A group of researchers at Dhaka University (DU) has developed an automated, internet-connected mosquito trap capable of detecting Aedes mosquitoes, the primary carrier of dengue, at an early stage, a DU press release said today.
The device, named ‘MAST-CloudNet’, uses acoustic sound to lure mosquitoes and takes their photographs with an internal camera. Artificial Intelligence (AI) then analyzes the images in real time to determine whether the trapped insect is an Aedes mosquito.
The device was jointly developed by the Microsystems and Nanoengineering Lab under DU’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) and the Mueid Research Group (Genome-Guided Vector Control and Innovation Lab) under the Department of Zoology.
The study was published on October 8 in the international journal IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement under the title “MAST-CloudNet: IoT-Enabled Acoustic Trap With Real-Time AI Surveillance of Aedes.”
The authors of the paper are - Prof. Dr. Syed Md. Ahsan Habib (EEE), Associate Professor Dr. Khandakar Asfaqul Mueid (Zoology), Associate Professor Dr. Md. Ahsan Habib (EEE), Lecturer Atia Sanjida Shoremee (Zoology), A M M Munif Khan (EEE), Md. Siam Sarkar (Zoology), Niloy Howlader (Zoology), Fahad Arefin (EEE), Asif Rahman Dipto (EEE), and Atiq Bin Zakir (EEE). The research was funded by the Dhaka University Research Fund.
How it works:
During flight, female Aedes mosquitoes generate a specific wing-beat frequency that attracts male Aedes mosquitoes. The trap capitalizes on this natural behavioral trait by playing a sound at a frequency between 350 and 500 Hz—mimicking the wing sound of a female Aedes mosquito.
Attracted by the acoustic cue, male Aedes mosquitoes fly near the trap, where an internal fan pulls them inside and traps them on a yellow sticky sheet. An embedded camera then captures photos of the trapped mosquitoes and transmits them via the internet to a cloud server.
An AI algorithm evaluates the images to identify the species and calculate the population count. The findings are displayed instantly on a web dashboard, allowing authorities to track mosquito density remotely without physical inspection.
While female mosquitoes bite humans, male mosquitoes mature earlier and remain close to breeding grounds. Therefore, an increase in male Aedes populations serves as an early warning signal for emerging breeding hotspots and potential dengue transmission risks.
Laboratory cage trials demonstrated that the acoustic trap captured nearly five times more Aedes mosquitoes than a non-acoustic trap of similar design.
During a three-day field trial under open-air conditions on the DU campus—amid heavy rain, strong winds, and urban noise—the device operated uninterrupted and captured 49 Aedes mosquitoes.
Researchers revealed that assembling each unit costs approximately BDT 12,000. In comparison, traditional mosquito surveillance tools such as the CDC Light Trap cost around BDT 25,000, while the BG-Sentinel Trap costs nearly BDT 20,000. Since a central server can process data from multiple devices simultaneously, operational costs per unit will decrease significantly when deployed at scale. The device also features a battery backup providing up to 4.5 hours of operation during power outages.
Future plans:
While controlled tests yielded promising results, larger-scale field validation is planned before commercial deployment. Researchers plan to deploy 10 to 15 traps across various residential locations under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) during June–July 2027 to generate early-warning maps of Aedes activity.
Future upgrades will include solar power integration, weatherproofing, and Long Range Radio (LoRaWAN) connectivity to enable long-distance data transmission without reliance on Wi-Fi networks.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam congratulated the research team on developing the device.
He noted that early identification of Aedes breeding zones will greatly facilitate targeted preventive measures. Stressing the importance of further refining the device for field readiness, the VC urged researchers to continue pursuing life-centric studies that contribute to improving public health and safety.