Why and how to map epidemics? Transportation network, buildings, greencover and all physical infrastructure can be mapped.. but how epidemics?

We were a class of 13 for our 2018 Master’s course in Urban Planning. Even now, after all these 27 years, we manage an active social media group. Everyone started applauding when Keso, one of our classmate shared the glad tidings of her appointment as an expert consultant in ‘Pandemics and Public Health’ wing of UN.

The role of an Urban Planner in health sector is one of the frequently asked questions. 25 years back is when Covid 19, the Corona virus became the reason for a global emergency with life and economy taking a serious hit. A major breakthrough to control the spread of the pandemic was made possible through enactment of contact tracking and tracing, jointly by Apple and Google.

Contact tracking is basically to track people those who came in contact with a person infected by corona virus. The smartphone signals were used to quickly and automatically track all the people interacted with the infected ones and alert for medical aid. Subsequently, those who had interacted in the ensuing days were identified through tracing. Spatial mapping of locations preceding the preparation of route map of infected people points out the possible hotspots of an outbreak and regions at risk.

State emergency was declared and medical attention was strengthened in many such regions which prevented major virus outbreak. Keso was associated with the Disaster Management Authority during this period and got involved in the team of contact tracing and mapping. An urban planner is also a social service worker, in a way.

It was probably in 1854, during the major cholera outbreak in London when epidemics and mapping were effectively knit together for the first time. The deaths from cholera was mapped by John Snow and was observed that most of them had a water pump in Broad street as their water source. It was found out that the water from this pump was contaminated by an underground sewage tank. At that times, it was believed that cholera was transmitted through foul air until the real reason was unveiled.

Spatial mapping of epidemics help observe and analyse space wise distribution of activities. Urban planning always have an incredible importance as it is capable of impacting the world and as every responsible urban planners, Keso will also proudly continue contributing to world’s transformation.

Reference https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.planetizen.com/news/2017/11/95755-1854-map-transformed-public-health-urban-areas%3famp https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/technology-52246319

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