Leveraging the Supercomputer Fugaku for the Assessment of Droplet/Aerosol Transmission Risks in COVID‐19 Mitigation Efforts

Abstract

This work delves into the significant advancements in epidemiological modeling and public health policy driven by detailed, quantitative analyses of COVID‐19 aerosol transmission utilizing the capabilities of the supercomputer Fugaku, the world's fastest supercomputer in 2020. By integrating novel computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques integrated in the multi‐physics solver CUBE, we achieved scalable, high‐resolution simulations essential for modeling micrometer‐sized virus‐containing aerosols, revolutionizing our understanding of transmission risks in various societal contexts. This innovation significantly reduced the time‐to‐solution for these intricate simulations and allowed for the quick creation of digital twins that captured a broad range of social scenarios with substantial transmission risks. These efforts required a significant amount of computational resources, which were provided for through Fugaku, during COVID‐19. The detailed transmission risk assessments that were produced through this work had a significant impact on public health policies and public behavior throughout Japan, exemplifying a pivotal shift in the digital transformation of epidemiology and the proactive management of pandemic‐related challenges. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.