularly important. This research aims to develop a new optimization method for road freight transport costs in order to reduce the fuel costs and determine optimal fueling stations and to calculate the optimal quantity of fuel to refill. The mathematical method developed in this research has two phases. In the first phase the optimal, most cost-effective fuel station is determined based on the potential fuel stations. The specific fuel prices differ per fuel station, and the stations are located at different distances from the main transport way. The method developed in this study supports drivers’ decision-making regarding whether to refuel at a farther but cheaper fuel station or at a nearer but more expensive fuel station based on the more economical choice. Thereafter, it is necessary to determine the optimal fuel volume, i.e., the exact volume required including a safe amount to cover stochastic incidents (e.g., road closures). This aspect of the optimization method supports drivers’ optimal decision-making regarding optimal fuel stations and how much fuel to obtain in order to reduce the fuel cost. Therefore, the application of this new method instead of the recently applied ad-hoc individual decision-making of the drivers results in significant fuel cost savings. A case study confirmed the efficiency of the proposed method.

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