Authors: Giannis Louloudakis, Yannis Daliakopoulos, Chirag Padubidri, Sükrü Esin, Luwieke Bosma
Across the Mediterranean, rodents wreak havoc on farms—gnawing through crops, damaging infrastructure, and putting food security at risk. In fact, it’s estimated that rodents are responsible for destroying more than 130 million tonnes of food globally each year. But what if these stealthy pests could be monitored and managed more sustainably, using smart, adaptable technology?
Meet SPYCE: Smart Rodent Surveillance
Developed under the EU-funded MED4PEST project, the SPYCE device—short for SPY-mice is a cutting-edge, open-source rodent monitoring tool designed for deployment in agricultural environments. Whether positioned at greenhouse entrances or along fenced field boundaries, SPYCE enables continuous, non-intrusive observation, capturing valuable data on rodent activity without disrupting natural behaviour or the surrounding ecosystem.
Why Rodent Monitoring Matters
Traditional rodent control methods often rely on synthetic chemicals and poisons, which pose significant risks to biodiversity, human health, and long-term soil and water quality. The MED4PEST initiative aims to change this by advancing Ecologically Based Rodent Management (EBRM). This approach emphasizes prevention and pro-active rodent management for instance by denying rodents access to food and shelter, instead of re-active population control, which in EBRM is only a last resort. In this approach monitoring is important, because robust data on the presence of rodent species is critical information to develop a fine-tuned EBRM approach. Making tools like SPYCE central to a more sustainable agricultural future—especially in Mediterranean farming systems where ecological sensitivity is key.
The Technology Behind SPYCE
SPYCE features a compact T-shaped structure that allows rodents to move in and out freely. At each end of the horizontal pipe, passive infrared (PIR) sensors detect movement. Mounted at the top of the vertical pipe is a waterproof housing containing an array of sensors, including an ultrasonic microphone, an ultrasonic motion sensor, and an infrared camera oriented downward toward the base. A mmWave radar sensor monitors movement patterns outside the structure, and a temperature-humidity sensor records environmental conditions. All components are controlled by a Raspberry Pi and housed in a durable 3D-printed casing designed to withstand agricultural conditions.
The device operates in three modes, each tailored to specific monitoring needs. In Mode 1, PIR sensors activate the system, which then waits for confirmation from the ultrasonic sensor before recording data. In Mode 2, the ultrasonic sensor acts independently to detect central motion and trigger other sensors. In Mode 3, the infrared camera runs continuously and uses motion detection to activate the full system. Temperature and humidity are recorded at regular intervals across all modes. Written in Python, the firmware is modular and open-source, allowing users to adapt the system to their own needs. SPYCE’s hardware designs, data collection scripts, and documentation are all freely available on GitHub, supporting global collaboration and knowledge sharing. Its modular and plug-and-play design allows users to choose which sensor modules they want to include, such as infrared cameras, ultrasonic microphones or radar sensors, based on their specific monitoring needs and available resources. This flexibility makes SPYCE highly adaptable to a wide range of agricultural environments and research goals.
Presented at EGU 2025
In April 2025, the SPYCE system and its role in sustainable pest control were presented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly in Vienna by Ioannis Louloudakis, an agronomist at the Hellenic Mediterranean University who oversees the Greek pilot site. His presentation showcased collaborative contributions from the broader MED4PEST team. Dr. Ioannis Daliakopoulos, Assistant Professor of Agroinformatics at HMU, leads the case study applications of SPYCE, coordinating testing and deployment across multiple regions. Chirag Padubidri, a researcher at CYENS Center of Excellence in Cyprus, is responsible for SPYCE’s firmware development and sensor integration. Sukru Esin, manager of MetaMeta Anatolia, is both the coordinator of the Turkish study site and the overall project manager of MED4PEST. Scientific leadership for the Cyprus partner is provided by Dr. Andreas Kamilaris, a senior researcher at CYENS and professor at the University of Twente, who oversees the strategic direction and research integrity of SPYCE’s development.
From Concept to Field
SPYCE is already deployed in pilot sites across Greece, Turkey, and Morocco, where it collects thousands of data points on rodent activity. In one striking image captured during a field trial, a rodent is seen rolling a pepino melon, illustrating how unobtrusive monitoring can reveal fascinating behaviours. These observations are critical for the development of advanced deep learning models capable of detecting, counting, and interpreting rodent movements and patterns with high precision. In parallel, researchers are applying anomaly detection techniques to investigate behavioural differences in rodents exposed to EBRM versus conventional pest management practices.
A Broader Vision
Beyond rodent management, SPYCE serves as a template for integrating digital innovation into agriculture. Its design and deployment model demonstrate how cost-effective, adaptable technology can transform field monitoring practices and promote ecological resilience. As the climate crisis intensifies and food systems come under greater pressure, such tools offer a blueprint for smarter, more sustainable farming strategies.
Acknowledgements
This work is part of the MED4PEST project, which is funded by the PRIMA Programme, an Art.185 initiative supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (grant No. 739578). In Greece, co-funding is provided by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI) under the PRIMA 2021 Section 2 program (project code T11EDK-00065). In Turkey, support comes from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), while in Cyprus, the project is co-financed by the Directorate General for European Programmes, Coordination, and Development. The team gratefully acknowledges the contributions of local farmers, greenhouse operators, and agricultural advisors involved in pilot deployments across all partner countries.
For more information, visit med4pest.org or explore the SPYCE source code and documentation on GitHub.
Contact: Chirag Padubidri (c.padubidri@cyens.org.cy), Sukru Esin (sukruesin@metameta.nl)
