Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries
Urban cemeteries are increasingly surrounded by areas of high residential density as urbanization continues world-wide. With increasing rates of mortality caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, urban vertical cemeteries are experiencing interments at an unprecedented rate. Corpses interred in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Geoscience Frontiers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987121001742 |
| _version_ | 1797705814844112896 |
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| author | Paloma Carollo Toscan Alcindo Neckel Laércio Stolfo Maculan Cleiton Korcelski Marcos L.S. Oliveira Eliane Thaines Bodah Brian William Bodah Henrique Aniceto Kujawa Affonso Celso Gonçalves |
| author_facet | Paloma Carollo Toscan Alcindo Neckel Laércio Stolfo Maculan Cleiton Korcelski Marcos L.S. Oliveira Eliane Thaines Bodah Brian William Bodah Henrique Aniceto Kujawa Affonso Celso Gonçalves |
| author_sort | Paloma Carollo Toscan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urban cemeteries are increasingly surrounded by areas of high residential density as urbanization continues world-wide. With increasing rates of mortality caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, urban vertical cemeteries are experiencing interments at an unprecedented rate. Corpses interred in the 3rd to 5th layer of vertical urban cemeteries have the potential to contaminate large adjacent regions. The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the reflectance of altimetry, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST) in the urban cemeteries and neighbouring areas of the City of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is assumed that the population residing in the vicinity of these cemeteries may be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 contamination through the displacement of microparticles carried by the wind as a corpse is placed in the burial niche or during the first several days of subsequent fluid and gas release through the process of decomposition. The reflectance analyses were performed utilizing Landsat 8 satellite images applied to altimetry, NDVI and LST, for hypothetical examination of possible displacement, transport and subsequent deposition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The results showed that two cemeteries within the city, cemeteries A and B could potentially transport SARS-CoV-2 of nanometric structure to neighboring residential areas through wind action. These two cemeteries are located at high relative altitudes in more densely populated regions of the city. The NDVI, which has been shown to control the proliferation of contaminants, proved to be insufficient in these areas, contributing to high LST values. Based on the results of this study, the formation and implementation of public policies that monitor urban cemeteries is suggested in areas that utilize vertical urban cemeteries in order to reduce the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:41:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d67fcaab5a7c46b19fb5c3f3700165e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1674-9871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:41:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoscience Frontiers |
| spelling | doaj.art-d67fcaab5a7c46b19fb5c3f3700165e32023-09-03T05:57:17ZengElsevierGeoscience Frontiers1674-98712022-11-01136101310Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteriesPaloma Carollo Toscan0Alcindo Neckel1Laércio Stolfo Maculan2Cleiton Korcelski3Marcos L.S. Oliveira4Eliane Thaines Bodah5Brian William Bodah6Henrique Aniceto Kujawa7Affonso Celso Gonçalves8Faculdade Meridional, IMED, 304, Passo Fundo, RS 99070-220, BrazilFaculdade Meridional, IMED, 304, Passo Fundo, RS 99070-220, Brazil; Corresponding author.Faculdade Meridional, IMED, 304, Passo Fundo, RS 99070-220, BrazilFaculdade Meridional, IMED, 304, Passo Fundo, RS 99070-220, BrazilDepartment of Civil and Environmental, Universidad de la Costa, CUC, Calle 58 # 55–66, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia; Universidad de Lima, Departamento de Ingeniería civil y Arquitectura, Avenida Javier Prado Este 4600, Santiago de Surco 1503, PeruState University of New York, Onondaga Community College, 4585 West Seneca, Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215, USA; Thaines and Bodah Center for Education and Development, 840 South Meadowlark Lane, Othello, WA 99344, USAThaines and Bodah Center for Education and Development, 840 South Meadowlark Lane, Othello, WA 99344, USAUniversity of Perugia, Piazza Università, 1, 06123 Perugia, ItalyState University of Western Paraná – UNIOESTE, Center of Agrarian Sciences, Rua Pernambuco, 1777, Centro, Marechal Cândido Rondon, PR 85960-000, BrazilUrban cemeteries are increasingly surrounded by areas of high residential density as urbanization continues world-wide. With increasing rates of mortality caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, urban vertical cemeteries are experiencing interments at an unprecedented rate. Corpses interred in the 3rd to 5th layer of vertical urban cemeteries have the potential to contaminate large adjacent regions. The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the reflectance of altimetry, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST) in the urban cemeteries and neighbouring areas of the City of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is assumed that the population residing in the vicinity of these cemeteries may be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 contamination through the displacement of microparticles carried by the wind as a corpse is placed in the burial niche or during the first several days of subsequent fluid and gas release through the process of decomposition. The reflectance analyses were performed utilizing Landsat 8 satellite images applied to altimetry, NDVI and LST, for hypothetical examination of possible displacement, transport and subsequent deposition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The results showed that two cemeteries within the city, cemeteries A and B could potentially transport SARS-CoV-2 of nanometric structure to neighboring residential areas through wind action. These two cemeteries are located at high relative altitudes in more densely populated regions of the city. The NDVI, which has been shown to control the proliferation of contaminants, proved to be insufficient in these areas, contributing to high LST values. Based on the results of this study, the formation and implementation of public policies that monitor urban cemeteries is suggested in areas that utilize vertical urban cemeteries in order to reduce the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987121001742Remote sensingReflectance temperatureAtmospheric contaminationUrban environmentSARS-CoV-2 |
| spellingShingle | Paloma Carollo Toscan Alcindo Neckel Laércio Stolfo Maculan Cleiton Korcelski Marcos L.S. Oliveira Eliane Thaines Bodah Brian William Bodah Henrique Aniceto Kujawa Affonso Celso Gonçalves Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries Geoscience Frontiers Remote sensing Reflectance temperature Atmospheric contamination Urban environment SARS-CoV-2 |
| title | Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries |
| title_full | Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries |
| title_fullStr | Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries |
| title_short | Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries |
| title_sort | use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by sars cov 2 in urban cemeteries |
| topic | Remote sensing Reflectance temperature Atmospheric contamination Urban environment SARS-CoV-2 |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987121001742 |
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