Impact of Human Mobility of COVID-19 Epidemic in Kuala Lumpur using GIS

Abstract

During the third COVID-19 wave in Malaysia, the Ministry of Health suggested a complete lockdown (Movement Control Order-MCO). However, tracking people's movements would help curb the virus' spread. Movement data helps companies uncover human mobility patterns, analyse present and previous movement patterns, and anticipate future consequences. GIS can generate flow maps, themed maps, and flow charts. GIS can show people moving from one site to another and study the link between people moving and land usage. This work utilised GIS to predict and construct lockdown zones based on human mobility. Between November and December 2020, it was also used to tour the most popular places. A survey of 380 Malaysians was undertaken. At the same time, Mysejahtera apps provided data on people's movements. This research was done in Kuala Lumpur and the respondents' data was arranged into an excel document. Then, the GIS programme simulated human activity and plotted regions with a "likely increase in ratio/speed of infection." Between November and December 2020 (RMCO time), everyday movements of Kuala Lumpur people might be utilised to apply "restrictive measures for COVID-19 containment". Instead of a nationwide lockdown, these locations should be targeted for localised lockdowns. So, the government should concentrate on a smart lockdown strategy to prevent catastrophic economic devastation. This research also helped health authorities and governments minimise mobility by optimising the allocation of the most frequented areas concerning population density. This method helped control the pandemic more efficiently and scientifically.