IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i17p11007-d905564.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Overview of the Role of Spatial Factors in Indoor SARS-CoV-2 Transmission: A Space-Based Framework for Assessing the Multi-Route Infection Risk

Author

Listed:
  • Qi Zhen

    (School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Anxiao Zhang

    (School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Qiong Huang

    (School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Jing Li

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Yiming Du

    (School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Qi Zhang

    (School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted from 2019 to 2022, severely disrupting human health and daily life. The combined effects of spatial, environmental, and behavioral factors on indoor COVID-19 spread and their interactions are usually ignored. Especially, there is a lack of discussion on the role of spatial factors in reducing the risk of virus transmission in complex and diverse indoor environments. This paper endeavours to summarize the spatial factors and their effects involved in indoor virus transmission. The process of release, transport, and intake of SARS-CoV-2 was reviewed, and six transmission routes according to spatial distance and exposure way were classified. The triangular relationship between spatial, environmental and occupant behavioral parameters during virus transmission was discussed. The detailed effects of spatial parameters on droplet-based, surface-based and air-based transmission processes and virus viability were summarized. We found that spatial layout, public-facility design and openings have a significant indirect impact on the indoor virus distribution and transmission by affecting occupant behavior, indoor airflow field and virus stability. We proposed a space-based indoor multi-route infection risk assessment framework, in which the 3D building model containing detailed spatial information, occupant behavior model, virus-spread model and infection-risk calculation model are linked together. It is also applicable to other, similar, respiratory infectious diseases such as SARS, influenza, etc. This study contributes to developing building-level, infection-risk assessment models, which could help building practitioners make better decisions to improve the building’s epidemic-resistance performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Qi Zhen & Anxiao Zhang & Qiong Huang & Jing Li & Yiming Du & Qi Zhang, 2022. "Overview of the Role of Spatial Factors in Indoor SARS-CoV-2 Transmission: A Space-Based Framework for Assessing the Multi-Route Infection Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-38, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:11007-:d:905564
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/11007/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/11007/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Toker, Umut & Gray, Denis O., 2008. "Innovation spaces: Workspace planning and innovation in U.S. university research centers," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 309-329, March.
    2. Mark Nicas, 1996. "An Analytical Framework for Relating Dose, Risk, and Incidence: An Application to Occupational Tuberculosis Infection," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), pages 527-538, August.
    3. Anxiao Zhang & Regina Bokel & Andy Van den Dobbelsteen & Yanchen Sun & Qiong Huang & Qi Zhang, 2017. "The Effect of Geometry Parameters on Energy and Thermal Performance of School Buildings in Cold Climates of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Bosina, Ernst & Weidmann, Ulrich, 2017. "Estimating pedestrian speed using aggregated literature data," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 468(C), pages 1-29.
    5. Iqbal, Muhammad Zahid & Campbell, Abraham G., 2021. "From luxury to necessity: Progress of touchless interaction technology," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    6. Mark Nicas & Rachael M. Jones, 2009. "Relative Contributions of Four Exposure Pathways to Influenza Infection Risk," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(9), pages 1292-1303, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nan Zhang & Yuguo Li, 2018. "Transmission of Influenza A in a Student Office Based on Realistic Person-to-Person Contact and Surface Touch Behaviour," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Domhnall Melly & Emmet McLoughlin & Kelly Maguire, 2023. "Emerging Venue Considerations for Event Management: The Case of Ireland," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Ralf R. Küsel & Ian K. Craig & Anton C. Stoltz, 2019. "Modeling the Airborne Infection Risk of Tuberculosis for a Research Facility in eMalahleni, South Africa," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(3), pages 630-646, March.
    4. Lei Peng & Ruiying Jia, 2023. "Exploring the Interplay of the Physical Environment and Organizational Climate in Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Huang, Shenshi & Zhang, Teng & Lo, Siuming & Lu, Shouxiang & Li, Changhai, 2018. "Experimental study of individual and single-file pedestrian movement in narrow seat aisle," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 509(C), pages 1023-1033.
    6. Marek Franěk & Lukáš Režný, 2021. "Environmental Features Influence Walking Speed: The Effect of Urban Greenery," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Szu‐Chieh Chen & Chung‐Min Liao & Sih‐Syuan Li & Shu‐Han You, 2011. "A Probabilistic Transmission Model to Assess Infection Risk from Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Commercial Passenger Trains," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(6), pages 930-939, June.
    8. Mark Nicas & Edmund Seto, 1997. "A Simulation Model for Occupational Tuberculosis Transmission," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(5), pages 609-616, October.
    9. Matthew Baggetta & Brad R. Fulton & Zoe Caplan, 2022. "Space and Interaction in Civil Society Organizations: An Exploratory Study in a US City," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(3), pages 307-318.
    10. Altaf, Aqsa & Hassan, Ibn e & Batool, Sana, 2019. "The role of ORIC in the evolution of the triple helix culture of innovation: The case of Pakistan," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 157-166.
    11. Dr. Sara Sarwari & Tanvir Ahmed Minar, 2024. "Covid 19: Resilience-Building Strategies for Elevating Customer Satisfaction in the Luxury Hotel Industry," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(4), pages 940-959, April.
    12. Wang, Xinjian & Liu, Zhengjiang & Wang, Jin & Loughney, Sean & Yang, Zaili & Gao, Xiaowei, 2021. "Experimental study on individual walking speed during emergency evacuation with the influence of ship motion," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 562(C).
    13. Rachael M. Jones & Elodie Adida, 2011. "Influenza Infection Risk and Predominate Exposure Route: Uncertainty Analysis," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(10), pages 1622-1631, October.
    14. Ponomariov, Branco L. & Boardman, P. Craig, 2010. "Influencing scientists' collaboration and productivity patterns through new institutions: University research centers and scientific and technical human capital," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 613-624, June.
    15. Athanasia Apostolopoulou & Mingyu Zhu & Jiayi Jin, 2023. "Parametric Assessment of Building Heating Demand for Different Levels of Details and User Comfort Levels: A Case Study in London, UK," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-29, May.
    16. Rachael M. Jones, 2011. "Critical Review and Uncertainty Analysis of Factors Influencing Influenza Transmission," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(8), pages 1226-1242, August.
    17. Haghani, Milad, 2021. "The knowledge domain of crowd dynamics: Anatomy of the field, pioneering studies, temporal trends, influential entities and outside-domain impact," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 580(C).
    18. Ljiljana Đukanović & Dušan Ignjatović & Nataša Ćuković Ignjatović & Aleksandar Rajčić & Nevena Lukić & Bojana Zeković, 2022. "Energy Refurbishment of Serbian School Building Stock—A Typology Tool Methodology Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    19. Yuang Guo & Dewancker Bart, 2020. "Optimization of Design Parameters for Office Buildings with Climatic Adaptability Based on Energy Demand and Thermal Comfort," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, April.
    20. Carla Balocco & Alessandro Colaianni, 2018. "Modelling of Reversible Plant System Operations in a Cultural Heritage School Building for Indoor Thermal Comfort," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-16, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:11007-:d:905564. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.