JK Govt to use Spatio-temporal mapping to keep check on spread of Covid-19

Srinagar, April 6 (KNS): To keep a check on the spread of Covid-19, J&K Government has decided to employ Spatio-temporal mapping in J&K.
The move is aimed to have a clear picture of containment zones or the areas having reported positive cases by plotting the identified areas through spatio-temporal mapping.
Chief Secretary has directed the Commissioner Secretary, Forests to depute technical experts from Environment & Remote Sensing Department at the disposal of DCs along with their staff for mapping related activities.
Disease mapping is a field of spatial epidemiology and it helps estimate the spatial pattern of disease. In the case of Covid-19, with the help of tools like geographic information system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS) a disease map will be prepared.
A senior official told KNS that it will help track the suspected covid-19 patients besides giving an idea about the pattern of spread of the disease in the area.
The use of Geospatial technology helps in rescue and relief in crises by boosting relief and rehabilitation efforts, he added, “ In the case of Coronavirus, the geospatial technology will help in tracking the spread of the virus, constantly updating the number of people affected, and providing real-time information.
“Geo-referencing disease cases give a spatial dimension to health, environment linkages. This not only helps pinpoint issues but also describes the intensity or extent of the cause or effect. We can do that by identifying actionable and biologically meaningful data patterns, developing predictions about future risk and epidemic trajectories, and characterizing possible losses under a range of intervention scenarios,” a disaster management expert said.
“Maps can help highlight localized issues like exposure to diseases from the location of disposal site as well as more diffuse issues like exposure to radiation from reductions in atmospheric ozone. They can act as early warning tools,” he added. (KNS)