Visual analytics of contact tracing policy simulations during an emergency response

Sondag, M., Turkay, C., Xu, K., Matthews, L. , Mohr, S. and Archambault, D. (2022) Visual analytics of contact tracing policy simulations during an emergency response. Computer Graphics Forum, 41(3), pp. 29-41. (doi: 10.1111/cgf.14520)

Abstract

Epidemiologists use individual-based models to (a) simulate disease spread over dynamic contact networks and (b) to investigate strategies to control the outbreak. These model simulations generate complex ‘infection maps’ of time-varying transmission trees and patterns of spread. Conventional statistical analysis of outputs offers only limited interpretation. This paper presents a novel visual analytics approach for the inspection of infection maps along with their associated metadata, developed collaboratively over 16 months in an evolving emergency response situation. We introduce the concept of representative trees that summarize the many components of a time-varying infection map while preserving the epidemiological characteristics of each individual transmission tree. We also present interactive visualization techniques for the quick assessment of different control policies. Through a series of case studies and a qualitative evaluation by epidemiologists, we demonstrate how our visualizations can help improve the development of epidemiological models and help interpret complex transmission patterns.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was funded by the UKRI EPSRC grants EP/V033670/1 and EP/V054236/1.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mohr, Dr Sibylle and Matthews, Professor Louise
• Authors: Sondag, M., Turkay, C., Xu, K., Matthews, L., Mohr, S., and Archambault, D.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Computer Graphics Forum
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0167-7055
• ISSN (Online): 1467-8659
• Published Online: 29 July 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Computer Graphics Forum 41(3): 29-41
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License