Singapore's National Environment Agency is using machine learning and thermal cameras to improve rat control. The technology automates footage analysis, allowing wider coverage and better understanding of rat behavior, leading to more targeted daytime inspections and fewer burrows detected in hotspots like Little India and Geylang.
Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.cards interface. Give it a try. SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency is exploring the use of more advanced technologies such as video analytics and machine learning to strengthen efforts against rat infestations.
The agency currently deploys thermal and passive infrared cameras to monitor rodent activity and identify hotspots. Machine learning can cut down the manual work of reviewing footage to identify rats, said Mr Bernard Chiang, assistant manager at NEA’s rat control section.
“With this, we can actually the manpower to deploy more passive infrared cameras and cover a wider area. ”NEA deployed 40 thermal cameras from January to April this year, and is on track to exceed last year's total of 84. The number of deployments per location varies according to site conditions and coverage requirements. As rats are nocturnal and tend to avoid humans, these tools can help authorities better understand their behaviour and movement patterns, said Mr Chiang.
Data gathered over the past two years has shown that rats use features such as external air-conditioning units and pipes to access upper floors of buildings in search of food and nesting sites, he added. MANAGING RAT INFESTATIONS By tracking these routes at night, enforcement officers can better target inspections during the day.
In a media advisory on Mar 26, NEA said about 1,300 enforcement actions were taken against premise owners for rat-related lapses in 2025, up from over 1,000 in 2024. Of these actions jointly undertaken by NEA and the Singapore Food Agency , about half - or 620 - were for poor refuse management.
Meanwhile, fewer rat burrows have been detected as authorities intensify control efforts, particularly in areas with dense food and commercial activity such as Little India, Holland Village, Geylang and Serangoon Gardens. The average number of rat burrows recorded during each two-monthly surveillance cycle dropped from about 5,400 in the first half of last year, to around 4,200 in the second half.
Rat activity in Little India, for instance, has dropped sharply since the first half of 2025, with no rat burrows detected in the area's latest surveillance cycle. In an update, NEA said data obtained from thermal and passive infrared camera deployments has shown that rat activity fell by 40 per cent on average across various locations within Little India between last October and March this year.
The agency added that no rat burrows were detected there between March and April this year, down from an average of 37 burrows found every two months last year. NEA said the decline in burrow numbers is an encouraging sign that enforcement efforts are having an impact.
“Rat populations can rebound quickly if good housekeeping and refuse management practices are not consistently maintained. ” She added that poor refuse management can provide rodents with a ready food source through food waste, while improperly discarded bulky items can create shelter.
“So the surveillance cameras that we’ve deployed allow us to monitor the ground situation and gather information and evidence, and then take enforcement actions against premise owners for the improper refuse disposal,” said Ms Tay. Last year, authorities took enforcement action against food establishments in 233 cases involving rat-related lapses.
'You'll never remove 100%': Facing hard facts while tackling Singapore's persistent rat populationSome food operators said that while they can implement proper preventive measures, a single non-compliant outlet in their vicinity can trigger a surge in rat activity. “What you need is just one black sheep among all the entities here,” said Mr Louis Tay, owner of eatery Rainbow Rice House, which shares a back alley with at least 10 other F&B establishments along North Canal Road.
“That's enough to generate a huge population of rats moving around in the back alley,” the 61-year-old noted. “If everybody takes the subject of getting rid of these rodents very seriously and responsibly, I believe, on the whole, we can achieve a better result in trying to minimise their population. ” Like most eateries, Mr Tay engages a pest control firm to help keep rats at bay.
The company conducts routine inspections for signs of rodent activity, such as droppings and gnaw marks on food packaging. A pest control worker conducting a routine inspection of an eatery for signs of rodent activity, such as droppings and gnaw marks on food packaging. But F&B operators said there is only so much they can do to keep the pests away.
“No matter how good their is in terms of cleaning or pest control it is very largely affected by the environment,” said Mr Terry Neo, manager at All Out Pest Management, referring to the shared space between shops. The device, already used in countries such as the United States, is not yet available for sale in Singapore. Peanut butter is used as bait to lure rats into the trap.
Once a sensor detects movement, the vacuum is activated, sucking the rat into an enclosed chamber for disposal.
“What doesn't work in F&B is baiting alone or mechanical traps, because the thing is that F&B largely deals with food. We cannot use baiting as it may cross-contaminate,” said Mr Neo.
“Also, if the rodent dies within the walls or the false ceiling, there'll be a rotting smell and it's going to be a big issue. ”Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Machine Learning Video Analytics Thermal Cameras Rat Control National Environment Agency
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