Table 3.

Main characteristics of environmental parameters to be considered for IMS surveillance

Parameters	Information provided	Strengths	Weaknesses	Data collection methods and equipment
Breeding sites typology, distribution and productivity	Information answers the following questions: where do the mosquitoes breed, what is the relative productivity of the different breeding site types, and what is the geographic distribution throughout the territory?	Good support in the ecological understanding of IMS; identification of targets for IMS control	Requires skilled technicians; high cost	GIS and field data collection
Temperature geo-distribution and trend over the year	Indicates the suitable period for activation of surveillance; feeds the model for IMS risk of establishment and MBD risk assessment; correlates with IMS longevity and vectorial capacity; explains behavioural changes of vector	Data usually available in good detail	Site specific weather data could not be obtained from local weather stations	Data from weather stations usually available locally
				Field-collected data based on portable weather station
Precipitation distribution	Informs the model for IMS risk of establishment; correlates with the IMS population density; informs the population estimate models	Data usually available	Large local variability is difficult to define	Field-collected weather data
Human population density	Informs the model for IMS risk of establishment; informs MBD risk assessment	Data usually available in good local detail	Human behaviour can also have an impact on IMS and MBD risks but these data are usually not available	Socio-statistical data
Vegetation covering	Suitability of the area for colonisation and dispersal	Data usually available in good local detail (CORINE data set)	Requires proficient GIS technicians	Remote sensing data
				Satellite imagery
Human land use in relation to water-keeping habits	Suitability of the area to be colonized; types of water recipients and land cover to be described in terms of larval breeding sites (potential, availability) and energy resources	Data usually available for public areas, but need to be correlated with specific IMS requirements	Private areas difficult to assess; requires time-consuming research	Remote sensing data
				Satellite imagery
				GIS field data collection
Quality and efficacy of IMS control measures	Informs the models for cost-effectiveness estimates; evaluates control methods efficacy/effectiveness (including community participation); resistance management	Ensures independent quality control for IMS control programmes	Requires independent, objective and science based evaluation, as well as skilled technicians	Internal evaluation
				External evaluation