Xref: utzoo sci.environment:5504 sci.bio:2785
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!ogicse!unicorn!n8445388
From: n8445388@unicorn.WWU.EDU (theon verdeny)
Newsgroups: sci.environment,sci.bio
Subject: Integrated Pest Management methods
Summary: Integrated Pest Management methods
Keywords: IPM, insects, evolutionary computing
Message-ID: <601@unicorn.WWU.EDU>
Date: 20 Mar 90 09:09:34 GMT
Reply-To: n8445388@unicorn.WWU.EDU (theon verdeny)
Followup-To: sci.environment
Organization: Western Washington Univ, Bellingham, WA
Lines: 31
Distribution:world


Interesting News:

I read in comp.risks 9.75 (available now on your news feed) that 
someone in California is using darwinian computing to understand
the movements of mosquitos.

The upshot is that the computer was able to exterminate as many
mosquitos with 3000 pesticide applications as human forecasters
could with 20,000.

The method is described as "Darwinian computing" because many different
simulations run in parallel in a state of competition and only the
best survive.

This seems to have obvious significance for other forms of
Integrated Pest Management both in the 1st and 3rd world.

It may also have deep significance for minimizing fertilizer
use, and maximizing multiple crop symbiosis.

I've read that parallel computing boards exist for the IBM X86
that can rival a bottom of the line Cray on parallel tasks.
If this is true, perhaps this could be developed into an
affordable option for agribusinesspeople so they can
cut down on their chemical use.

If you have the skill or inclination, please check it out!

-Treon