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Interactive Simulation of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions of Airborne Disease Transmission in Office Settings

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Zimmerman

    (IBM Research-Almaden, San Jose, CA 95120, USA)

  • Neha Sharma

    (School of Computer Science, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr W, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada)

  • Hakan Bulu

    (IBM Research-Almaden, San Jose, CA 95120, USA)

  • Vanessa Burrowes

    (IBM Research Triangle Park, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA)

  • David Beymer

    (IBM Research-Almaden, San Jose, CA 95120, USA)

  • Vandana Mukherjee

    (IBM Research-Almaden, San Jose, CA 95120, USA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to workplace safety and productivity. A browser-based interactive disease transmission simulation was developed to enable managers and individuals (agents) to optimize safe office work activities during pandemic conditions. The application provides a user interface to evaluate the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) policies on airborne disease exposure based on agents’ meeting patterns and room properties. Exposure is empirically calibrated using CO 2 as a proxy for viral aerosol dispersion. For the building studied, the major findings are that the cubicles during low occupancy produce unexpectedly high exposure, upgrading meetings to larger rooms reduces total average exposure by 44%, and when all meetings are conducted in large rooms, a 79% exposure reduction is realized.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Zimmerman & Neha Sharma & Hakan Bulu & Vanessa Burrowes & David Beymer & Vandana Mukherjee, 2024. "Interactive Simulation of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions of Airborne Disease Transmission in Office Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(11), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:11:p:1413-:d:1506689
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ao-Bing Wang & Xin Zhang & Li-Jun Gao & Tao Zhang & Hui-Juan Xu & Yan-Jun Bi, 2023. "A Review of Filtration Performance of Protective Masks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-23, January.
    2. Wolfgang Schade & Vladislav Reimer & Martin Seipenbusch & Ulrike Willer, 2021. "Experimental Investigation of Aerosol and CO 2 Dispersion for Evaluation of COVID-19 Infection Risk in a Concert Hall," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-11, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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