In the fight against the novel coronavirus, Tsinghua SIGS uses AI and big data technologies to aid epidemic prevention in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District and enterprises in resuming work.

On February 1, Prof. Ma Zhaoyuan’s research group at Tsinghua announced the first AI-based forecasting model to predict the spread and peak of the outbreak for the country. Predicted results for February 1 to 7 had an average accuracy better than 98%, and forecasts on the peak period and inflection point of the outbreak agreed with Academician Zhong Nanshan’s predictions.

The team continued to adjust parameters and optimized fitting results, while working with relevant government departments so that the forecasted results could help with decision-making for public policies.

SIGS research groups led by Prof. Ma Lan and Prof. Ma Zhaoyuan are also using AI technology to help people in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District return to work after the Spring Festival holidays with respect to the development of the epidemic.

The influx of people returning to work pose another public health challenge for Shenzhen, where more than 10 million people are returning from their hometowns. The two research groups have proposed a recommended limit on the number of people to resume work each day to control the spread of the epidemic. A comprehensive list of factors such as local policies, origins workers are from, type of industry and working environment are being considered.

These references will assist the local government in making accurate and scientific decisions, so that work can resume orderly while strictly controlling the epidemic.

Edited by Karen Lee

Cover photo from Freepik