“One of the issues with remote monitoring systems has always


been the problem of false positive alerts.”


Going remote


Julia Pittman, Director of Beaver Pest Control, on how technology is helping to improve pest control services.


Technology and pest control are not usually words mentioned in the same sentence. However, with the improvements in the field of Internet of Things (IoT), there are some interesting technological advances which are gaining popularity in the pest control sector.


The most recent technological advance is the introduction of several new remote monitoring bait station offerings.


What is remote monitoring?


Remote monitoring systems are traps or bait stations which send an alert when they are triggered. Some bait stations deliver an electric shock which kills the rodent, others are breakback traps with a sensor. It’s generally accepted that when using lethal means, traps or electric pulses are more humane control methods than rodenticides.


How do they work?


The traps are connected to the internet using a gateway or sim card. When the trap is triggered, the technician receives the alert on his phone or via email which allows him to respond quickly. The systems operate 24/7/365.


One of the issues with remote monitoring systems has always been the problem of false positive alerts. This could be where a cleaner or member of staff knocks a bait station which in turn sets off the trap. This would then generate a false positive alert which would result in a visit to reset the trap, increasing costs unnecessarily. Alternatively, too many of these and the risk is that all alerts would be dismissed as false positives and ignored, a little like the ‘boy who cried wolf’ scenario.


Another issue has been the connectivity of units but as coverage improves and more offices/premises have WiFi networks, this has become less of an issue.


Advantages of remote monitoring systems:


• Cover is provided 24/7 and alerts are sent instantaneously, giving a faster response time to potential infestations.


• The systems can be used to analyse catch data over a period of time.


26 | PEST CONTROL


• A technician’s time on site can be targeted to hot spot areas or used for other tasks such as proofing.


• The units can be sited in difficult to reach areas reducing health and safety risks.


• A more humane method of pest control. • Disadvantages of remote monitoring systems:


• Cost – some of the systems can be quite costly, especially if the building has poor connectivity.


• Network connections can pose an issue, and mains power is required for gateways.


• The systems only cover rodents – a technician is still required to check for other pests. These systems should not be seen as a way to reduce technicians’ time on site.


• Behavioural resistance: the systems only work if the rodents actually enter the bait stations. With behavioural resistance, rodents have been shown to completely avoid bait stations.


As a customer, what should I think about?


• These systems only report rodents trapped in them. What other pests should I be thinking about?


• What are the risks of behavioural resistance? If I have no catches on the system does it actually mean my premises are clear of mice?


• Will this system meet my due diligence requirements? • Do I have high risk/difficult to access locations which require 24/7 monitoring?


• How will the system add value to my pest control requirements?


In summary: as with all technology, these systems should not replace people, but used correctly they can protect high risk areas around the clock. They can provide valuable data allowing your technician to target his efforts into hot spots, and importantly they can free up your technician to spend more time on tasks such as proofing or hygiene recommendations.


www.pestcontrolservices.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning


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