Dissertation#
My dissertation research is focused on general patterns in mobility and its applications for epidemiology, ecology, and sociology.
I. Hot-spot disease superspreading#
Many diseases spread more readily in certain “hot-spot” locations, like bars and restaurants. Some people go more frequently to these hot-spots, which creates a risk structure in the population. This project investigates this particular risk structure, taking advantage of known patterns in human mobility.
II. Emergent trail networks#
When a person or animal walk through rough terrain, they flatten it down, making it easier for subsequent travelers to walk the same way. When multiple individuals walk between multiple destinations, this positive feedback leads to the emergence of a network of trails. This project investigates the topology, dynamics, stability and other properties of such emergent trail networks using a computational modeling approach.
III. Scales of Animal Mobility#
I’m working to expand upon the approach taken in The scales of human mobility, to look for scales in animal mobility, and to investigate anthropological invariants.
Selected publications#
Althouse, B.M., Wallace, B., Case, B.K.M. et al. The unintended consequences of inconsistent closure policies and mobility restrictions during epidemics. BMC Global Public Health 1, 28 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-023-00028-z
M. Nunkesser, B. Wallace, S. Stylianidou, inventors; Google Llc., applicant; Machine learning model for predicting speed based on vehicle type; World Patent WO 2019/112566 A1, filed December 5, 2017, and issued June 13, 2019.