In the Peruvian Amazon, tropical diseases pose a growing risk - and scientists are turning to advanced technology, including drones and artificial intelligence, to try to stop outbreaks before they begin. Iquitos, Peru cannot be reached by road because of the thick jungles and waters surrounding the city. Only planes or boats can reach the metropolis of about half a million people. All that water and vegetation also means an unwelcome guest: Mosquitoes.
The aftermath of heat and heavy storms can result in ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Researchers like Carrasco and Bryan Fernandez use drones to take high-resolution photos in and around the Amazon, searching for water bodies that could be breeding sites for mosquitoes. The drones take photos every three seconds, and those images are turned into 3-D images that track water and deforestation.