Transportation as a Disease Vector—A Modeling Approach

Today’s interconnected world, linked by transportation networks, plays a major role in the spread of a pandemic such as COVID-19. The virus originated in a single community, but due to the global nature of transportation, it spread to other parts of the world, impacting local communities and repeating this cycle many times over. In the context of disease spread, transportation can be viewed as a disease vector because it can spread diseases through at least the following three mechanisms: (1) Infected people and goods travel to other locations and can spread the disease along the way and at the final destination. (2) People congregate in groups and at higher densities when using public transportation, increasing the chance of passing infection among fellow passengers. (3) The surfaces in public transportation and shared vehicles can become infected, potentially spreading infection to others who touch the same surfaces. Clearly understanding transportation’s role in the spread of disease vitally informs decisions that can stop or at least significantly reduce the spread of disease through transportation. This project involved developing a demonstration model to show how transportation can function as a disease vector and how certain policies can reduce the spread of a disease such as COVID-19, specifically through the third mechanism outlined above.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.carteeh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/04-34-TTI-Transportation-as-a-Disease-Vector-A-Modeling-Approach-Meitiv.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/60232
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH)

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute
  College Station, TX  United States  77843

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Meitiv, Alexander
  • 0000-0001-8272-9476
  • Sanchez, Kristen
  • 0000-0001-8002-8019
  • Zietsman, Joe
  • 0000-0002-2572-0114
  • Ramani, Tara
  • 0000-0002-7960-0812
  • Winfree, Greg
  • Shipp, Eva
  • 0000-0002-4034-8031
• Publication Date: 2021-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communicable diseases; COVID-19; Policy; Simulation; Transportation
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01781888
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TTI-04-34
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747128
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 20 2021 2:52PM