Improving Efficiency in a Forest Pest Control Spray Program
Abstract
The Maine Forest Service limits the destruction of Maine spruce-fir forests by spruce budworms through a large aerial spray program. They use several types of aircraft flying from six airfields to spray 250 to 300 infested areas. A mathematical programming model which determines the lowest cost set of flight plans and provides “what if” analyses for changes in operating conditions is improving management decisions.

