How Modern Geographical Information Systems Based Mapping and Tracking Can Help to Combat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic around the World and India.

GIS Based Mapping and Tracking to Combat SARS-CoV2

Abstract

In December 2019, a new virus of unknown etiology emerged in Wuhan city of Hubei Province, China causing the severe acute respiratory syndrome. The new virus originally called ‘Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV’, subsequently renamed to SARS-CoV-2 cause the disease named COVID-19. Despite China’s effort to contain the virus within Wuhan, it spread across the continent and affected more than 200 countries within a short period and has put millions of lives and jobs in jeopardy. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and its methods have been proven as an effective tool to control and monitor the preparedness of such pandemic in the past. This paper presents review of web-based real-time map-centric dashboards and mobile applications using modern GIS technologies, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to collate the data from different validated sources to map and disseminate information on the disease spread, risk mapping, contact tracing and to keep track of COVID 19 pandemic across the world and India.