Machine Learning

Two ��ӽ紫ý faculty appointed to Virginia AI task force

Nathan Kahl — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 13:23:33 +0000

Two ��ӽ紫ý faculty appointed to Virginia AI task force Nathan Kahl Sat, 07/27/2024 - 09:23

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Amarda Shehu, a professor of computer science and associate sean in the College of Engineering and Computing, and Padhu Seshaiyer, a professor of mathematical sciences and the former associate dean for academic affairs for the College of Science, were named to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) EO30 task force, prompted by Executive Order (EO) 30 by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Both Shehu and Seshaiyer acknowledge that this is a timely and important initiative by SCHEV, and they are excited that ��ӽ紫ý is an integral part of this process, supporting SCHEV, and by extension, institutes of education across the commonwealth.

Shehu's research is on AI and machine learning. Photo by the Office of University Branding

The EO states that it “recognizes the dual nature—both the opportunities and risks—of this developing technology in education. K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions must embrace innovation, experimentation, and new educational opportunities for students as well as ensure appropriate guardrails and necessary constraints exist to safeguard individual data privacy and mitigate discriminatory outcomes.”

SCHEV leaders chose Shehu and Seshaiyer for the task force because of their longstanding work and leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), STEM, and education; both admit there is a lot to consider around AI, and they are glad that Virginia is putting forth this effort.

Shehu said a broad conception of AI is necessary. “We need to think a little bit more holistically regarding the different opportunities and potential risks with regards to integrating AI in education. What kind of guidelines should we have for universities and for community colleges, not just for educators, but also for all the different organizations that they work with across Virginia.”

Seshaiyer explained that the task force has broad representation. “While we talk about promoting innovation and economic growth, there's also this whole aspect of ethical boundaries and considerations in AI development and deployment," he said. "It requires government, industry, and academia coming together to understand AI research, workforce development, and responsible AI.”

Shehu said the task force’s work and function are evolving. “A lot of the meetings I imagine will be thought experiments and the members feeding off one another based on our expertise. Some of us may be more positioned toward exciting applications, while some will want to caution, ‘Hey, hold on a second—you can't really do acquisition like this because you have to go through so many regulatory processes.’”

Shehu said they had been asked to consider and build on examples and guidelines from states, countries, and regions to be forward-thinking in their approach. One approach would be for the task force to categorize AI applications that are definitely a no, some that are yes, and some that still exist in a gray area.

Seshaiyer has encouraged students to experiment with AI in assignments. Photo provided

“For instance, AI assessing your emotions and your reactions and anything like that used for surveillance—that's a ‘no’ unless in situations of national security,” she said. “Consider personalized learning settings that are popping up where you might see clear value for an AI agent that sits and monitors you to read facial features so it can figure out if I'm confused or if I'm understanding. But for the task force, that’s a no, because that is surveillance. Please keep in mind we are thinking about children and students, a highly vulnerable population.”

Seshaiyer said, “For higher ed we have K-12 on one side, and workforce on the other side, so we are theoretically coming up with all sorts of academic ideas about AI and its implications. We test it on a nice cookbook problem, while the workforce side is looking at it from a business perspective, and K-12 is of course thinking of the learning implications. This is an example of having the tension in understanding AI implications by different stakeholders between impact, thoughtfulness, and speed.”

Those dealing with children have multiple considerations, he added. “So, the question for the principal or the Chief Information Technology Officer of the school system is, ‘How do I navigate this space? Which software is feasible, appropriate and at the right price point? Is it safe to use and are there any backdoors in terms of data privacy?’ There are these really practical questions for which they don't have answers because nothing is formally written, but they also don't quite know how to evaluate AI and its implications even if there are answers of how to actually evaluate it.”

The recommendations and guidance provided will impact rank-and-file faculty members, but also must be understood by deans, presidents, and provosts in higher ed, the faculty members said.

Seshaiyer said, “This could have impact across the curriculum. Should I change the content or the way I teach a class? Do I need to go back because maybe I was doing it all wrong or I thought I was doing it right? So, if I were to put my money into the recommendations, it would be training, training, training,”

The task force members are currently working on creating a draft of emergent themes on opportunities, issues, and executive order responsibilities. They have not yet been told what their timeframe is or the expected length of service.

Topics

Artifical Intelligence

SCHEV

Machine Learning

Faculty and Staff News

��ӽ紫ý Receives $4.85 Million Gift to Increase Intimate Partner Violence Detection and Reporting

mthomp7 — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:32:37 +0000

��ӽ紫ý Receives $4.85 Million Gift to Increase Intimate Partner Violence Detection and Reporting mthomp7 Tue, 03/05/2024 - 09:32

In This Story

Katherine Scafide, PhD, RN, FAAN

Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD

David Lattanzi

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS

"By prioritizing inclusivity and recognizing the unique challenges faced by survivors with darker skin tones, Scafide's research aligns seamlessly with our vision to end domestic violence in our lifetime."

Ruth Glenn

President of Survivor Justice Action

Dr. Katherine Scafide discusses Alternate Light Sources (ALS) on NBC Nightly News. Click here to view.

Learn More About the Study

��ӽ紫ý Receives $4.85 Million Gift to Increase Intimate Partner Violence Detection and Reporting

FAIRFAX, VA (March 5, 2024) – ��ӽ紫ý today announced an anonymous $4.85 million gift to advance groundbreaking research on bruise and injury detection for individuals who experience interpersonal violence. The funding will help develop new tools in imaging technology using a light source that is five times better than white light for identifying and visualizing bruising across all skin tones for use by forensic nurses, social service providers, and law enforcement.

“This single largest gift to support research in the College of Public Health’s history underscores Mason faculty’s leadership in life-changing work affecting those who experience interpersonal violence,” said Melissa J. Perry, Dean of the College of Public Health. “A gift of this magnitude brings transformative resources to Mason’s cross-disciplinary research and collaborative approach that takes ground-breaking research to new heights with the potential for greater use and impact.”

Mason’s acclaimed interdisciplinary research in using Alternate Light Sources for bruise detection, as featured on NBC Nightly News, is led by Katherine Scafide, David Lattanzi, and Janusz Wojtusiak. The funding will expand the team’s bruise detection system that leverages artificial intelligence (AI), imaging and light technologies, forensic reports, and clinical expertise to increase data collection and access to care for trauma victims. The technology can be used across all skin tones and responds to deficits in the identification of physical injuries particularly among people with darker skin tones.

Filmmaker and humanitarian Angelina Jolie examines bruising using alternate light.

"By improving documentation of physical trauma, we hope to address disparities in clinical care which can lead to improved healthcare for all as well as legal recourse for all survivors of violence," said Scafide, forensic nurse, research leader, and Associate Professor of Nursing in Mason’s College of Public Health. “This gift expands Mason’s leadership in developing new technologies to empower vulnerable communities.”

One in 3 women worldwide experience physical trauma at the hands of an intimate partner or stranger. In the United States, over 10 million women and men grapple with intimate partner violence each year. Among domestic violence survivors, bruises and soft tissue trauma are the most reported injuries. When injuries are accurately documented, survivors are more likely to participate in the criminal justice process, according to recent studies on interpersonal violence and reporting. In addition, family and partner violence and elder abuse can lead to a host of other public health issues such as infectious and noninfectious diseases, mental health trauma, and reproductive health problems.

"A vital piece to success is ensuring that any AI tool has access to in-depth data from all skin tones and skin characteristics alongside human expert analysis,” said Lattanzi, associate professor in the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computing.

Supporters working on ending domestic violence commended the announcement.

Ruth Glenn, President of Survivor Justice Action, applauds the groundbreaking work led by Dr. Katherine Scafide at ��ӽ紫ý, harnessing alternate light source (ALS) technology to support and uplift the needs of domestic violence survivors. “In a nation where domestic violence disproportionately impacts communities of color, this innovative research holds immense promise. By prioritizing inclusivity and recognizing the unique challenges faced by survivors with darker skin tones, Scafide's research aligns seamlessly with our vision to end domestic violence in our lifetime. Continued research on this technology not only has the potential to revolutionize the identification of bruising in diverse populations but also signifies a vital step toward justice and empowerment for those who have long been marginalized. Survivor Justice Action stands firmly in support of initiatives that demand systems change and establish resources for survivors and advocates.”

“The Scafide team’s research and findings are revolutionizing medical forensic examinations. The ability for medical professionals to visualize and identify previously ‘invisible’ injury substantively advances quality medical assessment and patient care. Visibility and documentation of trauma/ injury provide valuable forensic corroboration for law enforcement and the courts to hold offenders accountable,” said Ann Burdges, CEO of End Violence Against Women International.

This project is led by Mason’s College of Public Health in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Computing. More information on the study can be found at bruise.gmu.edu.

About ��ӽ紫ý

��ӽ紫ý is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.

About the College of Public Health at ��ӽ紫ý

The College of Public Health at ��ӽ紫ý is the first College of Public Health in Virginia combining public health transdisciplinary research, education, and practice in the Commonwealth as a national exemplar. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in our nationally recognized programs, including six undergraduate degrees, eight master’s degrees, five doctoral degrees, and six professional certificate programs. The College is comprised of the School of Nursing and the Departments of Global and Community Health, Health Administration and Policy, Nutrition and Food Studies, and Social Work. The College’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan, from the cell structures to the policy decisions. Areas of focus include environmental exposures, pregnancy outcomes, youth risk behavior, interpersonal violence, infectious disease, nutrition, mental and behavioral health, inequality and populations that are marginalized, health informatics, health policy, and novel methods for causal inference. With more than 500 partners, the College serves the community and engages our students through research, practice, and clinical care.

About the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC)

The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. Ranked nationally in the top 100 in both undergraduate and graduate education, the CEC enrolled a record high of 10,933 students in fall 2023. The college has 34 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs including several first-in-the-nation offerings. As part of a nationally ranked research university, CEC research teams expended $65 million in sponsored research awards in the past year and had projects with over $119 million in current and anticipated awards. The college stands out for its leading research in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics engineering, cybersecurity engineering, biomedical imaging and devices, healthcare, autonomous systems, 5G/Next G communications, systems architectures, computational biomedicine, advanced materials and manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and more.

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Intimate Partner Violence

Artifical Intelligence

Machine Learning

Press Release

Press Releases

Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

TTIP

Tech Talent Investment Program

College of Engineering and Computing launches graduate certificate programs in AI, microfabriction, smart grid technology, and machine learning

Teresa Donnellan — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 17:34:57 +0000

College of Engineering and Computing launches graduate certificate programs in AI, microfabriction, smart grid technology, and machine learning Teresa Donnellan Thu, 02/29/2024 - 12:34

In This Story

In response to the evolving demands of the engineering industry, ��ӽ紫ý's College of Engineering and Computing is launching four new graduate certificate programs, offering specialized training in burgeoning areas within mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, systems engineering and operations research, and computer science. These programs will equip students with the skills and expertise needed to excel in tomorrow’s job market.

Responsible Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate

Under the guidance of Missy Cummings, a professor and the director of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC), the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate program addresses the pressing need for thoughtful AI integration into various industries.

Missy Cummings

“With the rise of large language models like ChatGPT, there is a critical need for companies to develop strategies for effectively and safely integrating AI into their systems. The Mason approach to Responsible AI emphasizes both rigorous technical and sociotechnical approaches to identifying and mitigating AI risks while achieving value-added outcomes,” said Cummings.

Ideal candidates for this certificate program are “people responsible for ensuring the safe and efficacious adoption of AI into their companies or agencies who want to develop and update their skills to understand the design, testing, and implementation of cutting-edge technology,” she added.

Cummings especially looks forward to teaching the AI Design and Deployment Risks class, she said, “because we analyze current and pressing issues surrounding the risks of deploying AI. The combination of theory and practice is critical to understanding these issues, as well as developing the technology and policy mitigations needed to ensure safe and efficacious AI.”

Microfabrication Graduate Certificate

Led by assistant professor Pei Dong, the Microfabrication Graduate Certificate program addresses the growing demand for multidisciplinary training in the manufacturing sector. With a focus on practical training opportunities facilitated by Mason's new cleanroom facility, this program prepares students for rewarding careers filling societal needs and industry demands.

Pei Dong

“Mason has demonstrated extensive expertise in this field for an extended period,” said Dong. “The new research facility now offers hands-on training opportunities for students, marking an exciting development. We believe the timing is perfect to launch the program.”

While the program is designed to benefit Mason graduate students in engineering and science, Dong noted, those with a bachelor’s in a STEM field from outside of the university can also enroll.

“I am thrilled about the four courses currently available to students,” said Dong. “The tremendous support from the Mechanical Engineering Department, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, the Physics and Astronomy Department and the cleanroom team, ensure that these courses offer comprehensive training from both engineering and science perspectives.”

Smart Grid Technology Graduate Certificate

Associate professor Liling Huang spearheaded the creation of the Smart Grid Technology Graduate Certificate program for engineers interested in modernizing power grids with sustainability goals in mind.

Liling Huang

“The need for this program was identified through extensive market research and engaging with industry experts,” explained Huang. “We recognized a growing demand for professionals skilled in smart grid technology, driven by the imperative of modernizing power grids and meeting sustainability goals. The demand for smart grid technology is expected to continue growing, making it an exciting field for professionals to pursue.”

Ideal for professionals in the utility and energy sectors, this program offers comprehensive training in smart grid technology, addressing critical societal and economic issues such as energy sustainability and grid resilience.

Passionate about teaching power and energy courses, Huang is particularly excited about teaching ECE 518 Power System Protection and Control. She said that the contents of that course are “paramount in ensuring the reliability and stability of the energy infrastructure.

“This course incorporates hands-on experiments supported by the cutting-edge facilities in the Smart Grid Lab at Mason Square,” Huang noted. “I believe these practical experiments will provide students with invaluable insights into real-world applications and deepen their understanding of smart grid design, operation, and dynamics.”

Machine Learning for Embedded Systems Graduate Certificate

The Machine Learning for Embedded Systems Graduate Certificate program will equip students with the skills needed to harness the power of machine learning within computing systems, such as those in autonomous vehicles, medical devices, and smart appliances.

Maryam Parsa and team

“As machine learning models become more complex, their energy consumption and demand for computational resources grow,” said Maryam Parsa, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, who will be teaching in the program. “By focusing on embedded [computer] systems, this program contributes to the development of energy-efficient machine learning implementations, crucial for reducing the carbon footprint of digital technologies.”

In addition, Parsa noted, the program will address the importance of data privacy and security in embedded systems.

With electives in neuromorphic computing, big data technologies, and hardware accelerators for machine learning, among other topics, this program prepares alumni of computer or electrical engineering students to tackle complex machine learning challenges. Parsa added the program would be appropriate for “embedded software developers writing code for microcontrollers” and “hardware designers who do not have a background in machine learning.”

With a diverse range of new offerings, Mason continues to lead the way in engineering education and research. These four certificate programs represent the university's commitment to providing in-demand education and preparing future engineers and technologists to address the challenges of tomorrow.

Topics

mechanical engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning

Campus News

Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

TTIP

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Mason, Amazon collaboration to deliver innovations in education and research

Colleen Rich — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 17:03:01 +0000

Mason, Amazon collaboration to deliver innovations in education and research Colleen Rich Mon, 11/28/2022 - 12:03

��ӽ紫ý and Amazon have entered into a strategic collaboration that will allow the university to better serve students, advance its commitment to a more sustainable campus environment, and introduce new educational programs in data center engineering.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

By leveraging technical solutions from Amazon Web Services’ cloud services, Mason will develop a unified platform to improve the process for students from community colleges to transfer into the university. The seamless process will support Mason’s commitment to access by eliminating obstacles related to enrollment and transfer, ensuring systematic barriers do not prevent student success.

Mason faculty, students, staff, and public-sector and industry partners can also expect the development of new approaches to address food insecurity, reduce the technical skills gap in data center engineering, and advance environmental priorities. In the coming years, students will be able to access these novel programs and new curriculum that will help learners pursue careers in data center engineering across the greater Washington metropolitan area, where there is an increasing need for mechanical and electrical engineering talent.

Mason is among the largest producers of tech talent in Virginia, with 40% of students majoring in STEM fields. The university is ranked No. 1 in the commonwealth and No. 9 nationally among public institutions for innovation by U.S. News and World Report.

“The diverse talent pipeline that ��ӽ紫ý produces is in part what attracted Amazon to Arlington,” Mason President Gregory Washington said of the company’s construction of a headquarters in the city. “Mason’s work with Amazon will better serve the students in that pipeline as well as drive economic growth through business, government and community collaborations as Mason becomes one of the most technologically advanced, inclusive universities in the nation.”

As Mason works with Amazon Web Services to implement enhanced, high-performance computing and machine learning, it also will accelerate its research capabilities and provide new platforms for innovation, including an increased collaboration with the intelligence community to drive research and new discoveries with artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and 5G technology.

In total, this unique collaboration will deliver a secure, cloud-based environment for university, industry and government mission partners to conduct cutting-edge research.

"This is just the beginning of a powerful collaboration," said Amazon's Paul Misener. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

"In this long-term initiative, customer services and resources from across Amazon will accelerate innovation at Virginia's largest public research university, including by helping Mason innovate and build on the vast portfolio of AWS Cloud technologies and solutions,” said Paul Misener, vice president for global innovation policy and communications at Amazon. “This is just the beginning of a powerful collaboration that not only will improve student outcomes, but also will create a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable future for the university.”

The newly announced projects will add to an already strong collaborative effort between Mason, AWS, and Amazon to support students and innovation.

A just-completed hackathon co-hosted by Mason and Amazon, a project based out of the university’s Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia, challenged teams from U.S. and international academic institutions, companies, and other affiliations to develop innovative ideas to improve public-private collaborations against the industry-wide global challenge of counterfeiting.

Mason Square is also the future home of Mason’s Fuse building, a 345,000-square-foot facility that will open in 2025 as the flagship tech hub for digital innovation, showcasing the power of partnerships in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, connecting students, faculty, industry, and government.

Additionally, AWS’ Girls Tech Day in Northern Virginia was held at Mason’s Science and Technology Campus with the goal of inspiring girls and women to pursue careers in the technology sector. And Mason President Gregory Washington recently participated in a panel discussion, hosted by Amazon, that focused on workforce development and the future of work.

“��ӽ紫ý has proven to be a leading education institution in the nation’s capital for a number of years,” said Kim Majerus, vice president, U.S. education, state and local government at AWS. “As one of the first universities to launch a cloud computing degree program, Mason has always seen how the power of technology can help meet mission outcomes. This collaboration will be transformative in showing the positive impact technology can have on the education community across the nation, as well as advance research in cybersecurity, defense, and military intelligence for public-sector leaders.”

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All eyes on machine learning

Rena Malai — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 18:39:30 +0000

All eyes on machine learning Rena Malai Wed, 02/23/2022 - 13:39

In This Story

Qi Wei

The human eye may soon see faster diagnosis with machine learning, or AI. Through algorithms, AI can potentially assess eye alignment problems quickly, resulting in better treatment of double vision.

This is a recent finding from a $1.8 million research grant funded by the National Institutes of Health. Qi Wei, an associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering at ��ӽ紫ý, is one of four principal investigators researching treatments for strabismus and double vision through the grant.

In a previous article that introduced the grant, Wei is helping to develop a data-driven computer model of the eye for diagnosing and treating strabismus. Applying machine learning is an exciting new development, she says.

“From an engineering perspective, the use of machine learning leverages and integrates data on a higher level,” says Wei. “It could become a tool or platform to help physicians diagnose eye problems.”

Although there is promise, it’s not necessarily an easy or immediate fix, says Wei. Usually, machine learning models work better when trained by more data. MRI is still the gold standard to confirm specific causes of strabismus, but this evaluation is not routinely obtained in most strabismic patients.

“When it comes to imaging, most eye doctors do not prescribe MRI for their patients before strabismus surgery, sometimes because of the cost of the imaging,” says Wei. “While the machine learning method for interpreting office measurements of eye alignment is not expensive, the MRI machine is.”

There is also the chance of error with AI, and a diagnosis that’s not perfectly accurate.

The use of machine learning will be further demonstrated at the annual American Association for Pediatric Opthamology and Strabismus conference in March in Scottsdale, Arizona. Along with Wei, Dr. Joseph Demer, professor of pediatric ophthalmology and professor of neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles will coordinate a diagnostic show-down where patient strabismus cases will be presented. Over 100 ophthalmologists from around the world will be invited to compare their diagnosis to the AI diagnosis in real time. Then the true reveal from a high-performance MRI scan will be disclosed. It will show if the quick draw of expert eye doctors is as accurate as computerized AI.

“We hope this is a fun and hands-on approach to test the AI theory and receive feedback from experts in the field,” says Wei.

Topics

College of Engineering and Computing

Bioengineering

crossed eyed

Machine Learning

Future agricultural workers learn technological farming practices

Martha Bushong — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 13:41:42 +0000

Future agricultural workers learn technological farming practices Martha Bushong Tue, 06/22/2021 - 09:41

The proliferation of technology, in particular emerging platforms and services that deploy sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI), creates opportunities for improving society.

Through a new large collaborative grant funded by the National Science Foundation, Aditya Johri, professor in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology, will work with researchers from Iowa State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on use-inspired research to address one of the world’s grand challenges‑‑sustainably feeding the nearly 9 billion people who will inhabit the Earth by 2050.

The project will use Cyber-Physical System (CPS) capabilities such as sensors, in conjunction with AI, machine learning, and robotics to conduct plant-level sensing, modeling, and reasoning to help improve their agricultural practices.

The collaboration between computer scientists, electrical and mechanical engineers, agriculture specialists, and computing and engineering education experts provides a unique multidisciplinary opportunity, says Johri. “This project addresses the Computing for All emphasis within computing education and will study how we can convey the complexities of what computing makes possible to more people,” he says.

Johri conducts research on technology workforce development. He says, “If we want to reap the benefits of AI equitably, we have to understand the actual needs of users and then translate research into practices that work for them. We accelerate this process by educating the end-user about how AI might serve their needs.”

To facilitate broader acceptance of this project’s technical work, the team will leverage a robust workforce development and training framework to connect with farmers and agriculture extension staff. In addition to research on workforce training, the project will also engage with the larger CPS community and the public for its broadening participation and outreach efforts.

Johri’s work on the project is supported by an NSF-funded $5 million multi-institutional effort ($400,000 to Mason) through the CPS program. Led by Principal Investigator Soumik Sarkar of Iowa State University, the project also includes a significant collaboration with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This project constitutes a Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Frontier award, the single largest CPS award that the Foundation makes in any year.

NSF Abstract # 1954556 CPS: Frontier: Collaborative Research: COALESCE: Context-Aware Learning for Sustainable Cyber-Agricultural Systems

Topics

Artificial Intellgence

Machine Learning

Sustainability Research

College of Engineering and Computing

Symptoms and Movement Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic

dhawkin — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 21:55:42 +0000

Symptoms and Movement Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic dhawkin Mon, 02/22/2021 - 16:55

In This Story

Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD

How can we better understand how people move during the pandemic and how they spread COVID-19? Dr. Janusz Wojtusiak, associate professor of health informatics and director of the Machine Learning Inference Lab is leading one of the first individual-level studies on social distancing.

Participants use the Mason COVID Health Check^TM to record symptoms of possible COVID-19 infection and GPS and WiFi data to provide information on how they move during the pandemic. This allows the researchers to model and predict movements during the pandemic and in conjunction with any reported possible COVID-19 symptoms. This could help inform effective public health interventions to reduce infection.

Initial findings from the first wave of the study, including data collected through September 2020, were published in the Journal of Healthcare Informatics Research. Wojtusiak and colleagues found that headache was the most frequently reported symptom and headache was always listed as a symptom when any other symptoms were reported. The next most commonly reported symptoms were cough and sore throat.

Movement patterns varied among participants, with some only going out for essential trips while others moved about more. As a group, movement was consistent over the study period, which included a period when Virginia was under a stay-at-home order and when it was not. Participants traveled a total average of 139 miles per week, visiting an average of less than six locations per week. This low average mileage and number of sites visited does suggest that COVID-19-related restrictions affected their movement. However, they also found that even when participants reported symptoms of COVID-19 or contact with others with COVID-19, they did not change their movements as recommended by public health guidance.

This research is possible thanks to the dedication of study participants who share their data to allow for movement modeling. Recruitment of Mason faculty, staff, and students for the second wave of the study has begun. Learn more and sign up: https://www.mli.gmu.edu/sd/.

��ӽ紫ý has a very low COVID-19 infection rate, and during the period none of the study participants reported COVID-19 infection, so researchers weren’t able to link COVID-19 positive tests and movement. Future analysis will include data from the 2020 winter so may provide more information on movement after COVID-19 infection. The researchers will also conduct surveys and interviews to provide richer data including reasons for complying or not complying with social distancing.

In a related study supported by the National Cancer Institute, Wojtusiak’s team analyzed individual movements of people on campus. Such micro-scale movements within buildings can be modeled using WiFi data collected each time a mobile phone or laptop is connected to the internet. In over 150 simulated scenarios they were able to reconstruct movements of volunteers within Mason’s Peterson Hall. This technology is intended to support contact elicitation as part of contact tracing for COVID-19 or other infectious diseases.

Promising preliminary results show that the technology can change how public health officials think about contact tracing. Tests are now being conducted across other locations on Fairfax campus. You can learn more about the project at https://www.mli.gmu.edu/wifi.