Project GRENSimpact

The project GRENSimpact aims to analyse the transmission dynamics of a pandemic in selected border regions and visualise its impact in a scientific way. This visualisation of the pandemic will provide insights to enable effective public health policies and prevention measures tailored to the needs of the border regions.

Focus of the project

The primary objective is to investigate the transmission of pandemics, particularly focusing on the cross-border transmission within the selected border regions. By utilizing science-based geographical maps and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis methods, the project aims to gain insights into how pandemics spread across the border region, with a special emphasis on understanding mobility patterns and their impact on infection spread.

Research

The research will use publicly available quantitative data collected during the pandemic, to analyse and visualise spatial processes, with a focus on cross-border transmission patterns. It covers four Euroregions bordering North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) and Flanders (Belgium):

• EUREGIO,
• Euregio Rhine-Waal,
• Euregio Rhine-Meuse North, and
• Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

Activities

1. Preparation: Assembling a multidisciplinary team, retrieving and assessing datasets, exploring data availability for Influenza A.
2. Data Collection: Collection and preparation of datasets, performing analysis using appropriate methods.
3. Analysis of Results: Creating cartographic visualizations, interpreting results, and writing recommendations based on the analysis.
4. Disseminating Results: Reporting findings to stakeholders, writing scientific publications, and creating fact sheets in multiple languages for wider dissemination.