Article Type: Expert comment

Change is often said to be the only constant in life and COVID-19 is doing all it can to prove this to the world.

On the work front, we are doing our best to ensure the digital resources we have been proving out are used in this moment to help with the public health response to the crisis. Though, we also realize that in times of crisis, it’s also important to take a breath when you can and connect on a different level.

DIAL has developed this introductory brief as the first in a series of materials on using mobile network operator (MNO) data.

As we all adjust to living with the new realities that COVID-19 has brought, we are reminded how fragile our world can be. However, many open source tools and technologies have been developed that are being used to fight this crisis around the world.

2020 ushered in many anticipated technology trends like advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), and the streaming revolution. However, weeks into the new year it became clear things would be overshadowed by the overwhelming onset of a pandemic.

Decision support systems are computer-based systems or subsystems that enhance the ability to use data to identify where decisions need to be made and assist in making them. They have the potential to reduce the burden on decision-makers and help overcome challenges in using data and analysis in decision-making.