• Question: How do you "create models to show where vulnerable people are"?

    Asked by to Becky on 13 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Becky Martin

      Becky Martin answered on 13 Mar 2014:


      Good question!

      I use loads of different data sources about where people are during their day-to-day lives. A lot of it comes from the Census, but I also use transport, health, leisure, tourism and education data too!

      Check out the UK Office for National Statistics site, where you can put in your postcode and see what sort of people live in your area – It gives you a nice example of some of my data that I use:

      http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/

      When I make my models I apply time profiles to this information, to understand where people are. I also work with something called demographic data, which tells you about different population subgroups, such as women or older people.

      We know that some demographics are more vulnerable – For instance, children have a smaller body mass to surface area, and their cells grow more rapidly, so we know that they are at greater risk from exposure to radiation and they should be a priority for evacuation. My model helps us to see where they are.

      This information is used to show where my populations are in space and time for specific slices! The really exciting stuff happens when I use my agent based modelling to show how the populations could move in space and time, for evacuation! 🙂

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