Develop and maintain the digital infrastructure for hosting diagnostic images of plant pests and intercepted taxa compiled by plant protection and quarantine - science and technology for use by…

Develop and maintain the digital infrastructure for hosting diagnostic images of plant pests and intercepted taxa compiled by plant protection and quarantine - science and technology for use by personnel at plant protection and quarantine plant inspection stations, national taxonomists, and other agency employees tasked with pest exclusion, identification, and monitoring. The resources include a large agency-restricted database containing over 250,000 images representing plant pests and species intercepted at ports of entry, and a public image website containing over 58,000 images focused on plant pest and disease identification. Activities to be performed: the recipients will maintain and improve the codebase necessary for managing the large image databases. Upgrades and updates to the codebase will be implemented to ensure that front-end user experience meets the needs of individuals involved in plant pest identification and screening. Data connections will be established to other digital pest identification resources managed by plant protection and quarantine and to external repositories of biological data such as the global biodiversity information facility, early detection and distribution mapping system, and inaturalist. Deliverables and expected outcomes: deliverables will include stable hosting and access for the image databases and compliance of digital resources with federal digital security and accessibility guidelines. Upgrades and new features added to the codebase will improve user experience and interaction with the image database and allow for easier access to diagnostic images to facilitate rapid and accurate identification of potential plant pests. Establishing data connectivity to other digital resources is crucial for centralizing pest identification resources and improving access to comprehensive identification resources and tools. Intended beneficiary(IES): this agreement will ultimately benefit american farmers, and anybody else involved in agricultural production and trade by providing crucial resources to aid in the rapid and accurate identification of plant pests. Within plant protection and quarantine, the large image databases maintained and grown under this agreement are integral tools for plant inspection station staff and national taxonomists who rely on the images to help confirm identifications of potential plant pests found on imported agricultural products or detected through domestic pest surveys.