The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released the new eLocust4 tool, designed to help national Survey and Control Officers, in locust-affected countries, collect and transmit data from the field to their national locust centres in near real time via satellite
eLocust4 is being deployed in 18 locust-affected countries. Each country receives some units consisting of a rugged tablet and a satellite antenna. The distribution covers CLCPRO Member Nations: Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger and Tunisia; CRC Member Nations: Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen; and SWAC Member Nations: India, Iran and Pakistan.
The first eLocust series was introduced in 2000. Like the previous version, eLocust3 released in 2015, eLocust4 is a fully satellite-based field data collection system which enables officers to send critical information directly from remote desert areas, even in the absence of mobile network coverage.
The data gathered forms the basis for the global desert locust monitoring and early warning system operated by the Desert Locust Information Service (DLIS) at FAO headquarters in Rome.
Training in the use of new system
To support swift implementation, FAO has already made available installation and first-user guides for eLocust4, and a tutorial video in English, French and Arabic.
Mr Cyril Piou, FAO Locust Forecast Officer, confirmed that survey officers in participating countries will receive training on the use of the new system.
Key innovations: connectivity and durability
eLocust4 introduces significant improvements in both connectivity and hardware.
“eLocust4 uses satellite (Iridium) which works anywhere, even with no mobile coverage, allows sending data in near real-time from the desert where there is no connectivity,” noted Cyril at the launch of the tool. The data transmission is immediate from the field, supporting the early warning system in real time, and goes directly into FAO’s global monitoring system (DLIS).
The tool runs on a rugged PN10065 tablet with external satellite antenna completely sealed so that dust and moisture cannot enter, making it ideal for desert locust surveys and control operations in the desert under hot, dusty conditions.
Strengthening early warning and response
With eLocust4, FAO aims to enhance early warning systems and support faster, more effective responses to desert locust outbreaks. FAO continues to assist Member Nations through capacity building, rapid response measures, and the deployment of innovative technologies to improve locust management.
