United Nations Public Service Awards Case Studies

A mosquito is the most fatal insect to human being. Every year, more than two million people die from infectious diseases in relation to mosquitoes. The IPCC(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) expects that 65 percentages of all people in the world would be exposed to malaria and dengue fever in 2020. In response to this situation, the medical science and health policy have been developed. Nevertheless, various kinds of diseases in relation to hygienic insects will be developed more in every year. The main causes for this situation include climate change (global warming), environmental change due to thoughtless development, increase of people migration between countries, and resistance to insecticides.
In Republic of Korea, we have controlled hygienic insects by using fumigation which disinfects using smokes generated through diluting diesel fuel and insecticide and heating them since 1960. Under this method, the disinfection has been mainly conducted on the spots where the vehicle with the equipment can easily access. For this reason, the effect of insect control is low and even aggravates the environmental contamination.
However, along with the change of urban environment, mosquitoes have gotten used to new environment and their habitat has become various: buildings and underground septic tanks. Therefore, it is tendency that the control method against mosquitoes has changed from the management system mainly operated during summer into the management system which is also operated to find the habitat of mosquitoes.
As climate changes, malaria danger zone extends to Ilsan and Incheon. In Guro District which is adjacent to those cities, therefore, we has to take measures to block malaria.

○ Under the previous control method in Guro District, the imago mosquito control was started in May when mosquitoes naturally occur and we conducted the control continuously and repeatedly, circulating all areas until October. For the only areas where people file a civil complaint after they suffered from damages caused by mosquitoes, we conducted the control. After the complaint was filed, however, the number of mosquito was already so high that we missed the timing to control mosquito. Therefore, the effective of the previous control method was low and it costs high.

In addition, we counted the number of mosquito manually every other week using the collecting device which collected mosquitoes by light, which was applied to the control. However, there were a lot of problems in using this method. Under this system, it was unable to respond immediately to rapid increase of mosquito breeding because a worker should collect these devices and then manually classify mosquitoes with the naked eye to conduct the control.
Furthermore, only workers on the spot were able to know the place where mosquitoes occurred under this system because there was no record about the places. Therefore, if there were changes of workers, it was impossible to manage scientifically since the data was not established systematically.

What is the initiative about? (the solution)
In Guro District public health center, we have actively accepted the change of control paradigm which focuses on the habitat of mosquitoes and is conducted during four seasons continuously. And we recognized the necessity of systematic and scientific management system due to short of data management system and inefficacy of control method. The achievement we made is the outcome of our efforts to overcome these problems. ○ Under the current system, we can conduct preemptive control by measuring how much mosquitoes occurred through the automatic measuring device (total 30 devices are operated) before people in the community suffer from damages due to mosquitoes. In addition, by controlling mosquitoes through GIS(Geographic Information Systems), it is possible to reduce the blind spots and number of civil complaints related to mosquitoes has largely decreased. The number of civil complaints filed over the phone for the control (120 Dasan Call Center: 2010.01.01~09.30) was 1,157; Gangnam District comprised the largest portion of the total complaints, accounting for 11.6% (177 cases); 127 cases were filed in Seocho District (8.4%) and 32 cases in Guro District (2.2%). The numbers of civil complaints filed through the internet in Guro District showed the tendency of decrease after establishment of the current system; 64 cases in 2008, 31 cases in 2009 and 13 cases in 2010. These results demonstrates the effect of the automatic mosquito measuring device which makes it possible to control mosquitoes immediately. ○ While under the previous system, we conducted the control even in the area where the control was unnecessary, it is possible to conduct the control only in the places where the control is necessary because we are able to obtain exact data through the automatic mosquitoes measuring device and GIS. As a result, we can save the amount of control product for use and its cost and even we can prevent the environmental pollution. The amount of the control product used and its cost, showing tendency of decrease, are as follows; 2,870liter and 81 million won in 2008; 2,512 liter and 69 million won; and 1,763 liter and 44 million won in 2010. These numbers show that we saved 1,107 liter of the control product which leaded to saving of 37 million won, which means cost decrease by 47% compared to the cost in 2008; 36% in 2009 (749 liter and 25 million won). ○ In order to prevent the vector(mosquito) borne diseases, we established in the website of the public health center of Guro District the system which shows the amount of mosquitoes occurred to the public in order to inform people of the status on the occurrence of mosquitoes by region based on GIS. Under this system, the amount of mosquitoes collected in each region is classified as three levels (serious, cautious, safe). People in the community can see the status of collection of mosquitoes in their region through the website and can learn the level of the occurrence of mosquitoes. Thus, through this website, we promote people to pay their attention to individual hygienic care.

Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
MMSC(Mosquitoes Measuring and Controlling System) consists of the Geographic Information Control System and the automatic mosquitoes measuring device. ○ It was Hee-Il Lee, working for Division of Vector-borne Diseases at Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (KCDC), who first suggested the control system using GIS. Upon his suggestion, the demonstration project was conducted in Hwaseong city in 2007. Because of budget shortage and trial and error, however, the system remained non-operated. Dong-Gu Cho, being responsible for the control project in the public health center of Guro District, became interested in this project and supplemented the system. He asked KCDC for help to establish GIS system in Guro District. In response to his request, a consultative group was formed in KCDC to proceed the system again. KCDC promised to provide the program for Guro District free of charge. Public health center of Guro District consigned the supplement of the program to Geo2 Information Technology, an IT company which has excellent technical skills in the aspect of design of idea for the establishment of GIS program. The GIS control management system is currently registered as a patent (patent number 10-2010-0031084) by KCDC and Mr. Cho was registered as one of inventors of that patent. ○ The collecting device was used only for collecting mosquitoes and Guro District tried to apply that device to control mosquitoes by analyzing mosquitoes collected (once every two weeks). Thus, Guro District tried to resolve the problems of the device. Finally its efforts resulted in the development of the automatic mosquitoes measuring device. The automatic mosquitoes measuring device was developed from the idea suggested by the workers who manually collected the insect with a conventional collection device (New Jersey Trap), classified mosquitoes and counted them with their naked eyes. Because the workers felt inconvenience in using the conventional device for classification and count of hygienic insects and suffered from heavy workload, they designed the automatic measuring device in real time. They got the idea from a step counter (indicating the number of steps) which senses the movement (vibration) and indicates the movements in number and developed the measuring device using infrared sensor. For the development of this idea in detail, a small IT company, named “e-tnd”, was consigned. The operation of this system was reported as an example of public health management system using IT (study on using of GIS) in “2010 Company Management Way” by Korea University Business School. When we were operating the automatic mosquitoes measuring device, we were able to lure mosquitoes into the device with lurer. However, we were unable to make exact measurement about the amount of occurrence of mosquitoes since the device was weak at collecting mosquitoes. In response to this problem, we supplemented the device by placing the lurer at the top and collecting part at the bottom of the device. Thus, we developed the device which increased the amount of mosquitoes collected and filed a patent application with KCDC, named “A mosquito collecting device with improved collecting function”

Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
a. What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
Under the LBS(Location-Based System), the systematic and scientific management of the national land is combined with digital system of information age, which results in the computerization of all kinds of infrastructure and service. In addition, we have a manual with which we can respond to the problem quickly compared to the previous cases where we were just busy in handling the problem. The Republic of Korea had established the promoting strategies about national information through national land information project and GIS basic plan about road map since 1995. In this regard, Seoul city has proceeded various GIS projects including production of topography map with numbers and establishment of GIS infrastructure and computerization. MMCS has two main purposes: the systematic data establishment for the control project by connecting ICT(information & communications technology) with public health administration and cost-effective control system. For these two purposes, the strategic aims are; ○ Protecting public health by responding scientifically and effectively to control matter through selecting areas where the control is necessary, conducting the control only for these areas, and preventing from filing relevant civil complaints by applying ICT technique to change of life cycle of mosquito due to climate change, movement of malaria-vector mosquito towards south and movement of Japanese encephalitis-vector mosquito towards north ○ Reducing unnecessary use of control projects and realizing environmentally friendly control ○ Possessing differentiated capacity and techniques in control project compared to other communities These purposes and aims were the outcomes developed through a lot of meetings with the directors of the public health center and his staff, considering the vision of Guro District, “Digital Guro & Clean Guro.”

b. What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
○ In February 2008, KCDC formed a consultative group about GIS control management system and agreed to support Guro District to establish the system, allowing Guro District to use all developed programs free of charge and providing technical supports. In March 2008, Guro District received the evaluation of validity for the development of system conducted by Seoul city, the superior governing body to Guro District. Seoul city requested Guro District to develop the system which all governing bodies can use. From April through July 2008, we completed the topographical map with numbers by using the data including building map, topographical map, road map, and drain pipe map. In addition, we completed the development of GPS program working vehicles and PDA operating program for workers. ○In August 2008, Guro District suggested the idea of the automatic mosquitoes measuring device to KCDC and asked it to recommend any company to realize that idea. KCDC introduced e-tnd which had conducted studies on vector-borne diseases and developed control products over years. Guro District and E-TND agreed with the following idea; public necessity to control mosquitoes by measuring the occurrence of mosquitoes in real time; and private necessity to secure larger market share than any other existing products equipped with collection function. In September 2008, we secured the budget and started the development of measuring device under which it was possible to measure only mosquitoes using infrared sensor among all collected insects in February 2009. During this period, we performed several experiments to see whether the collected mosquitoes were counted exactly and completed the development in May. Then we established the system in 15 main spots in Guro District. We added the program received the measured numbers of mosquitoes to the pre-established control management system, which has been used to monitor the amount of mosquitoes collected in real time and control mosquitoes since June 2009. ○ The operation system in detail is as follows; - Immediate handling of civil complaints for control: a civil complaint is filed. The manager of the system registers the complaint and checks out the location of a worker who is working near the area where the complaint is filed. Then the manager asks the worker to move to the involved area through PDA. The worker moves immediately and conducts the control. After completing the control, the worker reports the result of the control through PDA. Thus, it is possible to possible to process the civil complaint related to mosquitoes. - Selective control connected with the automatic mosquitoes measuring device; the number of mosquitoes collected by the automatic mosquitoes measuring device is sent to the control center every one hour and the system manager can see the amount of mosquitoes collected displayed based on the location in the community on the screen. He orders the control vehicle through PDA to conduct control for the areas where the amount of mosquitoes collected is over the threshold and the control is currently conducted. The result of the control is printed as images and automatically saved in the database.

c. What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
○ In order to establish the control management system using GIS, we needed the data related to GIS. For the purpose of using the GIS data, therefore, we had to get approvals from the supervising institutes and cooperation from relevant governmental agencies. In addition, we placed the system server outside the network in order to avoid security problem which could be occurred if we had placed that server in the internal network. Although the staff at the division of budget did not understand the system and reduced the budget, the director of the public health center was very determined on this issue and persuaded the staff at the division of budget and the director of Guro District, which finally made it possible to precede this project. To collect and measure only mosquitoes among all the insects, we needed academic support and received support from KCDC. As a result, in order to block the collection of other hygienic insect (moth), we established the automatic mosquitoes measuring device at the spot which is located at 60 m high from the underground that mosquitoes are likely to be, while moth cannot access to that height. ○ To lure mosquitoes, it was designed to use the lurer and light. In the case where the light was used, other hygienic insects (moth, midge) as well as mosquito were also lured, which was problematic. Thus, the light was not used. Regarding the lurer(ammonia, lactic acid, etc.), compared to the up-down-up collecting device (made in the U.S.), which has the most effective collection rate, our automatic mosquitoes measuring device showed lower collection rate. In order to solve this problem, we decided to use CO2 gas as a lurer. ○ Since the low collection rate of the automatic mosquitoes measuring device was in the issue, we recorded the scene of collecting mosquitoes with super high speed camera. We found that mosquitoes were only lured, but not were collected. In order to solve this problem, we installed the luring part above the collecting part and made lurer to drop off from the top naturally. Placing the collecting part under the luring part generated the stream of air (whirlwind). As a result, we could develop the collecting device (version 2) which had a remarkable improvement in collecting rate. Before installing the collecting device, we conducted a final field trial and experienced remarkable decrease in the amount of collection. The reason of this decrease was that we developed the device considering its design, which was that we colored the collecting part as white and that we narrowed the distance between the collecting part and the pillar. We resolved this problem by; changing the color of the collecting part and the whole collecting device as gray; and adjusting the size of the back of collecting device.

d. What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
GIS control management system was developed by three persons from the consigned company during three months using the data we received for the development of GIS control management system. We asked Seoul city (municipality) for the data related to the control (drain pipe map, manhole location map, map of lot number, etc.) among its data established for geographical information based on city and Seoul city provided them for us. We also asked the relevant Division of Guro District (Division of Real Estate Information, Division of Construction) for the necessary data. We expended 14 million won for the installment of hardware (server, PDA) and 40 million won for the development of software. We manufactured total thirty automatic mosquitoes measuring devices twice and in each time, 15 devices were manufactured. 15 devices manufactured in the first time cost total 15 million won (1 million won per device). We expended 12 million won for the construction of protective fence placed where the device was established. For the advancement of the system which indicates the amount of mosquitoes occurred, connecting with GIS control management system, it cost 10 million won. For the rest of 15 devices, we expended 21 million won (1.5 million won per device) which included the installation cost. The resources were provided for two years. We installed and have operated the devices under the financial support wholly funded by Guro District.

Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
MMCS(Mosquitoes Measuring and Controlling system), we conduct a selective and intensive control by placing workers into the areas only where the amount of mosquitoes collected was high, through using the automatic mosquitoes measuring device. We have disclosed the amount of mosquitoes occurred to public and by doing so, we established the control system with people in the community. In addition, through this system, we are keeping the system to conduct the control immediately by locating workers in real time upon civil complaints and send the order of control to workers’ PDA. In the future, the need for environment friendly and effective control will be continued and it is desperately necessary to establish a system for the purpose of responding to rapid change of control environment based on climate change. In this sense, the data accumulated at MMCS system of Guro District will be important data to decide the best time for control in each area and grasp the change of environment. This system, MMCS, is currently being used in Yeongdeunpo District of Seoul, Ulsan city, and Hwaseong city of Kyoungki-do. In 2011, the following local governing bodies will establish and operate this system; Seo District of Gwangju city, Hwacheon city of Gangwon-do, Yongsan District of Seoul and Changwon-city of Kyoungsangnam-do. The Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea recognized the excellency of the MMCS in the terms of the policy related to be accommodation to climate change for 2011 and it will financially support the local government to be equipped with MMCS by increasing the budget. It hopes that all the local governing bodies will adopt MMCS in the future. In addition, it sent the recommendation letter of Director General of KCDC, hoping that Guro District wins the award of UN public heath administration service. Currently, because the automatic mosquitoes measuring device is manufactured in a small scale, its price ranged around 1.5 million won. If we manufacture more devices and the measuring device is made in the form of mold, however, we expect that the device can be supplied. It is anticipated that the diseases related to mosquitoes will increase due to climate change. Therefore, if the control system with immediate response is provided for the countries suffering from mosquitoes in Africa or Southeast Asia, the system will bring a huge benefit to those countries. It is also expected that the technical transfer of the system and measuring device will be conducted, which results in resolution of polarization in the area of digital technique, international cooperation responding to health challenges due to climate change and creating of jobs. In addition, we plan to advertise this system to member countries by putting the information of this system on the website which is managed under the UN through the UN Governance Center (established in 2005).

What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
Keeping pace with information age, we classify the information system based on location in public field as part of national information project and pant to make scientific and systematic access to data. Recently, it is an urgent issue to suggest a countermeasure based on type, characteristic, and topography. Considering this fact, the combined data management through the information management of the control system brings the benefits such as the improvement in analysis and processing speed and knowledge sharing. The climate change and scientific and systematic control system are necessary for the future, which is inevitable. Through the establishment of MMCS, we learned that the following factors are important in public administration; role of manager and system to derive the creativeness from his or its staff; hands-on knowledge (regarding ICT and operation management) to apply ICT to administration. In summary, the main success factors for GIS control management system (HTMC system) are; 1) creative thinking of the staff in the public health center; 2) close cooperation with relevant institutes, such as technical support from KCDC and GIS based on city from Seoul city; and 3) active interest and understanding of directors of Guro District and its public health center concerning information and communication technology.


Institution Name:		Guro District Office
Institution Type:		Government Department
Contact Person:		Sung Lee
Title:		Mayor
Telephone/ Fax:		+82 2 860 3413
Institution's / Project's Website:
E-mail:		eeyylee@guro.go.kr
Address:		435, Guro-dong Guro-gu
Postal Code:
City:		Seoul
State/Province:
Country:

The Problem

Solution and Key Benefits

Actors and Stakeholders

(a) Strategies

(b) Implementation

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

(d) Use of Resources

Sustainability and Transferability

Lessons Learned

Contact Information