Aerial Insect and Disease Surveys

Intermountain Region 4 & Northern Region 1

Aviation Program

The Forest Health Protection (FHP) Aviation Program in Regions 1 and 4 conduct annual pest detection surveys, primarily using fixed-wing aircraft. These aerial detection surveys (ADS) identify location and severity of forest insect damages along with some forest diseases that are observable from aircraft. Most flights are for aerial sketch map surveys and aerial photography. However, FHP may also contract aircraft for aerial spraying associated with insect suppression, eradication, spray, or research projects.

The objectives of regional Aerial Detection Surveys (ADS) Program are to:

  • Detect and monitor forest pest outbreaks

  • Provide data for forest health assessments

  • Provide information to forest managers for strategic planning

Survey Season and Coverage

Aerial insect and disease surveys typically begin the first part of July continuing through the end of September and sometimes into October. Survey flights take off in the morning and conclude in the early afternoon to take advantage of optimal light and weather conditions. Surveys are prioritized with staff and funding capacity to document existing or new outbreaks and to gather data in proposed or current project areas, so not all areas may be covered annually.

Aerial Detection Survey GIS Data & Maps

After annual surveys are completed, data is processed and used to create products that are posted to this website with maps and data.

This link leads to a folder that contains a file that has a map of the USGS 250k quad maps names and locations, as well as the folder titled “ADS_R01R04”. Within the ADS_R01R04 folder is the available ADS data by year. Within each year, the user will have access to premade quad maps listed by USGS 250k quad names, geodatabases of the aerial detection survey data for Regions 1, 4 and combined 1 and 4 for optional deeper GIS analysis. In addition, various premade products for summarizing ADS data are available most years. All raw data uses the current National ADS Standard codes and the geodatabases contain:

  • ADS boundary and damage layers

  • ADS GIS Handbooks and appendices

Feel free to navigate through the folders. For more information or additional spatial layers and products contact R1 & R4 FHP GIS and Remote Sensing Specialists, Jeff Kaiden, jeffrey.kaiden@usda.gov, or Monica Vermillion, monica.vermillion@usda.gov. National information can be found on National Forest Health Protection Mapping & Reporting website.

Aerial Detection Survey Data Disclaimer:

Forest Health Protection (FHP) and its partners strive to maintain an accurate Aerial Detection Survey (ADS) Dataset, but due to the conditions under which the data are collected, FHP and its partners shall not be held responsible for missing or inaccurate data. ADS data are not intended to replace more specific information. An accuracy assessment has not been done for this dataset. Please cite "USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection and its partners" as the source of this data in maps and publications.