Examining the impact of built environments on COVID-19 transmission in Singapore using human mobility data

Keywords: Built environmental characteristics, publication transportation network, transportation big data, commuting flows, disease transmission
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

COVID-19 is transmitted mainly through respiratory droplets when direct and indirect human interactions occur. Built environments can affect COVID-19 infection risks because they shape human interaction patterns. Moreover, the public transportation system contributes to mass human mobility and connects places far away, promoting human interactions among people from different places. Therefore, distant built environments may have influences on COVID-19 infection risks, and places connected by commuting flows can be regarded as ‘neighbors’ of COVID-19 transmission. Most studies on the association between built environmental characteristics and COVID-19 transmission have focused on adjacent areas within short distances but neglected the effects from distant built environments. This study aims to explore the association between COVID-19 transmission and built environments at places connected by commuting flows. The study area is Singapore, a city-state with high population density and high volumes of commuting flows. The developed public transport network makes different places in the city well-connected.
The public transport data from the Singapore Land Transport Authority will be used to investigate the connections among different places because the majority of the Singapore residents commute via public transport. Because the commuting flows fluctuate during different phases of COVID-19 epidemic period, this study will investigate the temporally varied associations between COVID-19 transmission and built environmental characteristics from COVID-19 transmission neighbors. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the combined impact of built environments and human mobility on COVID-19 transmission and have important policy implications for making effective interventions to curb the spread of infectious diseases.