CBB in Hawai'i

Question

Hello all,

I am a GIS student and coffee writer.

I am working on a new map that the coffee owners and workers can use in the field to get a up to date map of the CBB and see the progression of it in real time

How can i get the farmers and workers to use it and get the department of ag to use this?

RobertBorchert · Answer

Sounds like a good project.

If you can get older data I would suggest going back as far as possible and try to show the progression through the years of the spread.

A local Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in my area does a similar type of thing showing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the state for White Tail Deer.  They have been charting CWD for about 20 years and can show maps over time of the spread.

The DNR also tracks the spread of Eurasian Milfoil arcross the lakes and it is a serious problem.

Data such as this I think would be more valuable to coffee farms that are not infested at this time and to the local governments.  A lot of revenue comes in from the farms so it would be of interest to the deparmtent of Agriculture as well.  Those farms that aready have a problem are going to tell you that you are preaching to the choir.  Those that do not have a problem are going to show more concern if you can show the progression of the CBB towards them.

On a side note. I love Hawaii Coffee.  My son in law was stationed there for 3 years on Ohau and we have been there a few times. ( which is why I made a database of Ohau and a nice selection of maps).  We found there are 2 places to buy coffee.  Where the sellers expect tourists to be and grocery stores where the locals shop.

BrianSpears · Answer

I am doing it by farm and by year starting in 2010 at the start

DanielAmrine · Answer

Have you collected any data so far?

This is for information only:

Coffee borer beetle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But tracking the spread of infested plants is a GREAT project for GIS....but you have to define the rate of infestation as well as physically count and track the number of insects.

I have wanted to do a similar project on the Varroa Mite:

Varroa destructor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia  it is a serious problem for Honey Bees.

the value of this kind of map is obvious and I would think the coffee industry in Hawaii would see that. The issue is on the implementation and how you track the beetles.

another idea would be "micro" GPS trackers...but I don't think they're small enough and light enough to put on a beetle.

Great Post!

Dan