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

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.

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;   wherein, the received information includes at least one of climate data, historical weather data, current weather data, and predicted weather data;   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;   updating, by the invasive species control plan generator, the selected species control plan as one or more of the climate data, the historical weather data, the current weather data, and the predicted weather data is received; and   providing, by the Invasive species control plan generator, the selected invasive species control plan to the user via the communication network.   
     
     
         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;   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;   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;   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 automatically generating, by the invasive species control plan generator, 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 multiple 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 includes 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 further 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. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received information further 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. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received information further 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.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein equipment information is received from a piece of equipment utilized to implement at least a portion of the selected invasive species control plan, and the selected invasive species control plan is responsively updated, by the invasive species control plan generator, to reflect consequences of the equipment information received from the equipment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received information further 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.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received information further 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.   
     
     
         19 . 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. 
     
     
         20 . 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 select treatment products based on plant characteristics, site characteristics, and regulatory requirements.