Cellphone COVID Forecasting

Another example from Cellphone data, had seen previous examples that were unsuccessful 

COVID Forecasting Method Using Hospital, Cellphone Data Can Reliably Guide U.S. Cities Through Pandemic Threats

University of Texas at Austin News, February 2, 2022

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) developed a forecasting model and two public-facing dashboards that use cellphone mobility data and COVID-19 hospital admissions data to forecast regional hospital demands. The models and dashboards have been used for nearly two years to manage healthcare resources, maintain sufficient hospital capacity, and inform the public about pandemic risks. Using intuitive graphics and spaghetti lines from hurricane forecasting (computer models that show potential tropical cyclone paths), the dashboards display immediate and future risks of COVID-19’s spread. The model, which uses anonymized cellphone mobility data from SafeGraph, can be adapted to project COVID-19 healthcare needs three weeks in advance for any U.S. city. UT's Spencer Fox said, "Community movement data helps us gauge changing COVID-19 transmission risks and anticipate healthcare surges several weeks in advance."  ....