Pest control system and related method

Abstract

To rationalize site monitoring work against pest mass generation.SOLUTION: A pest monitoring and control system 100 includes: pest monitoring devices 200 placed at a site 300 and generating a signal upon detection of a pest; and a pesticide dispensing unit 600 including a reservoir housing a diluent and a pesticide module housing a pesticide. A computer device 400 arranged separated from the pest monitoring devices receives signals generated by the pest monitoring devices, analyzes environmental and historical factor data for the site to determine an amount and placement location of the pest monitoring devices for monitoring the site, and directs deployment of the pest control monitoring devices according to the analysis. The computer device also receives, from the pesticide dispensing unit, data including an amount and rate of the pesticide substance to be dispensed from the pesticide module to form a treatment agent having a concentration of the pesticide substance in the diluent. The treatment agent is dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit to treat a detected pest at the site.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 485,820, filed April 12, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [Technical field]

[0002] The present disclosure is directed to pest detection, prevention and management, and more particularly to pest control systems and methods relating to centralized pest monitoring and detection, pest identification / mass source analysis and treatment recommendations, and analysis and inventory management, thereby providing a comprehensive and centrally controlled pest management environment. [Background technology]

[0003] Distributed pest detection networks that include a central station that communicates with one or more distributed pest detectors or traps are known in the prior art. However, such distributed pest networks are often rudimentary and often only inform the central station that some unidentified organism has reacted to the detector / trap sufficiently to send a detection signal back to the central station. When the detection signal is received by the central station, pest control technicians are often dispatched to the site, but often without any indication as to the nature of the organism detected, what treatment should be applied to address the organism detected, and what measures should be taken to prevent future infestations. Furthermore, there may be little or no information or indications as to the root cause of the pest infestation, and predictions or forecasts of future trends in pest activity may be pure guesswork.

[0004] Another problem associated with pest control is the application of treatments, specifically chemical pesticides that must be mixed with a diluent at a specific concentration according to the manufacturer's recommended dosage. Often, mixing the pesticide substance (active ingredient) with the diluent to obtain the pesticide is also a guesswork or at best a rough approximation, and unless the pesticide substance and diluent are provided in precisely measured amounts, pest control technicians often make the mistake of adding too much of the pesticide substance relative to the diluent. Thus, when applying the pesticide, more pesticide substance is probably being used than necessary, and often applications are inconsistent and not at the proper concentration for optimal effectiveness. This leads to inventory issues for the manufacturers / distributors providing the pesticide substance, and cost inefficiencies for the pest control organizations (PCOs) that handle pest control issues.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a more efficient pest monitoring and control system that streamlines monitoring of sites for pest infestation problems and effectively, efficiently, and conveniently treats detected pest problems. Additionally, there is a need for a pesticide application system that more efficiently provides an appropriate pesticide using a consistent concentration of pesticide material in a diluent, and improves the consistency, effectiveness, and efficiency of pesticide application operations. Summary of the Invention

[0006] These and other needs are met by aspects of the present disclosure, which in one aspect provides a pest monitoring control system including a plurality of pest monitoring devices disposed at a site and configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a pest at the site. A computer device disposed remotely from the pest monitoring devices is configured to communicate with the pest monitoring devices to receive the generated signal, the signal from the pest monitoring devices including actual site data. The computer device is further configured to analyze environmental factor data related to environmental factors at and around the site that promote pest population growth and historical factor data related to factors indicative of past pest populations at the site to determine an amount of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and installation locations of each of the pest monitoring devices around the site. The computer device is also configured to direct deployment of the pest control monitors around the site according to the analysis.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a pesticide application system including one or more pesticide supply / application units, each including a reservoir configured to contain a diluent, a pesticide module configured to contain a pesticide material, and a transmission module for transmitting data from the pesticide supply / application units. A computer device located remotely from the pesticide supply / application units is configured to receive data from the pesticide supply / application units via each of the transmission modules. The data includes an amount or rate of the pesticide material to be supplied from the pesticide module of any of the pesticide supply / application units to formulate a pest treatment comprising a concentration of the pesticide material in a diluent, the pest treatment being supplied from the pesticide supply / application units to treat pests at the site.

[0008] Thus, the present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the following aspects. (Aspect 1) 1. A pest monitoring control system comprising: a plurality of pest monitoring devices disposed at a site and configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a pest at the site; and a computer device disposed remotely from the pest monitoring devices and configured to communicate with the pest monitoring devices to receive the generated signal from the pest monitoring devices, the signal from the pest monitoring devices comprising actual site data, the computer device comprising a processor and a non-transitory memory storing executable instructions, the instructions in response to execution by the processor causing the computer device to at least analyze environmental factor data relating to environmental factors at and around the site that are conducive to pest population growth and historical factor data relating to factors indicative of past pest populations at the site to determine a quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and installation locations of each pest monitoring device around the site, and to direct deployment of the pest control monitors around the site in accordance with the analysis.

[0009] (Aspect 2) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computing device is configured to, in response to detection of a pest by any of the pest monitoring devices, analyze the actual site data to determine a location or potential source of the detected pest within the vicinity of the site.

[0010] (Aspect 3) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computing device is configured to, in response to detection of a pest by any of the pest monitoring devices, analyze the actual site data to determine a vector indicative of the location or potential source of the detected pest within the perimeter of the site.

[0011] (Aspect 4) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to analyze the actual site data using the environmental factor data and the historical factor data to determine whether the locations of the pest monitoring devices around the site should be changed or whether the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed around the site should be changed.

[0012] (Aspect 5) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to direct adjustment of the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed at least around the site based on a risk tolerance factor.

[0013] (Aspect 6) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to analyze the environmental factor data and the historical factor data in relation to a geospatial map of the site to determine the quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and installation locations of each of the pest monitoring devices around the site.

[0014] (Aspect 7) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computing device is configured to specify a response to the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

[0015] (Aspect 8) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to direct one or more specific queries to a remote terminal in response to the actual site data, the remote terminal is configured to receive responses to the one or more specific queries entered into the remote terminal from the site and direct the responses to the computer device, and the computer device responds to the responses from the remote terminal, identifies the detected pest, and specifies a course of action for the detected pest or the source of the detected pest at the site.

[0016] (Aspect 9) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to instruct a remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to a pesticide applicator configured to implement the remedy at the site or a pest control technician instructed to implement the remedy at the site.

[0017] (Aspect 10) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to analyze the actual site data in comparison to work activity data relating to work activity factors at the site or external environmental factor data relating to external environmental factors affecting the site to predict future pest infestation events.

[0018] (Aspect 11) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to determine changes in work activity factors associated with the work activity data, changes in environmental factors associated with the environmental factor data, or preventative factors to impede the predicted future pest infestation events.

[0019] (Aspect 12) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to analyze data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, or data related to operational factors associated with the site, and determine correlations between the data and the actual site data to identify root causes of pest infestations at the site or to recommend measures to prevent future pest infestations.

[0020] (Aspect 13) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to vary the designated remedy or active ingredient of the designated remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to prevent or delay the detected pest from acquiring resistance to the remedy or the active ingredient of the designated remedy.

[0021] (Aspect 14) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to correlate actual site data with designated remedy(s) for the detected pest or the source of the detected pest at the site to determine changes in pest activity in response to the designated remedy or to evaluate the effectiveness of the designated remedy(s) in response to the pest activity being treated.

[0022] (Aspect 15) 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer device is configured to analyze the actual site data and determine whether pest activity associated with the actual site data is increasing with respect to the designated remedy or an implementation parameter associated with the designated remedy, and to recommend further remedial action, the further remedial action including adjusting the implementation parameter within a recommended range, addressing site factors unrelated to the implementation parameter, and modifying the designated remedy to prevent or delay the development of resistance by the detected pest to the remedy or an active ingredient of the designated remedy.

[0023] (Aspect 16) 11. A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computing device is configured to compare the designated remedy with limitations on remedy for the site and to designate an alternative remedy if the designated remedy conflicts with the limitations on remedy.

[0024] (Aspect 17) 1. A method for pest monitoring and control at a site, comprising: analyzing environmental factor data relating to environmental factors at and around the site that promote pest population growth and historical factor data relating to factors indicative of past pest populations at the site to determine a quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and locations of each pest monitoring device around the site; and deploying the pest control monitoring devices around the site in accordance with the analysis.

[0025] (Aspect 18) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each pest monitoring device is configured to generate a signal in response to detecting a pest at the site and to transmit the signal to a remotely located computer device, the method including analyzing the signal from any of the pest monitoring devices using the computer device to determine a location or potential source of the detected pest around the site, the signal from the pest monitoring device including actual site data.

[0026] (Aspect 19) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising analysing the actual site data to determine a vector indicative of the location or potential source of the detected pest around the site.

[0027] (Aspect 20) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising analyzing the actual site data using the environmental factor data and the historical factor data to determine whether the locations of the pest monitoring devices around the site should be changed or whether the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed around the site should be changed.

[0028] (Aspect 21) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising directing an adjustment to the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed at least around the site based on a risk tolerance factor.

[0029] (Aspect 22) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising: analyzing the environmental factor data and the historical factor data with respect to a geospatial map of the site to determine the quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and the installation location of each of the pest monitoring devices around the site.

[0030] (Aspect 23) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising specifying, by the computer device, a course of action in response to the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

[0031] (Aspect 24) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising directing one or more specific queries from the computing device to a remote terminal in response to the actual site data, the remote terminal being configured to receive responses to the one or more specific queries entered from the site at the remote terminal.

[0032] (Aspect 25) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising receiving the response at the computing device, the computing device reacting to the response from the remote terminal to identify the detected pest, and specifying by the computing device a response to the detected pest or the source of the detected pest at the site.

[0033] (Aspect 26) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising instructing from the computer device a remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to a pesticide applicator configured to implement the remedy at the site or a pest control technician instructed to implement the remedy at the site.

[0034] (Aspect 27) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising predicting future pest infestation events by analyzing, on the computer device, the actual site data in comparison to work activity data relating to work activity factors at the site or external environmental factor data relating to external environmental factors affecting the site.

[0035] (Aspect 28) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising determining, on the computer device, changes in work activity factors associated with the work activity data, changes in environmental factors associated with the environmental factor data, or preventative factors to impede the predicted future pest infestation events.

[0036] (Aspect 29) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising: analyzing, on the computer device, data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, or data related to operational factors associated with the site, and determining correlations between the data and the actual site data, thereby identifying a root cause of a pest infestation at the site or proposing measures to prevent future pest infestations.

[0037] (Aspect 30) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising, on the computer device, preventing or delaying the development of resistance by the detected pest to the treatment or the active ingredient of the designated treatment for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

[0038] (Aspect 31) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising: correlating, on the computer device, actual site data with designated remedy(s) for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to determine a change in pest activity in response to the designated remedy or to evaluate the effectiveness of the designated remedy(s) in response to the pest activity being treated.

[0039] (Aspect 32) 11. The method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, the method including, with the computer device, recommending further remedial action by analyzing the actual site data and determining whether pest activity associated with the actual site data is increasing with respect to the designated remedy or an implementation parameter associated with the designated remedy, the further remedial action including adjusting the implementation parameter within a recommended range, addressing site factors unrelated to the implementation parameter, and modifying the designated remedy to prevent or delay the development of resistance by the detected pest to the remedy or an active ingredient of the designated remedy.

[0040] (Aspect 33) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising: at the computer device, comparing the designated remedy with limitations on remedy for the site, and designating an alternative remedy if the designated remedy conflicts with the limitations on remedy.

[0041] (Aspect 34) 1. A computer readable storage medium for a pest control monitoring and prevention system at a site, the computer readable storage medium being non-transitory and having computer readable program code stored therein for causing the device, in response to execution by a processor, to at least analyze environmental factor data related to environmental factors at and around the site that contribute to pest population growth and historical factor data related to factors indicative of past pest populations at the site to determine an amount of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and installation locations of each of the pest monitoring devices around the site, and to deploy the pest control monitoring devices around the site in accordance with the analysis.

[0042] (Aspect 35) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each pest monitoring device is configured to generate a signal in response to detecting a pest at the site and transmit the signal to a remotely located computing device having a non-transitory computer readable storage medium associated therewith, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the computing device to analyze the signals from the pest monitoring devices to determine a location or potential source of the detected pest around the site, the signals from the pest monitoring devices including actual site data.

[0043] (Aspect 36) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium which, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to analyze the actual site data to determine a vector indicative of the location or potential source of the detected pest around the site.

[0044] (Aspect 37) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to analyze the actual site data using the environmental factor data and the historical factor data to determine whether the locations of the pest monitoring devices around the site should be changed or whether the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed around the site should be changed.

[0045] (Aspect 38) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to direct adjustment of the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed around at least the site based on a risk tolerance factor.

[0046] (Aspect 39) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to analyze the environmental factor data and the historical factor data with respect to a geospatial map of the site to determine the amount of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and installation locations of each of the pest monitoring devices around the site.

[0047] (Aspect 40) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to specify a course of action in response to the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

[0048] (Aspect 41) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium which, in response to execution by the processor, causes the computing device to direct one or more specific queries from the device to a remote terminal in response to the actual site data, wherein the remote terminal is configured to receive responses from the site to the one or more specific queries entered at the remote terminal.

[0049] (Aspect 42) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein which, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to: respond to receiving the response from the remote terminal, identify the detected pest, and specify a course of action to address the detected pest or the source of the detected pest at a site.

[0050] (Aspect 43) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the computer device to instruct a pesticide applicator configured to implement the remedy at the site or a pest control technician instructed to implement the remedy at the site, from the computer device, a remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

[0051] (Aspect 44) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to predict future pest infestation events by analyzing the actual site data in comparison to work activity data related to work activity factors at the site or external environmental factor data related to external environmental factors affecting the site.

[0052] (Aspect 45) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine changes in work activity factors associated with the work activity data, changes in environmental factors associated with the environmental factor data, or preventative factors that will impede the predicted future pest infestation events.

[0053] (Aspect 46) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein for, in response to execution by the processor, causing the device to: analyze data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, or data related to operational factors associated with the site, and determine a correlation between the data and the actual site data, thereby identifying a root cause of a pest infestation at the site or proposing measures to prevent future pest infestations.

[0054] (Aspect 47) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to prevent or delay the detected pest from acquiring resistance to the remedy by altering the designated remedy or an active ingredient of the designated remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

[0055] (Aspect 48) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to correlate actual site data with designated remedial actions for the detected pests or the potential sources of the detected pests at the site to determine changes in pest activity in response to the designated remedial actions or to evaluate effectiveness of the designated remedial actions in response to the pest activity being treated.

[0056] (Aspect 49) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the foregoing or following aspects or combinations thereof, the readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to recommend further remedial action by analyzing the actual site data and determining whether pest activity associated with the actual site data is increasing with respect to the designated remedy or an implementation parameter associated with the designated remedy, the further remedial action including adjusting the implementation parameter within a recommended range, responding to site factors not associated with the implementation parameter, and modifying the designated remedy to prevent or delay the detected pest from acquiring resistance to the remedy or an active ingredient of the designated remedy.

[0057] (Aspect 50) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to compare the specified remedy with limitations on remedy for the venue, and to specify an alternative remedy if the specified remedy conflicts with the limitations on remedy.

[0058] (Aspect 51) 1. A pesticide application system comprising: one or more pesticide supplying units, each pesticide supplying unit including a tank configured to store a diluent, a pesticide module configured to store a pesticide material, and a transmission module for transmitting data; and a computer device located remotely from the pesticide supplying units and configured to receive pesticide material usage data from the pesticide supplying units via each transmission module, the pesticide material usage data including a feed amount or rate of the pesticide material delivered from the pesticide module of any of the pesticide supplying units to formulate a pest treatment comprising a concentration of the pesticide material in the diluent, the pesticide treatment being delivered from the pesticide supplying unit to treat pests at the site; the computer device including a processor and a non-transitory memory storing executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the computer device to at least determine and monitor usage of the pesticide material.

[0059] (Aspect 52) The system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the one or more pesticide supply units include a plurality of pesticide supply units, and the computer device is configured to determine the amount of pesticide material to be used based on the supply amount or the supply rate of the pesticide material supplied from the pesticide module of the pesticide supply unit.

[0060] (Aspect 53) 11. The system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to determine normal usage distribution statistics for pesticide material dispensed from one or more of the pesticide supply units.

[0061] (Aspect 54) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to compare the determined usage amount of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supply units to the normal usage distribution statistics and determine which pesticide supply units are supplying more or less than the normal usage distribution statistics for the pesticide material.

[0062] (Aspect 55) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each pesticide supply unit is associated with a pest control technician, and the computer device is configured to determine pesticide application remedial training for the pest control technician in response to the determined usage of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supply units deviating from the normal usage distribution statistics.

[0063] (Aspect 56) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each of the one or more pesticide supply units includes a timer module in communication with a transmission module, the timer module configured to determine a duration of a pesticide application event, and the computing device configured to determine normal duration distribution statistics for a plurality of the pesticide application events.

[0064] (Aspect 57) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to compare the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supply units with the normal duration distribution statistic, and determine which pesticide supply units are being used more or less than the normal duration distribution statistic for the pesticide application event.

[0065] (Aspect 58) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each pesticide supply unit is associated with a pest control technician, and the computer device is configured to determine and monitor pesticide application remedial training for the pesticide technician in response to the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supply units deviating from a normal duration distribution statistic.

[0066] (Aspect 59) The system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to correlate data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, data related to operational factors associated with the site, or external environmental factor data related to external environmental factors affecting the site with the determined usage amount of the pesticide material.

[0067] (Aspect 60) 11. The system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the one or more pesticide dispensing units each include a receiving module configured to receive communications from the computer device, and the computer device is configured to at least instruct the pesticide module of any of the pesticide dispensing units to meter the pesticide material dispensed from the pesticide module to dispense a predetermined concentration of the pesticide material in a diluent of the pest treatment agent to be dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit.

[0068] (Aspect 61) 11. The system of any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to determine a weather forecast associated with the site, and if the weather forecast includes a weather event that contraindicates application of the pest treatment, instruct a pesticide application unit not to apply the pest treatment at the site.

[0069] (Aspect 62) 11. The system of any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, including a geospatial location module associated with each of the one or more pesticide-delivery units, wherein the computer device is configured to correlate a location of the site with a location of the pesticide-delivery unit determined from the respective geospatial location module, and dispatch a pest control technician associated with a pesticide-delivery unit closest to the site location to the site to deliver the pest treatment.

[0070] (Aspect 63) 11. A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising a geospatial location module associated with each of the one or more pesticide-dispensing units, wherein the computer device is configured to determine locations of the pesticide-dispensing units from the respective geospatial location modules, compare the locations of any of the pesticide-dispensing units to pest treatment agent restrictions for the locations, and assign an alternative pest treatment agent if the assigned pest treatment agent violates the pest treatment agent restrictions for the locations.

[0071] (Aspect 64) 11. A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the pesticide module is configured to monitor consumption of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module and transmit associated consumption data to the computer device via the transmission module, the computer device being configured to analyze the consumption data and determine a usage rate of the pesticide material in the pesticide module, an ordering interval for a replacement pesticide module to replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, a collection interval for collecting the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, or an inventory level of the pesticide module required to timely replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module.

[0072] (Aspect 65) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to compare the consumption data with an inventory of pesticide modules containing the pesticide substance and pesticide modules that have been depleted of pesticide substance to generate audit data.

[0073] (Aspect 66) A system according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device is configured to determine supply chain information associated with the pesticide module containing the pesticide material, and compare the supply chain information with pest detection information associated with the site to monitor pesticide material product quality or pesticide material performance indicators.

[0074] (Aspect 67) 13. A method of pesticide application at a site, comprising: receiving pesticide substance usage data at a computer device including a processor and a non-transitory memory storing executable instructions from one or more remotely located pesticide supplying units, each remotely located pesticide supplying unit including a tank configured to contain a diluent, a pesticide module configured to contain a pesticide material, and a transmission module for transmitting the data; and determining and monitoring usage of the pesticide material by analyzing the pesticide substance usage data at the computer device, wherein the pesticide substance usage data includes a feed amount or feed rate of the pesticide material dispensed from the pesticide module of any of the pesticide supplying units to formulate a pest treatment comprising a concentration of the pesticide material in the diluent, and the pesticide treatment is dispensed from the pesticide supplying unit to treat pests at the site.

[0075] (Aspect 68) The method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the one or more pesticide supply units include a plurality of pesticide supply units, the method comprising determining a usage amount of the pesticide material based on the supply amount or the supply rate of the pesticide material supplied from the pesticide module of the pesticide supply unit.

[0076] (Aspect 69) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising determining normal usage distribution statistics for pesticide material dispensed from one or more of said pesticide dispensing units.

[0077] (Aspect 70) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising comparing the determined usage amount of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supply units with the normal usage distribution statistic, and determining which pesticide supply units are supplying more or less than the normal usage distribution statistic for the pesticide material.

[0078] (Aspect 71) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each pesticide supply unit is associated with a pesticide technician, the method including determining pesticide application remedial training for the pesticide technician in response to the determined usage of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supply units deviating from the normal usage distribution statistics.

[0079] (Aspect 72) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each of the one or more pesticide supply units includes a timer module in communication with a transmission module, the timer module configured to determine a duration of a pesticide application event, and the method includes determining a normal duration distribution statistic for a plurality of the pesticide application events.

[0080] (Aspect 73) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising comparing the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supply units to the normal duration distribution statistic, and determining which pesticide supply units are being used more or less than the normal duration distribution statistic for the pesticide application event.

[0081] (Aspect 74) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each pesticide supply unit is associated with a pesticide technician, the method including determining and monitoring pesticide application remedial training for the pesticide technician in response to the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supply units deviating from a normal duration distribution statistic.

[0082] (Aspect 75) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising correlating data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, data related to operational factors associated with the site, or external environmental factor data related to external environmental factors affecting the site with the determined usage amount of the pesticide material.

[0083] (Aspect 76) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the one or more pesticide dispensing units each include a receiving module configured to receive communications from the computing device, the method including at least instructing the pesticide module of any of the pesticide dispensing units to meter the pesticide material dispensed from the pesticide module to dispense a predetermined concentration of the pesticide material in a diluent of the pest treatment agent to be dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit.

[0084] (Aspect 77) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising determining a weather forecast associated with the site, and if the weather forecast includes weather events that contraindicate application of the pest treatment, instructing a pesticide application unit not to apply the pest treatment at the site.

[0085] (Aspect 78) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising a geospatial location module associated with each of the one or more pesticide delivery units, correlating a location of the site with a location of the pesticide delivery unit determined from the respective geospatial location module, and dispatching a pest control technician associated with a pesticide delivery unit closest to the location of the site to the site to deliver the pest treatment.

[0086] (Aspect 79) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, including a geospatial location module associated with each of the one or more pesticide-dispensing units, the computer device including determining locations of the pesticide-dispensing units from the respective geospatial location modules, comparing the locations of any of the pesticide-dispensing units to pest treatment agent restrictions for the locations, and assigning an alternative pest treatment agent if the assigned pest treatment agent violates the pest treatment agent restrictions for the locations.

[0087] (Aspect 80) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the pesticide module is configured to monitor consumption of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module and transmit associated consumption data to the computer device via the transmission module, the method comprising: analysing the consumption data and determining a usage rate of the pesticide material in the pesticide module, an ordering interval for a replacement pesticide module to replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, a collection interval for collecting the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, or an inventory level of the pesticide module required to timely replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module.

[0088] (Aspect 81) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising comparing the consumption data with an inventory of pesticide modules containing the pesticide substance and pesticide modules that have been depleted of pesticide substance to generate audit data.

[0089] (Aspect 82) A method according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising determining supply chain information associated with the pesticide module containing the pesticide material, and comparing the supply chain information with pest detection information associated with the site to monitor pesticide material product quality or pesticide material performance indicators.

[0090] (Aspect 83) 10. A computer readable storage medium for pesticide application at a site, the computer readable storage medium being non-transitory and having computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by a processor, causes a computer device having the non-transitory computer readable storage medium associated therewith to: receive pesticide substance usage data from one or more remotely located pesticide supplying units, each remotely located pesticide supplying unit including a tank configured to contain a diluent, a pesticide module configured to contain a pesticide material, and a transmission module for transmitting data; and determine and monitor usage of the pesticide material by analyzing the pesticide substance usage data at the computer device, the pesticide substance usage data including a feed amount or feed rate of the pesticide material dispensed from the pesticide module of any of the pesticide supplying units to formulate a pest treatment comprising a concentration of the pesticide material in the diluent, the pesticide treatment being dispensed from the pesticide supplying unit to treat pests at the site.

[0091] (Aspect 84) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the one or more pesticide supplying units include a plurality of pesticide supplying units, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine a usage amount of the pesticide material based on the supply amount or the supply rate of the pesticide material supplied from the pesticide module of the pesticide supplying unit.

[0092] (Aspect 85) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the apparatus to determine normal usage distribution statistics for pesticide material dispensed from one or more of the pesticide supply units.

[0093] (Aspect 86) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein which, in response to execution by the processor, causes the apparatus to compare the determined usage of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supplying units to a normal usage distribution statistic and determine which pesticide supplying units are supplying more or less than the normal usage distribution statistic for the pesticide material.

[0094] (Aspect 87) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each pesticide supplying unit is associated with a pest control technician, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored therein in response to execution by the processor causing the device to determine a pesticide application remedial training for the pesticide technician in response to the determined usage of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supplying units deviating from the normal usage distribution statistics.

[0095] (Aspect 88) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each of the one or more pesticide supply units includes a timer module in communication with a transmission module, the timer module configured to determine a duration of a pesticide application event, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine normal duration distribution statistics for a plurality of the pesticide application events.

[0096] (Aspect 89) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein which, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to compare the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide application units to the normal duration distribution statistic and determine which of the pesticide application units are being used more or less than the normal duration distribution statistic for the pesticide application event.

[0097] (Aspect 90) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein each pesticide supplying unit is associated with a pest control technician, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored therein, in response to execution by the processor, causing the device to determine and monitor a pesticide application remedial training for the pesticide technician in response to the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supplying units falling outside of a normal duration distribution statistic.

[0098] (Aspect 91) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to correlate data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, data related to operational factors associated with the site, or external environmental factor data related to external environmental factors affecting the site with the determined usage amount of the pesticide material.

[0099] (Aspect 92) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the one or more pesticide supplying units each include a receiving module configured to receive communications from the computing device, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the computing device to instruct the pesticide module of any of the pesticide supplying units to meter the pesticide material provided by the pesticide module to dispense a predetermined concentration of the pesticide material in a diluent of the pest treatment agent to be dispensed from the pesticide supplying unit.

[0100] (Aspect 93) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine a weather forecast associated with the site and, if the weather forecast includes a weather event that contraindicates application of the pest treatment agent, instruct a pesticide application unit not to apply the pest treatment agent at the site.

[0101] (Aspect 94) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein, in response to execution by the processor, that causes the device to: correlate a location of the site with a location of the pesticide supply unit determined from the respective geospatial location modules; and dispatch a pest control technician associated with a pesticide supply unit closest to the location of the site to supply the pest treatment agent to the site.

[0102] (Aspect 95) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising a geospatial location module associated with each of the one or more pesticide dispensing units, further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to: determine a location of the pesticide dispensing unit from the respective geospatial location module; compare the location of any of the pesticide dispensing units to a pest treatment agent limit for the location; and if the designated pest treatment agent violates the pest treatment agent limit for the location, designate an alternative pest treatment agent.

[0103] (Aspect 96) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, wherein the pesticide module is configured to monitor consumption of the pesticide substance contained within the pesticide module and transmit associated consumption data via the transmission module to the computer device associated with the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium being configured to analyze the consumption data and monitor the usage rate of the pesticide substance in the pesticide module, the pesticide substance upon depletion of the pesticide substance contained within the pesticide module, A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine an ordering interval for a replacement pesticide module to replace a pesticide module, a collection interval for collecting the pesticide module upon depletion of a pesticide substance stored in the pesticide module, or an inventory level of the pesticide module required to timely replace the pesticide module upon depletion of a pesticide substance stored in the pesticide module.

[0104] (Aspect 97) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein which, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to compare the consumption data with an inventory of pesticide modules containing the pesticide substance and pesticide modules that have been depleted of pesticide substance and generate audit data.

[0105] (Aspect 98) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to any of the preceding or following aspects or combinations thereof, comprising further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine supply chain information associated with the pesticide module containing the pesticide substance, and compare the supply chain information with pest detection information associated with the site to monitor pesticide substance product quality or pesticide substance performance indicators.

[0106] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four, and more of the above-mentioned aspects, as well as any combination of two, three, four, and more of the features or elements described in the present disclosure, whether or not such features or elements are explicitly combined in the description of a particular aspect herein. The present disclosure is intended to be read holistically, and unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, it is intended that any separable features or elements of the present disclosure be understood as combinable in any of the various aspects. The aspects of the present disclosure have advantages as detailed elsewhere herein. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0107] Having now generally described the present disclosure, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a pest monitoring and control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of computer device components of a pest monitoring and control system and / or pesticide application system according to various aspects of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a distribution configuration of pest monitoring devices for on-site monitoring using a pest monitoring and control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of distribution of pest monitoring devices in a field using a pest monitoring control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the distribution of pest monitors in a field using a pest monitoring and control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure, where actual field data collected from the pest monitors provides a vector representation of the source of a pest infestation. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary implementation of a pest monitoring and control system for optimizing the allocation of pest monitoring devices in a field with respect to actual data collected from the field, according to one aspect of the present disclosure addressed in Example 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a pesticide application system according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a pesticide supply unit for use in a pesticide application system according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary implementation of a pesticide application system for optimizing pesticide usage and treatment in a field with respect to actual data collected from the field, according to one aspect of the present disclosure addressed in Example 2. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is an operational flow diagram of an in-situ pest monitoring and control method according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is an operational flow diagram of a method for in situ pesticide application according to one aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0108] The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all aspects of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the aspects set forth herein. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable statutory requirements. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

[0109] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of a pest monitoring control system 100 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The system 100 includes a plurality of pest monitoring devices 200, each configured to be deployed at a site 300. Each pest monitoring device 200 is further configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a pest when deployed at the site 300. A computer device 400 is configured to be deployed remotely from the pest monitoring devices 200 and to communicate with the pest monitoring devices 200 to receive the generated signal therefrom, the signal from the pest monitoring devices 200 including actual site data (i.e., actual collected data associated with or originating from the site 300 and representing actual events or conditions at the site 300). In some aspects, the computer device 400 may be deployed remotely from the site 300 (i.e., remote / centralized monitoring and communication). In other aspects, the computer device 400 may be deployed at the site 300 remotely from the pest monitoring devices 200.

[0110] Pest monitoring device 200 can take many different configurations. One example of a suitable pest monitoring device 200 is, for example, co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. xx / xxx,xxx, inventors Byron Reid, Volker Gutsman, Michael Zimmerman, Chris Pienaar, and Gaelle Fages, filed April 12, 2017, assigned to Bayer CropScience LP and Bayer AG, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. In one aspect, each pest monitoring device 200 includes a suitable detection mechanism for detecting a pest, for example, depending on whether the pest walks, crawls, or flies. That is, for example, the pest detection mechanism implemented in a suitable pest monitoring device can be configured differently for flying insects versus rodents or cockroaches. In other aspects, each pest monitoring device 200 includes at least a transmission module 250 associated with a pest detection mechanism, the transmission module 250 configured to transmit detection signals from the pest detection mechanism to the computing device 400. In some aspects, the detection signals include, for example, an identification of the pest detected by the pest monitoring device 200. In other aspects, the detection signals may include only the number or amount of detection events indicated by the pest monitoring device 200. Communications between the transmission module 250 and the computing device 400 may be direct communications between the two, or in some cases, may be via a communications gateway or hub 275. In some aspects, the pest monitoring device 200 also includes a receiving module (not shown) for receiving communications from the computing device 400 or from other devices suitably configured to communicate therewith.

[0111] 2, computing device 400 includes processing circuitry 410, processor 420, and non-transitory memory 440 that stores executable instructions that, when executed by processor 420, cause computing device 400 to perform at least certain functions related to pest monitoring devices 200 in communication therewith. For example, in one aspect, computing device 400 is configured to execute appropriate instructions stored therein to analyze environmental and historical factor data associated with site 300 to determine the amount of pest monitoring devices 200 proposed for monitoring site 300. In some aspects, this analysis also includes the installation location of each pest monitoring device 200 about site 300.

[0112] The environmental factor data relates to environmental factors at and around the site 300 that may be conducive to pest population growth, for example. Examples of environmental factors relevant to the site 300 include potential food sources, water sources, or other harborage for pests. If the site 300 includes a building or facility surrounded by other property, consideration of potential food sources, water sources, or other harborage extends to both conditions within the building or facility and conditions outside or surrounding the building or facility. Non-limiting examples of relevant site conditions include food and water sources within or outside the building, entrance / exit door locations, storage or inventory locations, material processing or storage locations, shipping / receiving locations, nature and / or frequency of receiving, temperature (i.e., heat sources) within and / or outside the building, humidity within or outside the building, lighting, location of trash / waste disposal, whether the structural integrity of the building is lost or compromised, location of cafeteria or break rooms, and / or location of toilet facilities.

[0113] Historical factor data relates to factors indicative of, for example, the past population of pests at a site. In one aspect, such historical factor data includes whether there were any previous pest monitors / traps at the site, the site conditions associated with each of those pest monitors / traps, and the amount, frequency, type, or other occurrence history data of pests recorded by those pest monitors / traps.

[0114] The computing device 400 determines the amount of pest monitors 200 proposed for monitoring the site 300 and / or the location of each pest monitor 200 around the site 300 based on the environmental and historical factor data. In some aspects, the amount and / or location of the pest monitors 200 may be determined by the computing device 400 depending on the specific factors of the site 300. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, determining the amount and / or location of the pest monitors 200 may include designating them based on the perimeter of a building or facility at the site 300 (i.e., the initial setting is to place the pest monitors 200 around the building or facility with maximum spacing between them (i.e., minimum number of pest monitors 200 per foot of perimeter), and reduce spacing / increase the amount of pest monitors 200 to be deployed (increase the minimum number of pest monitors per foot of perimeter) based on the environmental and historical factor data considered by the computing device 400).

[0115] Additionally, in some aspects, the computing device 400 is configured to direct the deployment (quantity and / or location) of the pest control monitors 200 around the site 300 in response to the analysis. In some particular aspects, the computing device 400 is configured to direct the deployment (quantity and / or location) of the pest control monitors 200 around the site 300 in response to the analysis and in relation to a geospatial map of the site 300. That is, in some aspects, the analysis results provided by the computing device 400 are graphically or otherwise illustrating particular locations, types, etc. of pest monitors / traps in relation to a site map or building floor plan, as shown, for example, in FIG.

[0116] In some aspects, the computing device 400 is configured to adjust or prescribe an adjustment to at least the amount of pest monitoring devices 200 deployed around the site 300 based on risk tolerance factors. Such risk tolerance factors may include, for example, various business risk factors, frequency of audits, or past history of failed audits. Upon consideration of the risk tolerance factors, the computing device 400 may at least suggest, prescribe, or otherwise adjust (increase or decrease) the final number or amount of pest monitoring devices 200 deployed for effective monitoring of the site. In some cases, consideration of the risk tolerance factors may result in at least an adjustment to the number of pest monitoring devices 200 at certain locations, but not all, around the site 300. In other cases, consideration of the risk tolerance factors may result in at least an adjustment to the number of pest monitoring devices 200 at certain locations, but not all, around the site 300. In still other cases, consideration of the risk tolerance factors may result in an adjustment to the type or location of pest monitoring devices 200 at certain locations, but not all, around the site 300.

[0117] In some aspects, for example, the computing device 400 is configured to analyze the actual site data (i.e., pest detection data transmitted to the computing device 400) in response to detection of a pest by any of the pest monitoring devices 200 to determine a location or potential source of the detected pest around the site 300. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the computing device 400 may be configured to analyze the actual site data to determine a vector 150 indicative of a location or potential source of the detected pest at the site 300. More specifically, in such aspects, the computing device 400 is configured to account for the geo-spatially-located positions of the pest monitoring devices 200 relative to one another (i.e., according to the relative placement of the pest detection devices 200 in relation to a geospatial map, site plan, etc. of the site 300) and to correlate the pest detection signals from the various pest monitoring devices 200 to generate a vector 150 toward a potential root cause, location, or potential source as indicated by environmental factor data associated with the site 300. Once the source of a possible pest infestation is known, or there is otherwise a vector representation of the source, location, or potential root cause of the pest infestation, appropriate measures can be taken to address the pest infestation. For example, a pest control technician can be dispatched to the site 300 to implement appropriate pest control measures, and / or the site 300 can be notified to remove, modify, or otherwise address the site or potential root cause of the infestation.

[0118] Once actual site data has been collected for a period of time, and the actual site data becomes historical pest detection data and / or environmental data for the site 300, the risk tolerance factors may change. Thus, in some aspects, the computing device 400 is further configured to be adaptive or self-learning to periodically or on-demand analyze the actual site data with updated environmental and historical factor data from a previous or initial analysis to determine whether to change the placement of the pest monitoring devices 200 around the site 300 and / or the amount of pest monitoring devices 200 deployed around the site 300 (i.e., to more optimally cover the site 300 with pest monitoring devices 200). That is, the algorithms executed by the computing device 400 are self-learning and adaptive in the sense that as time passes, pest activity is tracked, or business risk importance changes, the algorithms respond to changing conditions at the site 300 and suggest increasing or decreasing the number and / or changing the placement of pest detection devices 200 needed.

[0119] In certain aspects, the computing device 400 is configured to determine the source of a possible pest infestation at the site 300, or to assign a targeted specific response to the detected pest or its potential source at the site 300 if the computing device 400 determines that there is a vector display indicating a possible source, location, or root cause of the pest infestation. In some cases, the computing device 400 is configured to direct one or more specific queries to the remote terminal 500 in response to actual site data prior to the assignment of a response, as shown in FIG. 1. In such aspects, the remote terminal 500 is configured to receive responses from the site 300 to one or more input specific queries and direct the responses to the computing device 400. Thus, the computing device 400 responds to the response from the remote terminal 500 to identify the detected pest and thus assign a targeted specific response to the identified (detected) pest or identified source at the site 300. For example, the remote terminal 500 may include a smart phone, tablet, laptop computer, etc. carried by a pest control technician dispatched to the site 300 .

[0120] When a pest control technician is dispatched from a pest control organization (PCO) 550 (see, e.g., FIG. 1 ) and arrives at the site 300, the computing device 400, in response to receiving the pest detection signal / actual site data (not necessarily identifying the detected pest), can direct the pest technician to the pest monitoring device 200 transmitting the pest detection signal. The computing device 400, via communication with the remote device 500, can, for example, prompt the pest technician to identify the detected pest or otherwise solicit a response from the pest technician to one or more questions regarding the external characteristics of the detected pest. The computing device 400 can then determine a particular source of the infestation and / or prescribe a particular remedy or action to address the detected pest based on the appropriate response from the pest technician. In such cases, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the treatment prescribed when the identified pest is a cockroach may be significantly different than when the identified pest is a rodent.

[0121] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the remedy determined by computing device 400 in response to a detected pest may be implemented by computing device 400 instructing a pesticide applicator 600 (see, e.g., FIG. 1 ) configured to implement the remedy at site 300, or by instructing a pest control technician who is instructed to implement the remedy at site 300 with or without the use of pesticide applicator 600. That is, pesticide applicator 600 may be a unit mounted at a fixed location at the site or may be a portable unit carried by a pest control technician dispatched to site 300. In either case, pesticide applicator 600 may be configured to communicate with computing device 400 directly or via a suitable communications device.

[0122] In further aspects of the disclosure, the computing device 400 is configured to analyze the actual site data in comparison to work activity data associated with work activity factors at the site 300 or external environmental factor data associated with external environmental factors affecting the site 300 to predict future pest infestation events at the site 300. Additionally, in some aspects, the computing device 400 is configured to analyze data from environmental monitors associated with the site 300, physical factor data associated with the site 300, data from facility monitors associated with the site 300, or data associated with work factors associated with the site 300 and determine correlations with the actual site data to identify root causes of pest infestations at the site or to recommend measures to prevent future pest infestations.

[0123] The work activity factors or work factors may include, for example, matters evident from a current site floor plan or map (e.g., physical environment, building design), data from equipment sensors (e.g., open entrances, water leaks) and / or data from work factors (e.g., perishable goods receipt, site drainage). The external environmental factors may include, for example, data from environmental monitors (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.) or seasonal factors. The computing device 400 may, for example, predict future pest infestation events at the site 300 by correlating the work activity factors or external environmental factors with actual site data and / or trends evident therefrom. In other cases, the computing device 400 may extend the root cause analysis based on this correlation and recommend structural, operational, and air conditioning changes associated with the site 300 to prevent such pest problems. That is, in some aspects, the computing device 400 is also configured to determine changes in work activity factors associated with the work activity data, changes in environmental factors associated with the environmental factor data, or preventative factors that may be implemented to address anticipated future pest infestation events.

[0124] In some aspects, the computer device 400 is configured to change the designated remedy or the active ingredient of the designated remedy (i.e., the active ingredient or active substance of the pesticide) for the detected pest or its potential source at the site 300 to prevent or delay the detected pest from developing resistance to the remedy or the active ingredient of the designated remedy. That is, the computer device 400 may be configured to monitor the use of pesticide products for the site 300 and recommend a rotation of pesticide product use to prevent or delay the pest population around the site 300 from developing physiological or behavioral resistance to the particular pesticide product or its active ingredient. In other cases, the computer device 400 may be configured to notify the site manager that the pest control technician at the site 300 should not use a particular pesticide product to comply with pesticide resistance management guidelines.

[0125] In yet other aspects, the computing device 400 may be configured to correlate actual site data with designated treatments for detected pests or potential sources thereof at the site to determine changes in pest activity in response to the designated treatments or to evaluate the effectiveness of the designated treatments in response to pest activity targeted for treatment. That is, in some aspects, by correlating pest activity at the site 300 (such pest activity being determined, for example, by the pest monitoring device 200 and / or manual data input by personnel at the site 300) with pesticide product use, the computing device 400 may analyze changes in pest activity at the site 300 as a result of the use of a particular pesticide product. This correlation analysis by the computing device 400 may, for example, enable evaluation of the performance of a particular pesticide product against a particular pest for a particular site 300 or multiple sites. During ongoing analysis of actual site data, the computing device 400 may utilize self-learning capabilities, which allows the computing device 400 to learn or adapt to suggest or recommend the use of a particular pesticide that is best suited for a particular site 300 or multiple sites based on the most recent data.

[0126] In other aspects, the computing device 400 is configured to analyze the actual site data to determine whether pest activity associated therewith is increasing with respect to a designated remedy (i.e., pesticide) or associated implementation (i.e., application) parameters and to recommend further remedial action at the site 300. The further remedial action may include, for example, adjusting implementation parameters within recommended ranges, addressing site factors unrelated to the implementation parameters, and modifying the designated remedy or the active ingredient of the designated remedy to prevent or delay the detected pest from developing resistance to the remedy. That is, the computing device 400 is configured to prescribe corrective implementation of the designated remedy (i.e., application of the pesticide product within acceptable or recommended limits) to return detected pest levels below acceptable thresholds when pest detection incidents at the site 300 are increasing and use of the remedy (i.e., pesticide product) is outside of normal acceptable or recommended limits. The computing device 400 is configured to alert field workers or pest control technicians to conduct a more detailed inspection of the buildings / facilities at the site 300 to look for conditions conducive to pest survival / growth if there is an increase in pest detection incidents at the site 300 and the use of the remedy (i.e., pesticide product) is within normal acceptable or recommended limits. The computing device 400 may be configured to provide an early warning system to alert site managers of the possibility that the pest population around the site 300 may be developing physiological and / or behavioral resistance to the designated remedy if there is an increase in pest detection incidents at the site 300 despite the proper use and implementation of the designated remedy. In such cases, the computing device 400 may also recommend alternative remedy or site management actions to maintain effective control of the pest population around the site 300.

[0127] In yet another aspect, the computer device 400 may be configured to compare the designated remedy with the remedy restrictions for the site 300 and to designate an alternative remedy if the designated remedy conflicts with the remedy restrictions. That is, in some cases, certain governmental authorities (federal, state, local) may prohibit the use of certain pesticide products in certain areas, including the site 300. For example, a federally registered pesticide substance may not be allowed for use within a protected area surrounding a known habitat of an endangered species. Also, even if the federal government approves a certain pesticide substance, a state or local government may adopt a prohibition on use that overrides the federal approval, at least in certain areas. In such an aspect, the computer device 400 may be configured to associate the site location with the designated remedy based on an available registry that lists pesticide substance restrictions that apply to the site 300 location, and to alert a site manager or pest control technician before a certain pesticide product is dispatched or applied to the site to prevent compliance issues. EXAMPLES

[0128] Example 1 FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example implementation of a pest monitoring and control system for optimizing distribution of pest monitoring devices in a field with respect to actual data collected from the field, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0129] An account to be monitored generally includes one or more sites where pest monitoring devices disclosed herein should be distributed in and around each site. First, each site to be monitored is tagged with descriptive characteristics of the facility, such as the nature of the business, location, facility size, type of pest under consideration, or monitoring devices to be deployed. Next, two surveys are conducted for each site. One survey evaluates abiotic factors that allow a pest incident at the facility, such as the number of exterior building openings (e.g., doors, loading docks, windows) that allow pests to enter the facility. The other survey evaluates biotic factors that allow a pest incident to persist within the facility, such as unattended food or water sources.

[0130] The results of these surveys are then analyzed to determine the number and placement of pest monitors at the monitored site. For example, one monitor may be placed on each side of a door that is a pest entry point and / or one monitor may be placed within a predetermined distance of a food / water source that is frequented by the pests, depending on what the analysis suggests. The baseline number of pest monitors located around the site may then be cross-referenced with the recent history of pest activity at the site and the proposed distribution of pest monitors based on the initial analysis to further recommend increasing the number of pest monitors at each location around the site that has a history of pest infestation, thus adjusting the distribution of pest monitors. Finally, the number of pest monitors may be further modified by applying a risk index to the adjusted distribution, which may be (1) proportional to the record of past pest incidents as reflected in past audits or inspections, and (2) related to the risk tolerance of the particular type of business conducted at the site.

[0131] The above process defines a scheme for the recommended number and placement of pest monitors in and / or around the facility at the site to detect the presence of unwanted pests. Individual pest reports from the pest monitors are accumulated as the system is operated. The system can "learn" from the accumulated pest reports and periodically vary the number of pest monitors and / or optimize the allocation / placement of pest monitors depending on ongoing pest activity in or around the facility or otherwise at the site. Additionally or alternatively, the system can draw data from a "library" of pest monitor deployments at other facilities / sites that operate in the same business or are similar in size or location. In this way, the number and placement of pest monitors at the monitored site can be continuously or periodically optimized (increased, decreased, or repositioned) to minimize the cost of pest monitoring hardware while keeping pest incidents within established tolerance limits for the facility / site.

[0132] Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a pesticide application system 700 including one or more pesticide delivery / application units 800 (see, e.g., FIG. 7), each including a tank 810 configured to store a diluent 820, a pesticide module 830 configured to store a pesticide substance 840, and a transmission module 850 for transmitting data, as shown in FIG 8, and a computing device 900 located remotely from the pesticide delivery / application unit 800. Elements 800 may be referred to herein as a pesticide delivery unit, a pesticide application unit, and / or a pesticide delivery / application unit, where appropriate or desired. In certain aspects, the computing device 900 is configured to receive pesticide substance usage data from the pesticide supplying unit 800 via the transmission module 850, the pesticide substance usage data including, for example, a dosage amount or rate of pesticide substance 840 dispensed from the pesticide module 830 of any of the pesticide supplying units 800 to formulate a pest treatment comprising a concentration of the pesticide substance in a diluent, and the formulated pest treatment is dispensed from the pesticide supplying unit 800 automatically or by a pest control technician using the pesticide supplying unit 800 to treat pests at the site 300.

[0133] In particular, the computing device 900 includes a processing circuit, a processor, and non-transitory memory storing executable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the computing device 900 to at least determine and monitor usage of the pesticide substance 840 (see, e.g., computing device 400 shown in FIG. 2). In some aspects of the present disclosure, one or more pesticide dispensing units 800 each include a receiving module 870 (see, e.g., FIG. 8) configured to receive communications from the computing device 900, and the computing device 900 is configured to at least instruct the pesticide module 830 of any pesticide dispensing unit 800 to meter the pesticide substance 840 dispensed to compound a particular concentration of the pesticide substance 840 in the pest treatment diluent 820 to be dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit 800. The pesticide dispensing unit 800 may have many different configurations. One example of a suitable pesticide supply unit 800 including a tank 810 configured to store a diluent 820 and a pesticide module 830 configured to store a pesticide substance 840 is described, for example, in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. xx / xxx,xxx, inventors Byron Reid, Volker Gutsman, Michael Zimmerman, Chris Pienaar, and Gaelle Fages, filed April 12, 2017, assignees Bayer CropScience LP and Bayer AG, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

[0134] In certain aspects, pesticide application system 700 may be a "standalone" system arranged in the manner disclosed herein. In other aspects, pesticide application system 700 may be included in or otherwise associated with pest monitoring and control system 100 disclosed above. More particularly, in such aspects, computer device 400 of pest monitoring and control system 100 may be the same as, cooperate with, or otherwise associated with computer device 900 of pesticide application system 700. In such cases, actual field data may be provided to computer device 900 of pesticide application system 700 by pest monitoring device 200 of pest monitoring and control system 100. Additionally, the pesticide supply unit 800 of the pesticide application system 700 may be, include, or be associated with a prescribed remedy dispatched to the site 300 by the computing device 400 of the pest monitoring and control system 100 (or computing device 900, either directly or via notification of the PCO 550, as shown in FIG. 7, for example) for automatic implementation or implementation via instructions / commands communicated to a pest control technician to address one or more pests detected at the site 300. With such a comprehensive integrated system, in some aspects, a regional, national, or global database of pesticide applications may be assigned to job types and correlated with pest detection incidents obtained from the pest monitoring device 200 or other actual site data. Such a system may be applied in such a broad manner to monitor and analyze the effectiveness of pest management programs implemented by various pest control organizations (PCOs) and to determine recommended best practices for pesticide application.

[0135] In some aspects, the system 700 includes multiple pesticide delivery units 800. In such cases, the computer device 900 is configured to determine a total usage amount of the pesticide material 840 based on the delivery amount or delivery rate of the pesticide material 840 delivered from the pesticide modules 830 across the multiple pesticide delivery units 800. The computer device 900 is configured to determine a normal usage distribution statistic for the pesticide material 840 delivered from one or more of the pesticide delivery units 800 based on the determined usage amount or delivery rate of the pesticide material 840. Once the normal usage distribution statistic is determined, the computer device 900 compares the determined usage amount of the pesticide material 840 from any of the pesticide delivery units 800 to the normal usage distribution statistic to determine pesticide delivery units 800 that are delivering more or less than the normal usage distribution statistic for the pesticide material 840.

[0136] That is, in some aspects, by tracking pesticide substance 840 usage at the individual pesticide supply unit 800 level, a pest control organization (PCO) manager can index or evaluate a particular pesticide supply unit 800's pesticide substance 840 usage against a population or selected set of pesticide supply units 800 that perform similar tasks / supply the same pesticide substance 840, whether the selected set of pesticide supply units 800 is within the same PCO or the selected set is spread across several different PCOs within a particular region or across the country. The computing device 900 may be configured to determine distribution statistics regarding "normal use" of the pesticide substance 840, for example, by tracking / monitoring usage of the pesticide substance of a particular pesticide supplying unit 800 for a particular type of operation (i.e., normal dispatch of pesticide technicians for pest detections at sites 300 in areas with other similar sites being monitored / treated), and may automatically flag or highlight individual pesticide supplying units 800 and their associated pest control technicians that are isolated from the normal distribution statistics regarding usage of the pesticide substance 840. As a result, the PCO's manager of pest control technicians may receive an alert / notification to take corrective action against the pest control technician to improve operational efficiency or control costs. In one example, each pesticide supply unit 800 is associated with a pest control technician, and the computer device 900 is configured to determine pesticide application remedial training for the pest control technician in response to a determined usage amount of the pesticide material 840 from any of the pesticide supply units 800 deviating from normal usage amount distribution statistics.

[0137] In another aspect of the present disclosure, one or more pesticide application units 800 each include a timer module 860 (see, e.g., FIG. 8 ) in communication with the transmission module 850, the timer module 860 configured to determine a duration of a pesticide application event, and the computer device 900 configured to determine a normal duration (i.e., duration of a pesticide application event) distribution statistic for the plurality of pesticide application events. In some cases, the computer device 900 is configured to compare the determined duration of a pesticide application event from any of the pesticide application units 800 to the normal duration distribution statistic to determine a pesticide application unit 800 that is being used more or less than the normal duration distribution statistic for the plurality of pesticide application events. In such a case, each pesticide application unit is associated with a pesticide technician, and the computer device 900 is configured to determine and monitor pesticide application remedial training for the pesticide technician in response to the determined duration of a pesticide application event from any of the pesticide application units 800 deviating from the normal duration distribution statistic.

[0138] That is, the computer device 900 may be configured to determine distribution statistics for "normal application times" by tracking / monitoring the time required to complete certain types of pesticide application tasks (i.e., treatment of the site 300) and automatically flag or highlight individual pesticide supply units 800 and associated pest control technicians that are isolated from normal distribution statistics for the time required to complete pesticide application tasks. PCO managers may use this information to plan and schedule resources (pest control technicians) based on application efficiency and more accurately assign work to individual pest control technicians. In other cases, the computer device 900 may be configured to track the time required to complete certain types of pesticide application tasks to automate pricing of pesticide application tasks, for example, through price quotes based on normal time / duration distributions, which may also be used to bill customers.

[0139] In certain aspects, the computer device 900 may be configured to identify pest control technicians who complete certain types of pesticide application tasks faster or slower than the normal time / duration distribution, and direct these non-standard pest control technicians to an online video training module that helps improve consistency, for example, by utilizing established best practices in such pesticide application tasks. Additionally, the computer device 900 may be configured to track or monitor compliance with corrective training by these pest control technicians, and to correlate the completion of this corrective training with subsequent changes in the pest control technician's performance with respect to the duration of the pesticide application task. In this way, any improvements in the pest control technician's performance can be commended, and additional training can be recommended if the pest control technician's performance does not improve. Additionally, the computer device 900 may be configured to identify pest control technicians who under- or over-apply pesticide products (total usage or application rate) relative to the respective normal usage distribution statistics, and direct these non-standard pest control technicians to an online video training module that helps improve consistency, for example, by utilizing established best practices in the application of such pesticide products. Additionally, the computer device 900 may be configured to track or monitor compliance with corrective training by these pest control technicians, and to correlate the completion of this corrective training with pesticide product usage or application rate. In this way, any improvements in the pest control technician's work efficiency can be commended, and additional training can be recommended if the pest control technician's work efficiency is not improved.

[0140] In other aspects, the computing device 900 is configured to correlate data from environmental monitors associated with the site 300, physical factor data associated with the site 300, data from facility monitors associated with the site 300, data associated with operational factors associated with the site 300, or external environmental factor data associated with external environmental factors affecting the site 300 with the determined usage of pesticide material. That is, the computing device 900 may be configured to track or monitor detected pest activity at many different types of sites. This detected pest activity may then be correlated with work cycles (i.e., factors within the site operation) and / or seasonal / weather patterns (i.e., factors outside the site) affecting the site 300 to perform predictive analysis for various pests. The computing device 900 may be configured to alert a site manager or PCO manager if a particular type of site is trending toward or is about to experience an outbreak / event that leads to increased levels of pest activity so that appropriate measures can be taken to prevent problematic pest infestations. Additionally, the computing device 900 may be configured to recommend best site / PCO management practices that can be implemented to prevent and / or resolve predicted pest infestations. Additionally, by the computing device 900 automatically correlating weather information about the site location and surrounding areas with pesticide product use history, compliance records for the site can be easily generated and regulatory investigations and / or routine inquiries regarding site safety and / or site environmental issues can be efficiently addressed without the need for warehouse management and paper record review.

[0141] In still other cases, the computing device 900 is configured to determine a weather forecast associated with the site 300 or its location, and instruct the pesticide application unit 800, an associated pest control technician, or site manager not to apply a pest treatment at the site 300 if the weather forecast includes a weather event that would contraindicate application of the pest treatment. That is, certain pesticides, such as pyrethroid pesticides, include usage instructions not to apply if rain is expected within 24 hours of application. In such cases, the computing device 900 may be configured to query a weather forecast service to obtain an appropriate forecast for the site location, and correlate the appropriate weather forecast with real-time information regarding the pest control technician / pesticide application unit 800 dispatched to the site. In this manner, the computing device 900 may alert the site manager, pest control technician, or the pesticide application unit 800 itself that use or application of a particular pesticide product is currently contraindicated according to the recommended usage instructions.

[0142] More broadly, the computer device 900 may be configured to allow the site manager and / or PCO manager to prevent the use or application of a particular pesticide product by the pest control technician, for example, when application of the pesticide substance is contraindicated under pesticide application guidelines, when application of the pesticide substance conflicts with applicable local regulations or governing laws, and / or to facilitate compliance with applicable environmental management guidelines in relation to the site. That is, even if there is federal approval of a particular pesticide product, often private companies / sites will create approved product lists to regulate the pesticide products that may be used in relation to a particular site. The computer device 900 may be configured to automatically alert / notify the pest control technician or his / her site manager before an unapproved product is used by correlating the location information of the pesticide supply unit 800 and the pesticide substance it supplies with a registry of pesticide products approved for that site / location, thereby ensuring compliance with the specific site policies, laws or regulations affecting the site.

[0143] In various aspects of the present disclosure, a geospatial location module 880 (i.e., for example, a GPS-enabled device as shown in FIG. 8 ) is associated with one or more pesticide-dispensing units 800. In such a case, the computing device 900 is configured to correlate the location of the site 300 with the locations of the pesticide-dispensing units 800 (and the locations of the associated pest control technicians) determined from the respective geospatial location modules 880 and transmitted to the computing device 900 via the transmission module 850. The computing device 900 may be further configured to dispatch a pest control technician associated with the pesticide-dispensing unit 800 closest to the site 300 to the site 300 to dispense the pest treatment. That is, by utilizing location data of the pesticide application units 800 / pest technicians via their respective geospatial location modules 880, the computing device 900 can automatically transmit alerts / notifications of detected pest activity received from the field to the pesticide application units 800 / pest technicians closest to the field 300, for example, to minimize response times and optimize labor utilization. Additionally, upon collection of sufficient data, the computing device 900 may be configured to categorize alerts / notifications by the severity or importance of the pest activity detected at various fields and dispatch certain resources (i.e., field crews or resources) to respond to less severe detected pest problems, while augmenting the dispatch of certain pest technicians from the PCO for more severe detected pest problems.

[0144] Further, by utilizing the location data of the pesticide application unit 800 / pest technician via each geospatial location module 880, the computing device 900 may be configured to determine the location of the pesticide application unit 800 from each geospatial location module 880, compare the location of any of the pesticide application units 800 to the pest treatment agent restrictions for that location, and assign an alternative pest treatment if the assigned pest treatment violates the pest treatment agent restrictions for that location.

[0145] In certain aspects, the pesticide module 880 of each pesticide supply unit 800 is configured to monitor consumption of the pesticide substance 840 contained therein and transmit related consumption data to the computing device 900 via the transmission module 850. In such a case, the computing device 900 is configured to analyze the consumption data and determine a usage rate of the pesticide substance 840 in the pesticide module 830, an ordering interval for a replacement pesticide module to replace the pesticide module 830 upon depletion of the pesticide substance 840 contained therein, a collection interval for collecting the pesticide module 830 upon depletion of the pesticide substance 840 contained therein, or an inventory level of the pesticide module 830 required to timely replace the pesticide module 830 upon depletion of the pesticide substance 840 contained therein. That is, the computer device 900 may be configured to generate a verifiable record for each individual pest control technician / pesticide supply unit 800 to provide an accurate record of, for example, the pesticide product being applied, the amount or application rate, the site location, and the date of application. In this manner, the computer device 900 may monitor and report exposure to a particular pesticide product (i.e., environmental exposure) for compliance with occupational health and safety regulations. In this regard, a possible advantage or benefit of the aspects of the pesticide supply unit 800 disclosed herein may be to reduce exposure of the pest control technician and / or nearby members of the public to the pesticide material 840, which may be in a concentrated state, by, for example, mixing the pesticide material 840 from the pesticide module 830 with the diluent 820 from the tank 810 to prepare a pest treatment in an automated and contained / contained manner.

[0146] In certain aspects, the computer device 900 is configured to compare consumption data, such as consumption data related to the amount or rate of use of pesticide substance 840 in various pesticide modules 830, with the inventory of pesticide modules 830 that contain pesticide substance 840 and pesticide modules that have been depleted of pesticide substance, to generate audit data (i.e., audit data for tracking pesticide module 830 and total consumption of pesticide product). The computer device 900 may be configured to monitor the inventory available at different levels, i.e., within the company (i.e., PCO), individual branches, or each work vehicle, based on the purchase quantity data of pesticide product by generating real-time data on the consumption of pesticide product. This allows for optimized logistics management of the supply chain, enabling automatic inventory replenishment to deliver the right pesticide product to the right pest control technician in the right quantity just in time. Further, the computing device 900 can track / monitor the amount and / or rate of pesticide product usage (i.e., depletion) to automatically schedule collection for reuse or replacement of empty / depleted pesticide modules 830. Additionally, the computing device 90 can be configured to monitor for pesticide product discrepancies by correlating pesticide product supply (inventory) with pesticide product depletion, and generate an administrator alert if a discrepancy is found of possible misappropriation / theft / loss of pesticide product. In other cases, such discrepancies may indicate a need for calibration of various pesticide supply units 800, for example.

[0147] In yet another aspect, the computing device 900 is configured to determine supply chain information associated with the pesticide module 830 housing the pesticide material 840 and compare the supply chain information with pest detection information associated with the site 300 to monitor pesticide material product quality or pesticide material performance indicators. That is, the computing device 900 is configured to perform an analysis of pest detection incidents at the site 300 to determine pesticide product quality issues or performance / effectiveness issues by utilizing a product supply database identifying batches, analyses, suppliers, etc., and information associated with various pesticide products. As a result, alerts / notifications can be issued quickly to address the need for a product recall.

[0148] Example 2 9 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary implementation of a pesticide application system for optimizing pesticide dosage and treatment at a site with respect to actual data collected from the site, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, that is, in this example, the system is deployed for optimizing the application of pesticide formulations at a site for pest management, specifically for pest incident suppression in an institution, individual residence, or apartment complex.

[0149] An account typically includes one or more sites, with each site serviced by the system tagged with descriptive characteristics of the facility, such as the nature of the operation, its location, the size of the facility, and / or the type of pest encountered. For each service at each site, characteristics of the pesticide application event are recorded, such as the date the specific pesticide was applied and the concentration and amount of that specific pesticide. This pesticide treatment event record is stored in a database for analysis. A variety of analyses are performed on the accumulated treatment events.

[0150] In one example, an external database can be accessed to look up on-site temperature and precipitation events, and this data can be correlated with the frequency of treatment events to learn the impact of weather on the persistence / effectiveness of specific pesticides used and applied on-site. The system may also be configured to reference various "libraries" outlining public or private restrictions on when and where specific pesticides are permitted to be used, and can send alerts to technicians (via connected pesticide application devices) to prevent unintentional violations from negatively impacting the pest management company's compliance record.

[0151] A pest management company may define thresholds a priori or perform an a posteriori analysis of treatment events to flag isolated treatment events requiring corrective action. For example, by tracking pesticide applications across all technicians, the pest management company can define application volume or average service time thresholds (i.e., the arithmetic mean plus or minus one standard deviation). This allows the pest management company to identify technicians who apply too much pesticide or who do not spend enough time properly servicing the facility / site. With this insight, the pest management company can, for example, direct technicians to training resources to ensure compliance with company service standards or industry standard practices based on an analysis of pesticide treatment records for similar facilities / sites associated with numerous other companies whose data are in the master database.

[0152] Finally, and in response to interfacing with the optimized pest monitoring distribution configuration disclosed in connection with Example 1, user-defined thresholds may be established for pest incidents that indicate the need for pesticide treatment at the facility / site. When the pest detection system of Example 1 reports a pest incident that exceeds such a threshold, the optimized pest management system may generate an alert notifying a technician or pest management company of the need for additional pesticide application services at the facility / site.

[0153] The "service needed" warning can be modified in a variety of ways. For example, a particular pesticide product may be recommended if the time since the last pesticide application service is shorter than expected (i.e., the interval is shorter than the manufacturer's recommended treatment). Based on the records of the pest management company, or records from a number of other similar pesticide management companies, an expected duration of pest control after pesticide treatment (i.e., the arithmetic mean plus or minus one standard deviation) can be established. Any deviation from this threshold suggests poor technician performance, pesticide chemical performance, or both.

[0154] Additionally, a scheduled rotation between different pesticides may be established to prevent pest populations from developing physiological resistance to a particular pesticide. The system then continuously tracks the sequential use of a pesticide in the facility / field and recommends the next pesticide product for use in the management scheme to prevent pesticide resistance in the target pest. Unfavorable performance may also be a warning sign indicating a risk of pests developing pesticide resistance or other conditions that reduce the effectiveness of the pesticide.

[0155] In this manner, the system can be used to control the frequency or quality of pesticide application events based on insights from operational performance data and, through interaction with pest alerts determined by associated pest monitoring systems, can optimize pest management at a facility / site by minimizing costs and risks associated with pesticides while keeping pest incidents within acceptable limits established for the facility / site.

[0156] Aspects of the present disclosure also provide methods performed by the systems generally depicted in the operational flow diagrams of Figures 8 and 9 and described, disclosed and claimed throughout this specification. In addition to providing suitable systems, devices and methods, aspects of the present disclosure also provide associated non-transitory computer readable storage media each having stored therein computer readable program code that, upon execution by a processor, causes the device to perform at least the methods disclosed herein, i.e., a computer program product performing the functions / operations / steps disclosed above, e.g., in the form of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (i.e., memory device) having stored therein certain computer readable program code portions that, upon execution by a processor device, cause the device to perform at least the steps disclosed herein.

[0157] In this regard, Figures 8 and 9 are operational flow diagrams associated with certain methods, systems, devices, and computer program products according to certain aspects of the disclosure. More specifically, Figure 10 illustrates a method of pest monitoring control at a site according to one aspect of the disclosure, the method including analyzing environmental factor data related to environmental factors at and around the site that promote pest population growth and historical factor data related to factors indicative of past pest populations at the site to determine the amount of pest monitors proposed for monitoring the site and the installation location of each pest monitor around the site (block 900), and deploying pest control monitors around the site according to the analysis (block 920). FIG. 11 generally illustrates an operational flow diagram of a method of pesticide application at a site, the method including receiving, at a computer device including a processor and a non-transitory memory storing executable instructions, pesticide substance usage data from one or more remotely located pesticide supplying units, each of the pesticide supplying units including a tank configured to store a diluent, a pesticide module configured to store a pesticide substance, and a transmission module for transmitting data (block 940); and determining and monitoring usage of the pesticide substance by analyzing the pesticide substance usage data at the computer device (block 960), the pesticide substance usage data including a feed amount or feed rate of pesticide substance dispensed from a pesticide module of any of the pesticide supplying units to formulate a pest treatment comprising a concentration of pesticide substance in a diluent, the pesticide treatment being dispensed from the pesticide supplying units to treat pests at the site.

[0158] It will be understood that each block or step of each operational flow diagram or combination of blocks of the operational flow diagrams can be implemented by suitable computer program instructions executed by a processor device. These computer program instructions may be loaded into a computing device or other programmable device to perform the functions specified in the operational flow diagrams otherwise associated with the methods disclosed herein. These computer program instructions may be stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory (i.e., memory device) accessible to a computing device or other programmable device in a particular embodiment, and the executable instructions stored in the computer readable memory operate or facilitate the operation of a product capable of directing or otherwise executing instructions to perform the functions specified in the operational flow diagrams otherwise associated with the methods disclosed herein. The computer program instructions may be loaded into a computing device or other programmable device to cause the computing device or other programmable device to execute a series of operational steps, thereby creating a computer-implemented process in which the instructions executed by the computing device or other programmable device provide or otherwise direct the appropriate steps to perform the functions / steps specified in the operational flow diagrams otherwise associated with the methods disclosed herein. It will also be understood that each step of the operational flow diagram, or a combination of steps of the operational flow diagram, can be implemented by a computer system based on dedicated hardware that performs specific functions or steps, or a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions (software).

[0159] As indicated above, the program code instructions may be stored in a memory and executed by a processing circuit, which is thereby programmed to implement the functions of the systems, subsystems, tools, and their respective elements described herein. It will be understood that any suitable program code instructions may be loaded from a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium into a computer or other programmable device to generate a specific machine that performs the functions specified herein. These program code instructions may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that instructs a computer, processing circuit, or other programmable device to function in a specific manner, thereby producing a specific machine or a specific product. The instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may produce a product that is a means for performing the functions described herein. The program code instructions may be read from a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and loaded into a computer, processing circuit, or other programmable device to configure the computer, processing circuit, or other programmable device to perform the operations performed on or by the computer, processing circuit, or other programmable device.

[0160] The reading, loading, and execution of program code instructions may be a sequential process, reading, loading, and executing one instruction at a time. In some example implementations, the reading, loading, and / or execution may be a parallel process, reading, loading, and executing multiple instructions simultaneously. Execution of program code instructions may result in computer processes in which the instructions executed by a computer, processing circuit, or other programmable device provide operations that implement the functions described herein.

[0161] Execution of the instructions by a processing circuit or storing the instructions in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium supports a combination of operations to perform a particular function. Thus, an apparatus may include a processing circuit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or memory coupled to the processing circuit, where the processing circuit is configured to execute computer-readable program code stored in the memory. It will also be appreciated that one or more functions, and combinations of functions, may be implemented by a computer system with dedicated hardware and / or a processing circuit that performs the particular function, or a combination of dedicated hardware and program code instructions.

[0162] Those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains, having the benefit of the teachings of the foregoing description and the associated drawings, will envision numerous modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure set forth herein. For example, in certain aspects, on-site treatment procedures and historical data of pest detection incidents may be used to perform analysis for various business performance indicators (e.g., account retention rates, satisfaction surveys), and management can use these insights to optimize customer satisfaction and improve business growth and profitability. It is to be understood, therefore, that the disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, and modifications and other embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, while the foregoing specification and associated drawings have presented exemplary embodiments as certain illustrative combinations of elements and / or features, it should be understood that alternative embodiments may provide different combinations of elements and / or features without departing from the scope of the claims. In this regard, for example, it is contemplated that some claims may present combinations of elements and / or features different from those expressly described above. Although specific terms have been employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. a plurality of pest monitoring devices, each of the pest monitoring devices being disposed at a site and configured to generate a signal in response to detecting a pest at the site; A computing device located remotely from the pest monitoring device and configured to communicate with the pest monitoring device to receive the generated signal from the pest monitoring device, the signal from the pest monitoring device including actual site data, the computing device including a processor and a memory storing executable instructions, the instructions including at least: analyzing environmental factor data and historical factor data to determine a quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and a location of each pest monitoring device around the site, the environmental factor data relating to environmental factors at and around the site that are conducive to pest population growth, and the historical factor data relating to factors indicative of past pest populations at the site; directing deployment of said pest control monitoring devices around said site in accordance with said analysis; a computer device that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the computer device to perform the A pest monitoring and control system including:

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to, in response to detection of a pest by any of the pest monitoring devices, analyze the actual site data to determine a location or potential source of the detected pest within the perimeter of the site.

3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is configured to, in response to detection of a pest by any of the pest monitoring devices, analyze the actual site data to determine a vector indicative of the location or potential source of the detected pest around the site.

4. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer device is configured to analyze the actual site data using the environmental factor data and the historical factor data to determine whether the locations of the pest monitoring devices around the site should be changed or whether the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed around the site should be changed.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to direct an adjustment to the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed at least around the site based on a risk tolerance factor.

6. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer device is configured to analyze the environmental factor data and the historical factor data with respect to a geospatial map of the site to determine the quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and installation locations of each of the pest monitoring devices around the site.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the computing device is configured to specify a course of action to address the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

8. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to direct one or more specific queries to a remote terminal in response to the actual site data, the remote terminal is configured to receive responses to the one or more specific queries entered into the remote terminal from the site and direct the responses to the computing device, and the computing device responds to responses from the remote terminal to identify the detected pest and specify a course of action for the detected pest or the source of the detected pest at the site.

9. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer device is configured to instruct a remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to a pesticide applicator configured to implement the remedy at the site or a pest control technician instructed to implement the remedy at the site.

10. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer device is configured to analyze the actual site data in comparison to work activity data relating to work activity factors at the site or external environmental factor data relating to external environmental factors affecting the site to predict future pest infestation events.

11. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computing device is configured to determine changes in work activity factors associated with the work activity data, changes in environmental factors associated with the environmental factor data, or preventative factors to impede the predicted future pest infestation events.

12. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is configured to analyze data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, or data related to operational factors associated with the site, and determine correlations between the data and the actual site data to identify root causes of pest infestations at the site or to recommend actions to prevent future pest infestations.

13. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing device is configured to vary the designated remedy or an active ingredient of the designated remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to prevent or delay the detected pest from developing resistance to the remedy or the active ingredient of the designated remedy.

14. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing device is configured to correlate actual site data with designated remedy(s) for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to determine changes in pest activity in response to the designated remedy or to evaluate the effectiveness of the designated remedy(s) in response to the pest activity being treated.

15. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing device is configured to analyze the actual site data, determine whether pest activity associated with the actual site data is increasing with respect to the designated remedy or an implementation parameter associated with the designated remedy, and recommend further remedial action, the further remedial action including adjusting the implementation parameter within a recommended range, addressing site factors unrelated to the implementation parameter, and modifying the designated remedy or an active ingredient of the designated remedy to prevent or delay the detected pest developing resistance to the remedy.

16. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing device is configured to compare the specified remedy with limitations on remedy for the site and to specify an alternative remedy if the specified remedy conflicts with the limitations on remedy.

17. A method for on-site pest monitoring and control, comprising: analyzing environmental factor data and historical factor data to determine a quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and a location of each of the pest monitoring devices around the site, the environmental factor data relating to environmental factors at and around the site that are conducive to pest population growth, and the historical factor data relating to factors indicative of past pest populations at the site; deploying the pest control monitors around the site in accordance with the analysis; and The method includes:

18. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein each pest monitoring device is configured to generate a signal in response to detecting a pest at the site and transmit the signal to a remotely located computer device, the method including analyzing the signal from any of the pest monitoring devices using the computer device to determine a location or potential source of the detected pest around the site, the signal from the pest monitoring device including actual site data.

19. 20. The method of claim 18, comprising analyzing the actual site data to determine a vector indicative of the location or potential source of the detected pest around the site.

20. 20. The method of claim 18, comprising analyzing the actual site data with the environmental factor data and the historical factor data to determine whether the locations of the pest monitoring devices around the site should be changed or whether the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed around the site should be changed.

21. 20. The method of claim 17, comprising directing an adjustment to the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed at least around the site based on a risk tolerance factor.

22. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: analyzing the environmental factor data and the historical factor data with respect to a geospatial map of the site to determine the quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and the installation location of each pest monitoring device around the site.

23. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising specifying, by the computer device, a course of action to be taken in response to the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

24. 20. The method of claim 18, comprising directing one or more specific queries from the computing device to a remote terminal in response to the actual site data, the remote terminal being configured to receive responses to the one or more specific queries entered into the remote terminal from the site.

25. 25. The method of claim 24, comprising receiving the response at the computing device, the computing device reacting to the response from the remote terminal to identify the detected pest, and specifying, by the computing device, a course of action to address the detected pest or the source of the detected pest at the site.

26. 20. The method of claim 18, comprising instructing from the computer device a remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to a pesticide applicator configured to implement the remedy at the site or a pest control technician instructed to implement the remedy at the site.

27. 20. The method of claim 18, comprising predicting future pest infestation events by analyzing, on the computer device, the actual site data in comparison to work activity data relating to work activity factors at the site or external environmental factor data relating to external environmental factors affecting the site.

28. 30. The method of claim 27, comprising determining, at the computer device, changes in work activity factors associated with the work activity data, changes in environmental factors associated with the environmental factor data, or preventative factors that will impede the predicted future pest infestation events.

29. 20. The method of claim 18, comprising: identifying, on the computer device, a root cause of a pest infestation at the site or proposing actions to prevent future pest infestations by analyzing data from environmental monitors associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from facility monitors associated with the site, or data related to operational factors associated with the site and determining a correlation between the data and the actual site data.

30. 24. The method of claim 23, comprising: preventing or delaying the development of resistance by the detected pest to the treatment or the active ingredient of the designated treatment by altering, on the computer device, the designated treatment or the active ingredient of the designated treatment for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

31. 24. The method of claim 23, comprising correlating, on the computer device, actual site data with designated remedy(s) for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to determine changes in pest activity in response to the designated remedy or to evaluate the effectiveness of the designated remedy(s) in response to the pest activity being treated.

32. 24. The method of claim 23, The method includes, with the computer device, analyzing the actual site data and recommending further remedial action by determining whether pest activity associated with the actual site data is increasing with respect to the designated remedial action or an implementation parameter associated with the designated remedial action; The further remedial action includes adjusting the performance parameters within recommended ranges, addressing site factors unrelated to the performance parameters, and modifying the designated remedy to prevent or delay the development of resistance by the detected pest to the remedy or to an active ingredient of the designated remedy. method.

33. 24. The method of claim 23, comprising comparing, at the computing device, the specified remedy with limitations on remedy for the site, and specifying an alternative remedy if the specified remedy conflicts with the limitations on remedy.

34. 1. A computer readable storage medium for an in-situ pest control monitoring and control system, the computer readable storage medium being non-transitory and comprising at least: analyzing environmental factor data and historical factor data to determine a quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and a location of each pest monitoring device around the site, the environmental factor data relating to environmental factors at and around the site that are conducive to pest population growth, and the historical factor data relating to factors indicative of past pest populations at the site; deploying the pest control monitors around the site according to the analysis; and A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code stored therein that, when executed by a processor, causes the device to perform the following:

35. 35. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein each pest monitoring device is configured to generate a signal in response to detecting a pest at the site and transmit the signal to a remotely located computing device having a non-transitory computer readable storage medium associated therewith, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to analyze the signals from the pest monitoring devices to determine a location or potential source of the detected pest around the site, the signals from the pest monitoring devices including actual site data.

36. 36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to analyze the actual site data to determine a vector indicative of the location or the potential source of the detected pest around the site.

37. 36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35, further comprising further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to analyze the actual site data using the environmental factor data and the historical factor data to determine whether the locations of the pest monitoring devices around the site should be changed or whether the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed around the site should be changed.

38. 35. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 34, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to direct an adjustment of the amount of pest monitoring devices deployed around at least the site based on a risk tolerance factor.

39. 35. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 34, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to analyze the environmental factor data and the historical factor data with respect to a geospatial map of the site to determine the quantity of pest monitoring devices proposed for monitoring the site and installation locations of each pest monitoring device around the site.

40. 36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to specify a course of action in response to the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

41. 36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the computing device to direct one or more specific queries from the computing device to a remote terminal in response to the actual site data, wherein the remote terminal is configured to receive responses from the site to the one or more specific queries entered into the remote terminal.

42. 42. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 41, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to: respond to receiving the response from the remote terminal, identify the detected pest, and specify a course of action to address the detected pest or the source of the detected pest at a site.

43. 36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to instruct from the computer device a remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to a pesticide applicator configured to implement the remedy at the site or a pest control technician instructed to implement the remedy at the site.

44. 36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to predict future pest infestation events by analyzing the actual site data in comparison to work activity data related to work activity factors at the site or external environmental factor data related to external environmental factors affecting the site.

45. 45. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 44, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine changes in work activity factors associated with the work activity data, changes in environmental factors associated with the environmental factor data, or preventative factors that will impede the predicted future pest infestation events.

46. 36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to identify a root cause of a pest infestation at the site or suggest actions to prevent future pest infestations by analyzing data from environmental monitors associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from facility monitors associated with the site, or data related to operational factors associated with the site and determining a correlation between the data and the actual site data.

47. 41. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 40, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to prevent or delay the detected pest from acquiring resistance to the remedy or the active ingredient of the designated remedy by altering the designated remedy or the active ingredient of the designated remedy for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site.

48. 41. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 40, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to correlate actual site data with designated remedial actions for the detected pest or the potential source of the detected pest at the site to determine a change in pest activity in response to the designated remedial action or to evaluate the effectiveness of the designated remedial action in response to the pest activity being treated.

49. 41. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 40, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to recommend further remedial action by analyzing the actual site data and determining whether pest activity associated with the actual site data is increasing with respect to the designated remedy or an implementation parameter associated with the designated remedy, wherein the further remedial action includes adjusting the implementation parameter within a recommended range, responding to site factors not associated with the implementation parameter, and modifying the designated remedy or an active ingredient of the designated remedy to prevent or delay the detected pest from developing resistance to the remedy.

50. 41. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 40, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to compare the specified remedy with limitations on remedy for the venue and to specify an alternative remedy if the specified remedy conflicts with the limitations on remedy.

51. one or more pesticide supply units, each pesticide supply unit including a tank configured to store a diluent, a pesticide module configured to store a pesticide substance, and a transmission module for transmitting data; a computer device located remotely from the pesticide supplying units and configured to receive pesticide substance usage data from the pesticide supplying units via respective transmission modules, the pesticide substance usage data including a feed amount or rate of the pesticide substance dispensed from the pesticide module of any of the pesticide supplying units to formulate a pest treatment comprising a concentration of the pesticide substance in the diluent, the pest treatment being dispensed from the pesticide supplying unit to treat pests at the site, the computer device including a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the computer device to at least determine and monitor usage of the pesticide substance; 16. A pesticide application system comprising:

52. 52. The system of claim 51, wherein the one or more pesticide supply units include a plurality of pesticide supply units, and the computer device is configured to determine the amount of pesticide material to be used based on the supply amount or the supply rate of the pesticide material supplied from the pesticide module of the pesticide supply unit.

53. 53. The system of claim 52, wherein the computing device is configured to determine normal usage distribution statistics for pesticide substances dispensed from one or more of the pesticide supply units.

54. 54. The system of claim 53, wherein the computer device is configured to compare the determined usage of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supply units to the normal usage distribution statistics and determine which pesticide supply units are supplying more or less than the normal usage distribution statistics for the pesticide material.

55. 55. The system of claim 54, wherein each pesticide supply unit is associated with a pest control technician, and the computer device is configured to determine pesticide application remedial training for the pest control technician in response to the determined usage amount of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supply units deviating from the normal usage amount distribution statistics.

56. 52. The system of claim 51, wherein each of the one or more pesticide supply units includes a timer module in communication with the transmission module, the timer module configured to determine a duration of a pesticide application event, and the computing device configured to determine a normal duration distribution statistic for a plurality of the pesticide application events.

57. 57. The system of claim 56, wherein the computer device is configured to compare the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supply units to the normal duration distribution statistic and determine which pesticide supply units are being used more or less than the normal duration distribution statistic for the pesticide application event.

58. 58. The system of claim 57, wherein each pesticide supply unit is associated with a pest control technician, and the computer device is configured to determine and monitor pesticide application remedial training for the pest control technician in response to the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supply units deviating from a normal duration distribution statistic.

59. 53. The system of claim 52, wherein the computing device is configured to correlate data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, data related to operational factors associated with the site, or external environmental factor data related to external environmental factors affecting the site with the determined usage amount of the pesticide material.

60. 52. The system of claim 51, wherein the one or more pesticide dispensing units each include a receiving module configured to receive communications from the computer device, the computer device configured to at least instruct the pesticide module of any of the pesticide dispensing units to meter the pesticide material dispensed from the pesticide module to dispense a predetermined concentration of the pesticide material in a diluent of the pest treatment agent to be dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit.

61. 52. The system of claim 51, wherein the computing device is configured to determine a weather forecast associated with the site and, if the weather forecast includes a weather event that contraindicates application of the pest treatment, instruct a pesticide application unit not to apply the pest treatment at the site.

62. 52. The system of claim 51, further comprising a geospatial location module associated with each of the one or more pesticide delivery units, wherein the computer device is configured to correlate a location of the site with a location of the pesticide delivery unit determined from the respective geospatial location module and dispatch a pest control technician associated with a pesticide delivery unit closest to the site location to the site to deliver the pest treatment.

63. 52. The system of claim 51, further comprising a geospatial location module associated with each of the one or more pesticide-dispensing units, wherein the computer device is configured to determine locations of the pesticide-dispensing units from the respective geospatial location modules, compare the locations of any of the pesticide-dispensing units to pest treatment agent restrictions for the locations, and assign an alternative pest treatment if the assigned pest treatment violates the pest treatment agent restrictions for the locations.

64. 52. The system of claim 51, wherein the pesticide module is configured to monitor consumption of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module and transmit associated consumption data to the computer device via the transmission module, and the computer device is configured to analyze the consumption data and determine a usage rate of the pesticide material in the pesticide module, an ordering interval for a replacement pesticide module to replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, a collection interval for collecting the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, or an inventory level of the pesticide module required to timely replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module.

65. 65. The system of claim 64, wherein the computer device is configured to compare the consumption data with an inventory of pesticide modules containing the pesticide substance and pesticide modules that have been depleted of pesticide substance to generate audit data.

66. 65. The system of claim 64, wherein the computing device is configured to determine supply chain information associated with the pesticide module that contains the pesticide material and compare the supply chain information to pest detection information associated with the site to monitor pesticide material product quality or pesticide material performance indicators.

67. 1. A method of applying a pesticide in situ, comprising: In a computer device including a processor and a non-transitory memory storing executable instructions, receiving pesticide material usage data from one or more remotely located pesticide supplying units, each pesticide supplying unit including a tank configured to store a diluent, a pesticide module configured to store a pesticide material, and a transmission module to transmit the data; determining and monitoring, by the computer device, an amount of the pesticide substance used by analyzing the pesticide substance usage data, the pesticide substance usage data including a feed amount or rate of the pesticide substance dispensed from the pesticide module of any of the pesticide dispensing units to formulate a pest treatment comprising a concentration of the pesticide substance in the diluent, the pesticide treatment being dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit to treat pests at the site; The method includes:

68. 68. The method of claim 67, wherein the one or more pesticide supply units include a plurality of pesticide supply units, the method including determining the amount of pesticide material to be used based on the supply amount or the supply rate of the pesticide material supplied from the pesticide module of the pesticide supply unit.

69. 70. The method of claim 68, comprising determining normal usage distribution statistics for pesticide materials dispensed from one or more of the pesticide supply units.

70. 70. The method of claim 69, comprising comparing the determined usage of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supply units to the normal usage distribution statistic and determining pesticide supply units that are supplying more or less than the normal usage distribution statistic for the pesticide material.

71. each pesticide delivery unit is associated with a pesticide technician, the method including determining pesticide application remedial training for the pesticide technician in response to the determined usage of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide delivery units deviating from the normal usage distribution statistics.

71. The method of claim 70.

72. 68. The method of claim 67, wherein each of the one or more pesticide supply units includes a timer module in communication with the transmission module, the timer module configured to determine a duration of a pesticide application event, the method including determining a normal duration distribution statistic for a plurality of the pesticide application events.

73. 73. The method of claim 72, comprising comparing the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supply units to the normal duration distribution statistic and determining which pesticide supply units are being used more or less than the normal duration distribution statistic for the pesticide application event.

74. 74. The method of claim 73, wherein each pesticide supply unit is associated with a pest control technician, the method including determining and monitoring pesticide application remedial training for the pest control technician in response to the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supply units deviating from a normal duration distribution statistic.

75. 69. The method of claim 68, comprising correlating data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, data related to operational factors associated with the site, or external environmental factor data related to external environmental factors affecting the site with the determined usage amount of the pesticide material.

76. 68. The method of claim 67, wherein the one or more pesticide dispensing units each include a receiving module configured to receive communications from the computing device, the method including at least instructing the pesticide module of any of the pesticide dispensing units to meter the pesticide material dispensed from the pesticide module to dispense a predetermined concentration of the pesticide material in a diluent of the pest treatment agent to be dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit.

77. 68. The method of claim 67, comprising determining a weather forecast associated with the site, and if the weather forecast includes a weather event that contraindicates application of the pest treatment, instructing a pesticide application unit not to apply the pest treatment at the site.

78. 68. The method of claim 67, further comprising: a geospatial location module associated with each of the one or more pesticide delivery units; correlating a location of the site with a location of the pesticide delivery unit determined from the respective geospatial location module; and dispatching a pest control technician associated with a pesticide delivery unit closest to the location of the site to the site to deliver the pest treatment.

79. 68. The method of claim 67, further comprising a geospatial location module associated with each of the one or more pesticide-dispensing units, the computer device determining locations of the pesticide-dispensing units from the respective geospatial location modules, comparing the locations of any of the pesticide-dispensing units to pest treatment agent restrictions for the locations, and specifying an alternative pest treatment agent if the specified pest treatment agent violates the pest treatment agent restrictions for the locations.

80. 68. The method of claim 67, wherein the pesticide module is configured to monitor consumption of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module and transmit associated consumption data to the computer device via the transmission module, the method including analyzing the consumption data and determining a usage rate of the pesticide material in the pesticide module, an ordering interval for a replacement pesticide module to replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, a collection interval for collecting the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, or an inventory level of the pesticide module required to timely replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module.

81. 81. The method of claim 80, comprising comparing the consumption data to an inventory of pesticide modules containing the pesticide substance and pesticide modules that are depleted of pesticide substance to generate audit data.

82. 81. The method of claim 80, comprising determining supply chain information associated with the pesticide module containing the pesticide substance, and comparing the supply chain information with pest detection information associated with the site to monitor pesticide substance product quality or pesticide substance performance indicators.

83. 1. A computer readable storage medium for in situ pesticide application, the computer readable storage medium being non-transitory and comprising at least: receiving, at a computer device having the non-transitory computer readable storage medium associated therewith, data from one or more remotely located pesticide supplying units, each pesticide supplying unit including a tank configured to contain a diluent, a pesticide module configured to contain a pesticide material, and a transmission module for transmitting the data; and monitoring the usage of the pesticide material by analyzing the data with the computer device, the data including a feed amount or rate of the pesticide material dispensed from the pesticide module of any of the pesticide dispensing units to formulate a pest treatment comprising a concentration of the pesticide material in the diluent, the pest treatment being dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit to treat pests at the site. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code stored therein that, when executed by a processor, causes the device to perform the following:

84. 84. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 83, wherein the one or more pesticide supplying units comprise a plurality of pesticide supplying units, and the non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine a usage amount of the pesticide material based on the supply amount or the supply rate of the pesticide material supplied from the pesticide module of a pesticide supplying unit.

85. 85. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 84, comprising further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine normal usage distribution statistics for pesticide materials dispensed from one or more of the pesticide supply units.

86. 86. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 85, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to compare the determined usage of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supplying units to a normal usage distribution statistic and determine which pesticide supplying units are supplying more or less than the normal usage distribution statistic for the pesticide material.

87. 87. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 86, wherein each pesticide supply unit is associated with a pest control technician, and the non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine a pesticide application remedial training for the pest control technician in response to the determined usage amount of the pesticide material from any of the pesticide supply units falling outside of the normal usage amount distribution statistics.

88. 84. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 83, wherein each of the one or more pesticide supply units includes a timer module in communication with a transmission module, the timer module configured to determine a duration of a pesticide application event, and the non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine normal duration distribution statistics for a plurality of the pesticide application events.

89. 90. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 88, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to compare the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide application units to the normal duration distribution statistic and determine which pesticide supplying units are being used more or less than the normal duration distribution statistic for the pesticide application event.

90. 90. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 89, wherein each pesticide supply unit is associated with a pest control technician, and the non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine and monitor pesticide application remedial training for the pesticide technician in response to the determined duration of the pesticide application event from any of the pesticide supply units falling outside of a normal duration distribution statistic.

91. 85. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 84, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to correlate data from an environmental monitor associated with the site, physical factor data associated with the site, data from a facility monitor associated with the site, data related to operational factors associated with the site, or external environmental factor data related to external environmental factors affecting the site with the determined usage amount of the pesticide material.

92. 84. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 83, wherein each of the one or more pesticide supplying units includes a receiving module configured to receive communications from the computing device, and the non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to instruct the pesticide module of any of the pesticide supplying units to meter the pesticide material provided by the pesticide module to dispense a predetermined concentration of the pesticide material in a diluent of the pest treatment agent to be dispensed from the pesticide supplying unit.

93. 84. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 83, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine a weather forecast associated with the site and, if the weather forecast includes a weather event that contraindicates application of the pest treatment agent, instruct a pesticide application unit not to apply the pest treatment agent at the site.

94. 84. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 83, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to: correlate a location of the site with a location of the pesticide supply unit determined from the respective geospatial location modules; and dispatch a pest control technician associated with a pesticide supply unit closest to the location of the site to supply the pest treatment agent to the site.

95. 84. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 83, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium in response to execution by the processor that causes the device to: determine a location of the pesticide supplying unit from the respective geospatial location module, compare the location of any of the pesticide supplying units to a pest treatment agent restriction for the location, and if the specified pest treatment agent violates the pest treatment agent restriction for the location, specify an alternative pest treatment agent.

96. 84. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 83, wherein the pesticide module is configured to monitor consumption of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module and transmit associated consumption data via the transmission module to the computer device associated with the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including further computer readable program code stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to analyze the consumption data and determine a usage rate of the pesticide material in the pesticide module, an ordering interval for a replacement pesticide module to replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, a collection interval for collecting the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module, or an inventory level of the pesticide module required to timely replace the pesticide module upon depletion of the pesticide material contained within the pesticide module.

97. 97. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 96, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to compare the consumption data with an inventory of pesticide modules containing the pesticide substance and pesticide modules that have been depleted of pesticide substance and generate audit data.

98. 97. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 96, further computer readable program code stored within the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the device to determine supply chain information associated with the pesticide module that contains the pesticide substance, and compare the supply chain information with pest detection information associated with the site to monitor pesticide substance product quality or pesticide substance performance indicators.

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