World is currently is currently using the different technologies to fight the new Corona-virus (COVID-19). One of these technologies is GIS technology. It is important to mention that GIS is not only about nice maps. Using GIS, countries and organizations try to monitor, analyze & manage their response to this pandemic.
Below are samples of selected maps that give an overview about how GIS is used during the Corona-virus pandemic. You can find more maps at Esri COVID-19 GIS Hub.
Monitoring Cases
This is the dashboard by Johns Hopkins University (JHU), using Esri technology, for monitoring the spread of Corona-virus cases worldwide. Maybe this is the most famous dashboard for the pandemic. Media have been using this dashboard in news programs to demonstrate the updates of Corona-virus, COVID-19 cases.
In parallel, many similar dashboards have been created around the world by organizations and even individuals.
You can find the dashboard by (JHU) here. Additionally, you can other applications & dashboards worldwide here.
On the same track, University of Virginia has published the following dashboard that displays the Corona-virus cases worldwide alone with a timeline. You can access it here.
Analyze Corona-virus Status
In additional to monitoring cases, this map display the analysis on the level of counties to define the phase of pandemic at each county. You can access it here.
Medical Resources
To face the pandemic, it is mandatory to define the predicted medical resources needed at the different regions. Then, based on the existing resources, we can define the gaps, and the area where we need to assign extra resources in time.
University of Virginia published the following dashboard that displays prediction scenarios and the needed resources in different regions.
You can access this dashboard here.
Also, the following map was published By Definitive Healthcare For USA Hospital Beds. You can access the map here.
Testing Sites
Part of actions to fight Covid-19 is to increase the tests so that governments can detect and isolate cases as early as possible. This mitigates the spread of the virus and increase the recovery rates for positive cases.
Therefore, you need to tell people where they can make tests. Accordingly, this public dashboard displays the locations of different test centers in USA and the information of each one.
You can access this dashboard here.
Effect on People
Part of planning the response to COVID-19, this series of maps display multiple parameters that define vulnerable community segments in USA. These segments need special attention to face the pandemic.
You can access the maps here.
Additionally, in parallel with efforts of the health sector, it is important to keep monitoring the actual effect of Pandemic on people along time. The following series of maps are based on data from US Census, and published on Living Atlas of Esri.
You can access the maps here.
Effect on environment
In additional to people, scientists analyze effect of the pandemic on environment as well.
Recently, the earth systems scientists at Chapman have started studying atmospheric images for New York and Los Angeles to see if directives for people to stay home are affecting nitrogen oxide emissions. Early images indicate strong compliance in those cities. If the satellite images display patches of dark blue, it means that emissions are down as companies close plants, people drive less and general activity is reduced to slow spread of the virus.
You can find more details here.
On the same track, scientists at the European Space Agency have monitoring the effect of pandemic on the air pollution at different regions. The following map shows the effect of Lock-down on Air Quality in Chine. You can find more details here.
Food Security
COVID-19 pandemic is having its effect on the world’s food supply. Measures to slow the spread of the virus are affecting the food supply chain in many ways including the availability of inputs, labor, transport, and cross-border trade. COVID-19 is predicted to amplify the risks already facing the world’s hungry people
Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring initiative (GEOGLAM) has been providing monthly global Crop Monitors featuring near real-time information on crop conditions. You can find more details here.
People Response
There are trials to monitor how people are responding to instructions of social distancing. Blue Dot used a dataset that includes anonymous device movement, aggregated by county and week. Cumulative distance traveled and median distance traveled is collected at percentiles, with percent of change calculated from a baseline. Baseline comparison is an average from February 2 – February 15. Based on that, they published the Social Distancing Metrics Map. You can access the map here.
Monitoring World Recovery
I was trying to find a way that indicates which countries are recovering from COVID-19. So, I decided to use the ratio of active case.
You can find more details here.
A writer & GIS consultant … Studied the Management of Technology … dreaming of a better world.
