On Shape-mediated analysis of spatiotemporal distributions

This research describes a new general framework to automate object-based analysis of a spatiotemporal property of a study phenomenon. Raw data is smoothly interpolated to provide a temporal series of surfaces represented as digital images. From each time sample, objects of activity are automatically extracted. These objects may be queried to provide spatial properties and shape descriptive Tchebichef moments. Objects close together from adjacent time samples are associated together to effectively track the phenomenon’s property through space and time. A complete series of tracked objects, from spontaneous appearance to eventual disappearance is termed a Phenomenon Event, and is used principally as a means to analyse how various aspects, such as the raw value or centre of mass of the phenomenon’s property changes over time.<br/><br/>Data sources of secondary, possibly explanatory variables, called covariates, are queried and processed in conjunction with the study phenomenon’s data. By correlating properties between covariate objects and phenomenon objects, the nature of any relationship between them may be examined.<br/><br/>This general framework was developed using weekly surveillance of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) cases at participating general practitioners (GPs) across France since 1988 as the study phenomenon. Covariate data came in the form of three hourly weather observations at locations across France. These two disparate datasources expose the generality of the framework, as the Influenza data are digital images on disc, and the Covariate data are network accessed raw values stored in a database.<br/><br/>This novel approach employs modern shape description techniques from Computer Vision accompanied by geographical methods and traditional statistics. Such a treatment of surveillance data is new to epidemiology, and we hope it will provide a new perspective in the analyis of public health.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Ph.D.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Southampton

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Thorpe, Daniel

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Nixon, Mark
• Atkinson, Peter