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A system developed by the UK Plant Health Service to report on pest and disease interceptions, communicate diagnoses and summarize data 1
Author(s) -
SAVAGE D. E.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2338.1990.tb01214.x
Subject(s) - minicomputer , medical diagnosis , suite , christian ministry , service (business) , computer science , engineering management , medicine , engineering , business , geography , pathology , philosophy , theology , archaeology , marketing , operating system
The Plant Health Inspectorate in the UK carry out a large number of inspections for plant pests and diseases each year and send thousands of samples to the Ministry's Central Laboratory at Harpenden for diagnosis or confirmation. Until 1987 all reports and sample information was sent by post to the laboratory and respective management staff. The resulting information was sent by post to the Laboratory and respective management staff. The resulting information was summarized manually. Using MAFF network and computer facility and programming skills acquired by Plant Health staff, the Inspectorate have, over the last 3 years, developed a suite of systems to help with various aspects of their work. One of these systems provides for standardized reporting of pest and disease interceptions. Each report acquires a unique computer‐generated reference number which can be used for identifying samples sent to the Laboratory. All inspectors have access to terminals, linked to the minicomputer, and the system has recently been enhanced to facilitate the input of Laboratory diagnosis information. This system together with use of an electronic mail facility has not only speeded up reporting procedure and reduced communication costs, but has allowed for the rapid summary of important data.