Emulation of epidemics via Bluetooth-based virtual safe virus spread: Experimental setup, software, and data

Abstract

We describe an experimental setup and a currently running experiment for evaluating how physical interactions over time and between individuals affect the spread of epidemics. Our experiment involves the voluntary use of the Safe Blues Android app by participants at The University of Auckland (UoA) City Campus in New Zealand. The app spreads multiple virtual safe virus strands via Bluetooth depending on the physical proximity of the subjects. The evolution of the virtual epidemics is recorded as they spread through the population. The data is presented as a real-time (and historical) dashboard. A simulation model is applied to calibrate strand parameters. Participants’ locations are not recorded, but participants are rewarded based on the duration of participation within a geofenced area, and aggregate participation numbers serve as part of the data. The 2021 experimental data is available as an open-source anonymized dataset, and once the experiment is complete, the remaining data will be made available. This paper outlines the experimental setup, software, subject-recruitment practices, ethical considerations, and dataset description. The paper also highlights current experimental results in view of the lockdown that started in New Zealand at 23:59 on August 17, 2021. The experiment was initially planned in the New Zealand environment, expected to be free of COVID and lockdowns after 2020. However, a COVID Delta strain lockdown shuffled the cards and the experiment is currently extended into 2022.

Emerging data inputs for infectious diseases surveillance and decision making

“…Similarly, field experiments require a large number of participants making such experiments challenging to implement. This is highlighted by the lengthy disruption in the Safe Blues experiment due to the lockdown started during August 2021 in New Zealand ( 36 ). Furthermore, the results of these studies are restricted to specific populations, and may not be useful for different population groups or locations.…”

“…The app also collects proximity of participants' devices through Bluetooth and location via GPS. Participants were informed about an estimate of the number of encounters they made and a real-time visualization of the spread of virtual SEIR type diseases in the contact network (34). The Safe Blues experiment 7 is a similar study, which took place at the University of Auckland during 2021-2022 (35,36), examining how physical interactions affect the spread of diseases.…”

“…Participants were informed about an estimate of the number of encounters they made and a real-time visualization of the spread of virtual SEIR type diseases in the contact network ( 34 ). The Safe Blues experiment 7 is a similar study, which took place at the University of Auckland during 2021–2022 ( 35 , 36 ), examining how physical interactions affect the spread of diseases. The Safe Blues Android app spreads multiple safe virtual virus strands via Bluetooth based on individual’s physical proximity, with strands mimicking the behavior of biological viruses.…”