Spatiotemporal Modeling:COVID-19

2020 ~ Present | GTRI, Perkins and Will

Goals

Post-pandemic: The built environment

During the pandemic, this project explored expanding the Building Analytics research towards a dynamic Spatiotemporal Modeling framework, studying how the interaction of spatial characteristics, human activities, and organizational processes influence everyone’s lives. In 2020, the premise was that dynamic of the spread had been modeled from a virus-centric perspective, at cities and global scales. However, the models used during the pandemic did not incorporate spatial variables beyond social distance, even though research indicates that one of the main routes of virus transmission are droplets in built environments, including airflows.

Issues Involved or Addressed

On the one hand, current spatial analytics focuses on the static aspects of a building. On the other hand, dynamic variables such as a virus spread or human behavior focus on the mathematical models or algorithms. Spatiotemporal modeling will merge the dynamic variables inside spaces, focusing on analyzing human-centered outcomes, such as performance, health, stress levels, and social interactions.

This semester’s specific goal is to explore the post-pandemic spatiotemporal dynamics in terms of the new use of spaces, new schedules and how human-behavior has changed, challenging spaces to be re-designed. Case studies from renowned architecture firms include Hospitals, schools, workplaces and restaurants.

We will work on the integration of several modeling approaches: 3D modeling, spatial analytics, agent-based simulations, process simulations, CFD and airflow simulations, and mathematical models of the virus spread.

Methods and Technologies

  • Review current research and safety practices
  • Expert Lectures
  • Modeling and Simulation Parameters
  • Modeling and Simulation Implementation
  • COVID-19 Spread Analytics
  • Building Attributes impact on Virus Spread
  • Parametric Analysis
  • Case Study / Project
  • Proposals

Academic Majors of Interest

  • BusinessIT Management
  • ComputingComputational Science and Engineering
  • ComputingComputer Science
  • DesignArchitecture
  • DesignGeographic Information Science and Technology
  • EngineeringAerospace Engineering
  • EngineeringHealth Systems
  • EngineeringIndustrial Engineering
  • Other
  • SciencesPsychology
  • SciencesStatistics

Preferred Interests and Preparation

Areas: Computational Design, Architecture, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Business Analytics, Psychology, Statistics.

Background/interest: Experience or willingness to learn modeling and simulation.

Meeting Schedule & Location

Time 
12:30-1:20
Meeting Day 
Tuesday

Team Advisors

Dr. Paula Gómez
  • Georgia Tech Research Institute
Dr. Matthew Swarts
  • Georgia Tech Research Institute

Partner(s) and Sponsor(s)

GTRI, Perkins and Will