Back to search

HAVBRUK2-Stort program for havbruksforskning

Multi-source data Evaluation and Research Integration Tool for real-time risk analysis of infections affecting aquaculture Sustainability

Awarded: NOK 0.30 mill.

Each day, a large amount of the data related to infection affecting sustainability of aquaculture are generated from various sources. However, there are no analytical tools that allow effectively integrating, analyzing and summarizing all these data to timely inform decisions. The objective of this project is to integrate powerful visualization tools, Big Data analytics, basic and advanced epidemiological methods into a dedicated website for a long-term, real-time analysis and operational support for aquaculture industry and authorities. The dedicated site for Norwegian aquaculture has been developed within the Disease BioPortal? platform. The site has a secure access, visualization, and analysis of multiple sources of information and includes multilevel (animal-, site-, country-level) data. The site include epidemiology tools for measuring diseases occurrences, user-friendly capabilities to further test hypothesis about the potential direct (e.g., animal movements) or indirect transmission of diseases between farms with advanced analytical methods such as cluster analysis, time-series and trend analysis, multi-dimensional space-time graphs and maps, and dynamic network analysis and risk estimation. Other fundamental functionalities included: 1) Data grid: search, filter, and visualize one or multiple tables of the selected database(s) in tabular format. Preview data, search history, remember favorite fields for filtering. 2) Map: dynamically visualize the spatial distribution of sites, disease cases, farm status or fish movements 3) Chart: create line, bar, column, area charts to visualize the data. It allows generating epidemic curves, creating graphs with data grouped by farm type, farm status, etc. 4) Status chart: default chart for Norway to visualize the change in farm status (positive or negative) and the production status (active/inactive) over time. 5) Distance chart: chart representing the pairwise comparison of the distance among farms. Allows to rapidly identifying the closest sites nearby one specific site to target surveillance or control strategies. 6) Report builder: allows the creation of customized reports and share those reports interactively (web link) or using pdf documents. The tool has provided a better data management and visualization to more timely inform decisions and better prevent and control diseases. The analytical results can contribute to the implementation of more cost-effective, risk-based surveillance and intervention strategies of salmon diseases control in Norway.

Large amount of the data related to infection affecting sustainability of aquaculture are daily generated from various sources; however, there are no analytical tools that allow effectively integrating, analyzing and summarizing all these data to timely inform decisions. This project aims to develop scientifically-based, securely accessed, real-time Big Data analytics tools able to meaningfully integrate and summarize diverse databases in effort to uncover hidden patterns and emerging trends. Researchers at the Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS), University of California, Davis launched the Disease BioPortal in 2007, a user-friendly, web-based information technology (IT) system for disease surveillance and modeling. We will adapt and expand the current tools of the Disease BioPortal as well as develop additional ad hoc functionalities specifically adapted for Norwegian aquaculture. Data will be extracted from publically available and permissible databases from project partners. Databases will be password protected and accessibly by authorized personnel only. Available data will include population demographics, production records, genomic sequencing of disease data, diagnostics, farm management and biosecurity, marine connectivity, environmental and climatic conditions. Database performance will be evaluated for network-based analysis and site-specific risk estimates. Exchange visits between partners will advance the development of the analytical tools and strengthen research collaborations. This project will produce a valuable decision-support tool for the aquaculture industry and authorities that will facilitate the implementation of timely, cost-effective and targeted interventions to prevent and control infectious diseases of aquaculture and thus improve industry sustainability and fish welfare.

Funding scheme:

HAVBRUK2-Stort program for havbruksforskning