Application of Computational and Digital Epidemiology in Public Health

Dear Colleagues,    

We have entered a new and exciting era for epidemiology and public health. Artificial intelligence, smart mobile devices, sensors, and advanced modeling methods are examples of new tools available to study and address complex public health issues. Machine learning methodologies, for example, are used to detect disease patterns in health, demographic and social factors data. Smartphones are used for self-assessment of disease symptoms and contact tracing, and intelligent sensors are used for real-time detection and identification of viruses.

The global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic provided an opportunity to rapidly develop and apply innovative computational and digital epidemiology approaches for disease surveillance, intervention efficacy evaluation, and modeling of multifactorial data influencing public health-related behaviors and outcomes. The use of existing and novel technologies during the pandemic also generated discussion of ethical concerns such as algorithmic bias, privacy, and fairness.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on cutting-edge technological advancements in computational and digital epidemiology in public health. Topics include practical applications in public health decision making, planning, and response to the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with relevance for future public health crises. This Special Issue will also report on ethical considerations to inform future policy decisions. 

Dr. David D. Luxton
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• informatics
• artificial intelligence
• machine learning
• computational epidemiology
• spatio-temporal epidemiology