Satellite Observations and Malaria: New Opportunities for Research and Applications

Abstract

Long-term satellite records supply data on environmental variables that influence malaria transmission cycles.High-resolution land use and land cover maps from satellite observations provide information about human activities that affect mosquito habitats and exposure to mosquito bites.New sources of very-high-resolution satellite data create opportunities for precise, localized mapping of mosquito habitat and human settlements.Global availability of free synthetic aperture radar data facilitates mapping of buildings, water, and land use in cloudy conditions that are characteristic of many tropical regions.New cloud-based technologies for remote sensing data access, processing, and analysis are lowering the barriers to data use for malaria applications. Satellite remote sensing provides a wealth of information about environmental factors that influence malaria transmission cycles and human populations at risk. Long-term observations facilitate analysis of climate–malaria relationships, and high-resolution data can be used to assess the effects of agriculture, urbanization, deforestation, and water management on malaria. New sources of very-high-resolution satellite imagery and synthetic aperture radar data will increase the precision and frequency of observations. Cloud computing platforms for remote sensing data combined with analysis-ready datasets and high-level data products have made satellite remote sensing more accessible to nonspecialists. Further collaboration between the malaria and remote sensing communities is needed to develop and implement useful geospatial data products that will support global efforts toward malaria control, elimination, and eradication. Satellite remote sensing provides a wealth of information about environmental factors that influence malaria transmission cycles and human populations at risk. Long-term observations facilitate analysis of climate–malaria relationships, and high-resolution data can be used to assess the effects of agriculture, urbanization, deforestation, and water management on malaria. New sources of very-high-resolution satellite imagery and synthetic aperture radar data will increase the precision and frequency of observations. Cloud computing platforms for remote sensing data combined with analysis-ready datasets and high-level data products have made satellite remote sensing more accessible to nonspecialists. Further collaboration between the malaria and remote sensing communities is needed to develop and implement useful geospatial data products that will support global efforts toward malaria control, elimination, and eradication. Since 2000, considerable progress has been made in reducing the global burden of malaria, shrinking the malaria map, and moving toward the goal of malaria eradication [1.O'Meara W.P. et al.Changes in the burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.Lancet Infect. Dis. 2010; 10: 545-555Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (354) Google Scholar, 2.Bhatt S. et al.The effect of malaria control on Plasmodium falciparum in Africa between 2000 and 2015.Nature. 2015; 526: 207-211Crossref PubMed Scopus (1243) Google Scholar, 3.Feachem R.G.A. et al.Shrinking the malaria map: progress and prospects.Lancet. 2010; 376: 1566-1578Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (294) Google Scholar]. However, there is concern that declines in malaria cases and deaths have slowed [4.World Health Organization World Malaria Report 2019. WHO, 2019Crossref Google Scholar]. Although the reasons for this slowdown are multifaceted, an important factor is the limited set of tools and approaches that are currently available for combating malaria. The recent Lancet Commission report on malaria eradication emphasized that new technologies, including innovations in the field of malaria informatics, are needed to facilitate more effective data-driven management of malaria interventions [5.Feachem R.G. et al.Malaria eradication within a generation: ambitious, achievable, and necessary.Lancet. 2019; 394: 1056-1112Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (102) Google Scholar]. Geospatial data, including satellite observations, were highlighted as a key data source for monitoring human populations and their environments in support of malaria eradication. This recommendation is concordant with other assessments that have emphasized the importance of spatial decision support systems to enable national and subnational program management as well as regional and global strategic planning [6.Hemingway J. et al.Tools and strategies for malaria control and elimination: what do we need to achieve a grand convergence in malaria?.PLoS Biol. 2016; 14e1002380Crossref PubMed Scopus (104) Google Scholar]. The value of satellite observations for malaria research has long been recognized, with the earliest reviews appearing more than two decades ago [7.Hay S. et al.From predicting mosquito habitat to malaria seasons using remotely sensed data: practice, problems and perspectives.Parasitol. Today. 1998; 14: 306-313Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (127) Google Scholar, 8.Thomson M. et al.Mapping malaria risk in Africa: What can satellite data contribute?.Parasitol. Today. 1997; 13: 313-318Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (76) Google Scholar, 9.Rogers D.J. et al.Satellite imagery in the study and forecast of malaria.Nature. 2002; 415: 710-715Crossref PubMed Scopus (323) Google Scholar]. Since then, considerable changes in global antimalaria efforts and advances in the field of remote sensing have taken place. Myriad connections between the environmental phenomena observed by satellite-borne sensors and different aspects of the malaria transmission cycle have been identified (Figure 1). However, the challenges of discovering, accessing, and processing relevant satellite data (Figure 2) still limit their use for malaria projects. The purpose of this review is to present an up-to-date assessment of satellite missions relevant to malaria and identify opportunities where new sources of remote sensing data can be leveraged to support novel applications. Major themes include long-term satellite records of environmental changes that affect malaria risk, new sources of satellite data with higher spatial resolution, measurement frequency, and global coverage, and emerging technologies that can increase the accessibility and usability of remote sensing data in the malaria sector.Figure 2Spatial and Temporal Resolutions of Satellite Missions and Data Products with Applications to Malaria.Show full captionColors the of satellite data at different The of the the frequency of can data on a practice, a of the strategies are on from and frequency can from to very-high-resolution with global land data for global land use and land synthetic aperture radar the of satellite data at different The of the the frequency of can data on a practice, a of the strategies are on from and frequency can from to very-high-resolution with global land data for global land use and land synthetic aperture radar Malaria transmission cycles are to and satellite observations provide and information about the cycles of habitats for M. et changes of malaria transmission in PubMed Scopus Google and affect the that mosquito in the and transmission et of 2019; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar]. malaria on land and human and risk factors that malaria 2010; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar]. 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Today. 1997; 13: 313-318Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (76) Google Scholar]. 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Satellite data can be used to buildings, human and identify land use that affect human exposure to important goal is to this information spatial decision support systems that malaria interventions at the and will be effective [6.Hemingway J. et al.Tools and strategies for malaria control and elimination: what do we need to achieve a grand convergence in malaria?.PLoS Biol. 2016; 14e1002380Crossref PubMed Scopus (104) Google Scholar]. the satellite observations are still malaria decision and there are on this there is a need to develop and new tools that use remotely sensed data for malaria applications. research is needed to the of tools on malaria and can be used more and to support malaria control and The of novel malaria is by the availability of satellite imagery and in the spatial and of Although data are for and this of is for applications. to habitats by using data can be as effective and more than to identify water with data with spatial have higher resolution, of environmental conditions (Figure the approaches for problems will more research on the spatial and at environmental malaria to malaria, satellite observations can be to a of with as human and sensing has been used for research on other including by as and of the in and transmission the approaches will for different However, efforts to the accessibility and usability of remote sensing data for malaria will have the of opportunities to use data for other applications. The malaria and communities to identify the of data that useful for malaria and other applications. 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