Advances in the Application of Geospatial Technology in the Mitigation of COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

This study explored geospatial technologies currently used by various researchers, industries, health professionals, etc., in the fight against the global pandemic of COVID19. The use of dashboards is among the prominent innovative geospatial mapping technologies implemented by several bodies such as the Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (JHU CSSE) dashboard, WHO dashboard, HealthMap dashboard, etc. Dashboards have been useful in providing information on the dynamics of the pandemic spread. The use of geospatial big data and Web map viewers has also gained much ground. The application of various statistical and epidemiological models and tools has equally been utilized to simulate the dynamics of the pandemic in new dimensions. Time series model forecast has played a major role in the modelling of medical facilities, while location/allocation modelling has contributed to resources management for best sites to situate testing centres, emergency units, medical centres, etc. ESRI industry has also developed a number of innovative solutions in the context of indoor assessment of facilities for the new normal, airport smart strategies and mobile tracking technologies, etc. Geospatial technology is critical in the fight against the pandemic, and it is imperative to state that efforts to maximize the technology should be advocated. The study provided limitations to the applications of geospatial technology and recommendation. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.