Scalable, efficient epidemiological simulation

ABSTRACT

We describe the design and implementation of a system for simulating the spread of disease among individuals in a large urban population over the course of several weeks. In contrast to traditional approaches, we do not assume uniform mixing among large sub-populations or split the population into spatial or demographic subpopulations determined a priori. Instead, we rely on empirical estimates of the social network, or contact patterns, that are produced by TRANSIMS, a large-scale simulation of transportation systems.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.5 Model Development

Additional Classification:
  J. Computer Applications
  J.3 LIFE AND MEDICAL SCIENCES

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design

Keywords:
epidemiology, individual based, parallel discrete event simulation