Géosimulation multi-niveau de phénomènes complexes basés sur les multiples interactions spatio-temporelles de nombreux acteurs : développement d'un outil générique d'aide à la décision pour la propagation des zoonoses

Nous proposons dans cette thèse une nouvelle approche de géosimulation multi-niveau permettant de simuler la propagation d’une zoonose (maladie infectieuse qui se transmet des animaux aux humains) à différents niveaux de granularité. Cette approche est caractérisée entre autres par l’utilisation d’un modèle théorique original que nous avons nommé MASTIM (Multi-Actor Spatio-Temporal Interaction Model) permettant de simuler des populations contenant un nombre considérable d’individus en utilisant des modèles compartimentaux enrichis. MASTIM permet de spécifier non seulement l’évolution de ces populations, mais également les aspects relatifs aux interactions spatio-temporelles de ces populations incluant leurs déplacements dans l’environnement de simulation géoréférencé. Notre approche de géosimulation multi-niveau est caractérisée également par l’utilisation d’un environnement géographique virtuel informé (IVGE) qui est composé d’un ensemble de cellules élémentaires dans lesquelles les transitions des différents stades biologiques des populations concernées, ainsi que leurs interactions peuvent être plausiblement simulées. Par ailleurs, nous avons appliqué nos travaux de recherche au développement d’outils d’aide à la décision. Nous avons acquis une première expérience avec le développement d’un outil (WNV-MAGS) dont l’objectif principal est de simuler les comportements des populations de moustiques (Culex) et des oiseaux (corneilles) qui sont impliquées dans la propagation du Virus du Nil Occidental (VNO). Nous avons par la suite participé au développement d’un outil générique (Zoonosis-MAGS) qui peut être utilisé pour simuler la propagation d'une variété de zoonoses telles que la maladie de Lyme et le VNO. Ces outils pourraient fournir des informations utiles aux décideurs de la santé publique et les aider à prendre des décisions informées. En outre, nous pensons que nos travaux de recherche peuvent être appliqués non seulement au phénomène de la propagation des zoonoses, mais également à d’autres phénomènes faisant intervenir des interactions spatio-temporelles entre différents acteurs de plusieurs types.We propose in this thesis a new multi-level geosimulation approach to simulate the spread of a zoonosis (infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans) at different levels of granularity. This approach is characterized by using an original theoretical model named MASTIM (Multi-Actor Spatio-Temporal Interaction Model) which can be applied to simulate populations containing a huge number of individuals using extended compartmental models. MASTIM may specify not only the evolution of these populations, but also the aspects related to their spatio-temporal interactions, including their movements in the simulated georeferenced environment. Our multi-level geosimulation approach take advantage of an informed virtual geographic environment (IVGE) composed of a set of elementary cells in which the transitions of the different biological stages of the involved populations, as well as their interactions can be simulated plausibly. Furthermore, this approach has been applied to develop decision support tools. We got a first experience with the development of WNV-MAGS, a tool whose main purpose is to simulate the populations’ behavior of mosquitoes (Culex) and birds (crows), which are involved in the spread of West Nile Virus (WNV). We subsequently participated in the development of a generic tool (Zoonosis-MAGS) that can be used to simulate the spread of a variety of zoonoses such as Lyme disease and WNV. These tools may provide useful information to help public health officers to make informed decisions. Besides, we believe that this research can be applied not only to the spread of zoonoses, but also to other phenomena involving spatio-temporal interactions between different actors of different types

The geosimulation of West Nile virus propagation: a multi-agent and climate sensitive tool for risk management in public health

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 1999, the expansion of the West Nile virus (WNV) epizooty has led public health authorities to build and operate surveillance systems in North America. These systems are very useful to collect data, but cannot be used to forecast the probable spread of the virus in coming years. Such forecasts, if proven reliable, would permit preventive measures to be put into place at the appropriate level of expected risk and at the appropriate time. It is within this context that the Multi-Agent GeoSimulation approach has been selected to develop a system that simulates the interactions of populations of mosquitoes and birds over space and time in relation to the spread and transmission of WNV. This simulation takes place in a virtual mapping environment representing a large administrative territory (e.g. province, state) and carried out under various climate scenarios in order to simulate the effects of vector control measures such as larviciding at scales of 1/20 000 or smaller.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After setting some hypotheses, a conceptual model and system architecture were developed to describe the population dynamics and interactions of mosquitoes (genus <it>Culex</it>) and American crows, which were chosen as the main actors in the simulation. Based on a mathematical compartment model used to simulate the population dynamics, an operational prototype was developed for the Southern part of Quebec (Canada). The system allows users to modify the parameters of the model, to select various climate and larviciding scenarios, to visualize on a digital map the progression (on a weekly or daily basis) of the infection in and around the crows' roosts and to generate graphs showing the evolution of the populations. The basic units for visualisation are municipalities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In all likelihood this system might be used to support short term decision-making related to WNV vector control measures, including the use of larvicides, according to climatic scenarios. Once fully calibrated in several real-life contexts, this promising approach opens the door to the study and management of other zoonotic diseases such as Lyme disease.</p