MLN Surveillance: Tools and

Information Management Updates and progress

Dave Hodson

CIMMYT-Ethiopia

d.hodson@cigar.org

USAID MLN Project Meeting CIMMYT Nairobi 17 Oct, 2016

Outline

• Survey Tools

• Data Management – MLN Toolbox

• MLN Africa web portal

• Next Steps

Enabling Tools & Technologies:

survey + sampling

Traditional New Options

• Smartphone / tablets (GPS, Camera, Electronic Form, Barcode scanner) •Automatic data transfer

Standardized geo-referenced field surveys across countries Field to database now possible in near real-time

• GPS + Paper forms • Manual data entry

Survey Tools

• Standardized survey forms and protocols developed

in consultation with partners (field and seed surveys)

• Paper forms (+GPS) available for download

• Standard Excel templates created for data input

• Electronic survey tool developed using ODK

• Training in Harare and Nairobi

• Survey tool deployed and available for download

Paper Forms + GPS 1 • Standardized Forms

(draft)

• 1. FIELD Survey

• Used in farmer fields / seed production fields / maize trials + LEAF samples

• Key components:

• FIELD Survey – Geo-referenced (GPS)

– Basic site data

– MLN + other diseases

– Insects

– LEAF Samples

– AgriStrip results

– Basic Farm information

Paper Forms + GPS 2

• 2. SEED Survey

• Used at Agro-dealers +

commercial seed samples

• Key components:

• SEED Survey

– Geo-referenced (GPS)

– Basic Agro-dealer data

– Commercial seed sample data

Survey Data Entry • If using Paper forms:

– Use the standard .XLS templates for MLN FIELD & MLN SEED Surveys

– Return data to national focal point (check and forward to CIMMYT [for Dbase entry])

• If using Electronic Surveys – Data entry is automatic! – Data secured. ONLY returned to country national focal point / submitter

(xls + map until full data management system operational)

Electronic Survey Tool

• Developed using ODK

• Functional on any Android device

• Quality controlled data input

• Incorporates: GPS, photos, barcode scanning of sample labels

• Direct transfer to central Dbases

MLN FIELD Survey Page 1

Text Entry

Pick List (names of countries)

Date / Calendar

Text Entry

GPS Location button

MLN FIELD Survey – QR Code

Scanning

D4QjulZ9 2. Opens Camera

3. Scan QR code 4. Auto-fill QR code in survey form 1. Get Barcode button

Use of Survey Tools

• Successfully used in 2016 in Malawi, Zambia and

Zimbabwe

• 489 survey locations – all confirmed negative for

MLN with Agristrip tests

Data Sources: DARS, Malawi; ZARI/PQPS, Zambia, DRSSS (Agritex, PPRI, PQS, PSQI, SSI), Zimbabwe

MLN Toolbox

• Developed in collaboration with Aarhus University,

Denmark (Jens G. Hansen & Poul Lassen)

• Advanced data management system (based on

existing wheat rust Toolbox)

– flexible Dbase structure (field and seed surveys, agristrip

and ELISA data)

– Automated import of data

– Quality control of data

– Suite of display tools

– Secure, controlled access

MLN Toolbox Overview

• MLN toolbox – Not public. Only for partners and

data providers – after login

1. Upload of data, overview and Edit data 2. Publish data to next level

Documentation of names and codes

3. Country survey manager make data public

MLN Website

Show versions

Overview of Toolbox Functionality

Internal QC before publishing

MLN Website

MLN Toolbox – Display Tools

MLN Toolbox Display Tools • Interactive Maps (available)

• Interactive Charts (available)

Locations MLN survey results

Frequency of MLN. By country – Pie charts

Frequency of MLN across time Stacked bars

MLN Data Management + Tools

• Essentially the same data management and set of

display tools as for wheat rusts

• BUT – developed in <1 year (compared to about 5+

years for wheat rusts!)

Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) Wheat Stem Rust

MLN Web Portal

• Beta+ version available: mln.cimmyt.org

MLN Web Information Portal

• Aim – To be a single source of information relating to MLN for all

partners

• Key Themes & Features – MLN Overview (field guides, spread, control, diagnostics…..)

– MLN Research (germplasm, publications….)

– MLN Surveillance (country pages, current status, interactive maps, charts……)

– MLN Screening (screening sites, phenotyping services…)

– News & Media (MLN in the media, photos….)

– MLN Community of Practice

– MLN Resources (reports, videos, ppts…….)

Next Steps

• MLN Web Portal – expand and enhance the platform that is now in place

– We see this as community resource, so all contributions welcome!

• Toolbox – Complete all functionality (by end of year)

– Training for country managers

– We now have a robust data management platform, plus lots of added value tools. Use + populate with data!

• Models – Vector dispersal, environmental suitability, risk maps

Early Warning / Forecasting

NB: Surveys / crowd sourcing data have high value for model validation

Risk + Hazard Maps Optimzing suvreys + Sampling Insect Vector Dispersal????

Conclusion

• Standardized MLN survey forms developed – FIELD & SEED Surveys

• Available and working in paper + electronic format (Android tablets / smartphones)

• Geo-referencing a key component of both formats (essential for data management and value addition / modelling work)

• MLN Toolbox now functional and display tools working

• MLN web portal (beta+) now available

• WE NOW HAVE THE TOOLS AND INFORMATION FRAMEWORK FOR MLN SURVEILLANCE IN PLACE.

• LET’S USE THEM!

Thanks!

• All partners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda,

Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe

• Jens G Hansen and Poul Lassen Aarhus University,

Denmark

• CIMMYT colleagues – Addis, Mexico & Nairobi