Data-driven exploration of ‘spatial pattern-time process-driving forces’ associations of SARS epidemic in Beijing, China

Wang, Jin-Feng; Christakos, George; Han, Wei-Guo; Meng, Bin

Temporal variables (e.g. number of infectives, season and weather), spatial variables (e.g. risk exposure, surveillance network, travel warnings and isolation) and other factors (e.g. immunity, population, doctors, hospitals and transportation) are mapped on the SARS epidemic system. This allows transferring operations from a less detectable or operable domain to a domain with features that improve determinant identification, generate accurate predictions and sound inferences, and contribute to strategies aiming at controlling disease spread. E.g. the free travel or isolation over regions (space) lead to an increase or decrease of the total number of infectives (time); and the seasonal temperature change (time) alters the spatial pattern of risk exposure (space).