The exciting potential and daunting challenge of using GPS human-mobility data for epidemic modeling

Abstract

Large-scale GPS location datasets hold immense potential for measuring human mobility and interpersonal contact, both of which are essential for data-driven epidemiology. However, despite their potential and widespread adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are several challenges with these data that raise concerns regarding the validity and robustness of its applications. Here we outline two types of challenges—some related to accessing and processing these data, and some related to data quality—and propose several research directions to address them moving forward. While large-scale GPS location datasets have been instrumental to applications in epidemiology, there are still several challenges with these data that should be considered and addressed to make data-driven epidemiology more reliable.