Detection surveys are an efficient and economical method of collecting and reporting data on forest insects, diseases, and other disturbances across State, Private and Federal lands. FHAAST supports cooperating users and Forest Service Regions each field season with detection surveys. Cooperators are the key to ensuring consistent coverage and quality of the detection data.

Detection surveys are the primary method of collecting data on the health of treed areas affected by insects and diseases. Aerial and ground surveys using applications like Digital Mobile Sketch Mapping (DMSM) and Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) Collector Map are conducted annually. Geospatial data collected with these systems is stored in a National Insect and Disease Survey (IDS) database.Various products are available for download below including National Insect and Disease Detection Survey Maps, IDS Geospatial Data , and IDS Acre Summaries. The annual Detection surveys data is also used to produce Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in the United States reports and National Forest Health Conditions & Highlights Interactive Story Maps.