The Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department is set to launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled ‘Smart Mosquito Control’ program aimed at curbing vector-borne diseases across urban centres.
The initiative, known as the Smart Mosquito Surveillance System (SMoSS), will be implemented on a pilot basis across 66 locations in six municipal corporations—Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram, Nellore, and Kurnool.
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Designed to replace outdated and inefficient mosquito control practices, SMoSS combines AI, IoT (Internet of Things) tools, drones, sensors, and heat maps to detect and track mosquito species, their gender, density, and environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. The system will send automatic alerts when mosquito levels breach safe thresholds, enabling real-time monitoring and targeted intervention.
“Instead of blind, broad fumigation, this system will allow evidence-based, focused spraying that reduces chemical usage and costs while improving health outcomes,” said S. Suresh Kumar, MAUD Principal Secretary, reported The South First.
A live central dashboard will display data collected from smart sensors placed in mosquito-prone zones. This approach is expected to streamline operations, cut civic costs, and ensure faster responses from health and sanitation departments.
The programme will also feature integrated disease tracking, with hospitals reporting daily cases of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. These insights will help authorities identify emerging hotspots and trigger special action plans, including scheduled fogging and larval treatment in those areas.
“The core objective of SMoSS is to prevent outbreaks through smart containment strategies. This is a public health-first approach, and it marks a paradigm shift in how urban India can battle vector-borne diseases,” P. Sampath Kumar, Director of Municipal Administration, added.
If successful, the pilot could pave the way for a statewide rollout and serve as a model for other states grappling with rising mosquito-borne illnesses.
