Aplicación de vehículos aéreos no tripulados (UAV) en la vigilancia vectorial y el análisis del riesgo epidemiológico en Regiones Tropicales

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as drones, have emerged as innovative tools for environmental monitoring and vector control in public health. Through a systematic review of 41 scientific articles and complementary technical documents, three main application areas were identified: automated detection of larval breeding sites, support for epidemiological surveillance through georeferenced aerial imagery, and direct implementation of interventions such as larvicide spraying or release of genetically modified mosquitoes. These studies report significant improvements in operational efficiency, territorial coverage, spatial analysis accuracy, and reductions in entomological indices across various tropical, urban, and rural settings.

The integration of drones in these environments is justified by the sustained increase in vector-borne diseases such as dengue, zika, chikungunya, and malaria, whose distribution is influenced by environmental, social, and climatic factors. Variables such as temperature, relative humidity, and accumulated precipitation favor vector reproduction and have led to altitudinal shifts and territorial expansion of these diseases in countries like Colombia, where El Niño and La Niña events exacerbate population exposure.

From an environmental engineering perspective, a methodological proposal is made for the design and implementation of UAV systems adapted to Colombian territory, equipped with optical and thermal sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms capable of identifying breeding sites invisible from the ground, executing targeted aerial interventions, and feeding predictive models. Although technical feasibility is documented, successful adoption requires sustained investment, strengthening of local capacities, regulatory adaptation, and community communication strategies. The article concludes that incorporating drones represents a strategic opportunity to modernize environmental and epidemiological management of vector-borne diseases in tropical settings.