Methods, apparatus and systems for generating, updating and executing an invasive species control plan

• US 9,058,560 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Superior Edge, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Superior Edge, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Jerome Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Starks, Wilbert L
• Application Number:
  US13/372,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20120210644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/00 Protecting plants apparatus for the destruction of vermin or noxious animals A01M; use of chemical materials therefor, composition of protective materials, e.g. grafting wax, A01N
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/00 Botany in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24542 Plan optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/02 Neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/12 using genetic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/126 Evolutionary algorithms, e.g. genetic algorithms or genetic programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/40 Monitoring or fighting invasive species

Abstract

Invasive species control plans may be automatically generated using vegetation control information received from a variety of sources. Such invasive species control plans may aid vegetation control personnel and professionals when determining an invasive species control strategy, including treatment and restoration, and then guide the implementation of that strategy. Invasive species control plans may include a variety of recommended vegetation control practices and projected outcomes for the implementation of recommended vegetation control management practices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by an invasive species control plan generator, information regarding controlling invasive species from at least one of a user, a database, a data feed, and a remote sensor via a communication network;

automatically generating, by the Invasive species control plan generator, one or more invasive species control plans for controlling invasive species in one or more locations based upon the received information;

automatically evaluating, by the invasive species control plan generator, the one or more invasive species control plans according to one or more criterion;

selecting, by the invasive species control plan generator, one of the generated invasive species control plans responsively to the evaluation;

providing, by the Invasive species control plan generator, the selected invasive species control plan to the user via the communication network;

generating, by the invasive species control plan generator, a set of instructions for execution of a portion of the selected invasive species control plan; and

providing, by the invasive species control plan generator, the set of instructions to at least one of the user, a manager, the database, the data feed, the remote sensor, and a piece of equipment utilized to execute a portion of the selected invasive species control plan.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the invasive species control plan generator, additional information regarding the selected invasive species control plan from at least one of the user, the database, the data feed, and the remote sensor; and

automatically generating an updated version of the selected invasive species control plan based upon the received additional information; and

providing the updated version of the selected invasive species control plan to the user via the communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the invasive species control plan generator, additional information regarding invasive species control plans for projects which are adjacent, regional or relevant to the selected invasive species control plan from at least one of the user, the database, the data feed, and the remote sensor; and

automatically generating an updated version of the selected invasive species control plan based upon the received additional information; and

providing the updated version of the selected invasive species control plan to the user via the communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the invasive species control plan generator in an automated fashion, opportunities to coordinate activities concerning multiple invasive species control plans for projects which are adjacent, regional, or relevant to an area impacted by the selected invasive species control plan; and

generating an updated version of the selected invasive species control plan based upon the received additional information; and

providing the updated version of the selected invasive species control plan to the user via the communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the invasive species control plan generator automatically generating an updated invasive species control plan based on an attribute of information concerning an attribute of the selected invasive species control plan received subsequent to the selected invasive species control plan being provided.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more invasive species control plans include multiple attributes, the attributes concerning at least one of a site to execute a subject invasive species control plan, invasive species, resources available to execute the invasive species control plan, a site treatment and restoration strategy and plan, individual resources available to execute the subject invasive species control plan, local knowledge regarding vegetation control, planned events, remotely sensed site conditions, site conditions determined by visual inspection, weather data, and unplanned events.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more invasive species control plans include a logistics plan that provides logistical instructions and options for organizing at least one of resource allocation and resource movement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected invasive species control plan contains measurements of the plan including at least one of an efficiency index, a coordination index, a time index, and a cost index.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the invasive species control plan generator, a status for one or more resources utilized to implement the invasive species control plan; and

providing, by the invasive species control plan generator, an alert to the user responsively to the determined status.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

determining, by the invasive species control plan generator in an automated fashion, a potential impact of utilizing a resource to execute a portion of the selected invasive species control plan; and

providing, by the invasive species control plan generator, at least one of an analysis and a recommendation based upon the determined potential impact of the utilization to the user.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the invasive species control plan generator, a potential impact of utilizing a strategy to execute a portion of a selected invasive species control plan; and

providing, by the invasive species control plan generator, at least one of an analysis and a recommendation based upon the determined potential impact of the strategy to the user.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the invasive species control plan generator, at least one of the financial or environmental impact resulting from delaying implementation of the selected invasive species control plan.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes at least one of climate data, historical weather data, current weather data, and predicted weather data, the method further comprising updating, by the invasive species control plan generator, the selected invasive species control plan as one or more of climate data, historical weather data, current weather data, and predicted weather data is received.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes at least one of newly identified endangered species data, new product data, new research data, new best practices data and new regulatory data, the method further comprising updating, by the invasive species control plan generator, the selected invasive species control plan as one or more of new endangered species data, new product data, new research data, new best practices, and new regulatory data is received.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes one or more of information regarding a planned event, an unplanned event, a contractual requirement, a funding requirement, a financial requirement, a plant requirement, a treatment requirement, a restoration requirement, resource utilization, local knowledge, resource availability, remotely sensed information, information received via a resource, and information received via a computer-implemented social network.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes an invasive species control plan outcome, the method further comprising:

determining, by the invasive species control plan generator, a best practice for controlling invasive species based on the invasive species control plan outcome; and

updating, by the invasive species control plan generator, the selected invasive species control plan responsively to the determined best practice.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein information is received from a piece of equipment utilized to implement at least a portion of the selected invasive species control plan, and said selected invasive species control plan is updated, by the invasive species control plan generator, responsive thereto to reflect consequences of the information received from said equipment.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes remotely sensed data relating to the invasive species and a location of a site where the invasive species is located, the method further comprising:

determining, by the invasive species control plan generator in an automated fashion, a size and border of the site containing the invasive species based upon an analysis of the remotely sensed data.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes remotely sensed data relating to the invasive species and a location of a site where the invasive species is located, the method further comprising:

determining, by the invasive species control plan generator, a status of the invasive species based upon an analysis of the remotely sensed data.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the selected invasive species control plan includes presenting aspects of the selected invasive species control plan for review by the user in a fashion which demonstrates recommendations for one or more aspects included in the selected invasive species control plan and user modification of some or all of those recommendations.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the recommendations are designated through the use of coded indicators on a user interface screen.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the recommendations include recommendations for one or more of a treatment strategy, treatment products, treatment procedures, a restoration strategy, restoration products and/or species to use in connection with a restoration strategy, and procedures for implementing the restoration strategy.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein presenting aspects of the selected invasive species control plan for review by the user includes prohibiting the user from modifying at least some aspects of the selected invasive species control plan.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein presenting aspects of the selected invasive species control plan for review by the user includes presenting a restoration strategy, restoration products, and restoration procedures.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein presenting aspects of the selected invasive species control plan for review by the user includes prohibiting the user from modifying at least some aspects of the selected invasive species control plan.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically identifying, by the invasive species control plan generator, potential funding sources for which a specific invasive species control plan qualifies.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically determining and identifying, by the invasive species control plan generator, changes required within a subject invasive species control plan under consideration such that the subject invasive species control plan will qualify for specific funding.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically completing and submitting an application and documentation for the invasive species control plan to a funding source, or multiple sources.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically completing and submitting an application and required documentation for the invasive species control plan to an appropriate regulator, or regulators.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions is personalized for at least one of the user, the manager, the database, the data feed, the remote sensor, and the piece of equipment.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected invasive species control plan is provided to another individual for monitoring execution of the selected invasive species control plan.

32. A system comprising:

an invasive species control plan generator configured to receive information regarding vegetation control from a plurality of sources, automatically generate one or more invasive species control plans for controlling invasive species on a site based upon the received information, automatically evaluate the invasive species control plans according to one or more criteria, automatically select one of the invasive species control plans responsively to the evaluation, and automatically provide the selected invasive species control plan to a user via a communication network; and

at least one client communicatively coupled to the invasive species control plan generator via the communication network and configured to receive the selected invasive species control plan and present it to the user; and

wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically prevent the user from specifying deviations from one or more plan attributes.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the client hosts a user interface configured to receive the selected invasive species control plan from the invasive species control plan generator via the communication network, provide the selected invasive species control plan to the user, receive information regarding vegetation control from the user, and provide the received information regarding vegetation control to the invasive species control plan generator.

34. The system of claim 32, further comprising a database communicatively coupled to the invasive species control plan generator and configured to store at least one of the received information regarding vegetation control, the one or more of invasive species control plans, and the selected invasive species control plan.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the communication network is at least one of the Internet, a cloud computing network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or a wireless LAN (WLAN).

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to receive additional information relating to a vegetation control outcome and determine a vegetation control best practice based on the received additional information, the system further comprising a database communicatively coupled to the invasive species control plan generator and configured to store the best practice.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically determine best practices for invasive species control plans.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein the received information comprises some or all of:

site data, resource data, invasive species data, planned event data, unplanned event data, local knowledge data, climate data, logistics data, best practices data, geologic/geographic data, supplier and supplies data, regulatory data, and financial data.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is communicatively coupled to one or more of equipment used in implementing an invasive species control plan, remote sensors, user stations, manager stations, and computer-implemented social networks to receive the information.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically receive data from equipment used in implementing the selected invasive species control plan.

41. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically receive data from remote sensors.

42. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically receive information for generating the invasive species control plans from computer-based social networks.

43. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to update the selected invasive species control plan according and responsive to information concerning other vegetation control projects, weather, newly identified species at the site, new product data, new research data, new best practices information, unplanned events, and new regulatory information.

44. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to provide the user with hypothetical invasive species control plans according to user-supplied criteria.

45. The system of claim 32, wherein the selected invasive species control plan includes some or all of a treatment/control plan and a restoration plan.

46. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically select treatment products based on plant characteristics, site characteristics, and regulatory requirements.

47. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically identify potential funding sources as part of generating the Invasive species control plans.

48. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically qualify the invasive species control plans for potential funding sources.

49. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically generate documentation for funding sources.

50. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically complete and submit documentation for regulatory requirements.

51. The system of claim 32, wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically pass instructions to equipment used in implementing the selected invasive species control plan.

52. A system comprising:

an invasive species control plan generator configured to receive information regarding vegetation control from a plurality of sources, automatically generate one or more invasive species control plans for controlling invasive species on a site based upon the received information, automatically evaluate the invasive species control plans according to one or more criteria, automatically select one of the invasive species control plans responsively to the evaluation, and automatically provide the selected invasive species control plan to a user via a communication network; and

at least one client communicatively coupled to the invasive species control plan generator via the communication network and configured to receive the selected invasive species control plan and present it to the user; and

wherein the invasive species control plan generator is further configured to automatically generate a set of instructions to execute at least a part of the plan, said instructions personalized for people and equipment executing the selected invasive species control plan.