Glossary
- contact layers
- Each of the layers of the population network that is a representation of all of the
pairwise connections between people in a given location, such as school, work, or households.
- node
- In network theory, the discrete object being represented. In SynthPops, nodes represent
people and can have attributes like age assigned.
- edge
- In network theory, the interactions between discrete objects. In SynthPops, edges represent
interactions between people, with attributes like the setting in which the interactions take
place (for example, household, school, or work). The relationship between the
interaction setting and properties governing disease transmission, such as frequency of
contact and risk associated with each contact, is mapped separately by Covasim or other
agent-based model. SynthPops reports whether the edge exists or not.
- agent-based model
- A type of simulation that models the actions and interactions of autonomous agents (both
individual and collective entities such as organizations or groups).
- time step
- A discrete number of hours or days in which the “simulation states” of all “simulation
objects” (interventions, infections, immune systems, or individuals) are updated in a
simulation. Each time step will complete processing before launching the next one. For
example, a time step would process the migration data for populations moving between nodes
via rail, airline, and road. The migration of individuals between nodes is the last step of
the time step after updating states.
- household contact layer
- The layer in the population network that represents all of the pairwise connections between
people in households. All people must be part of the household contact layer, though some
households may consist of a single person.
- school contact layer
- The layer in the population network that represents all of the pairwise connections between
people in schools. This includes both students and teachers. The school and workplace contact
layers are mutually exclusive, someone cannot be both a student and a worker.
- workplace contact layer
- The layer in the population network that represents all of the pairwise connections between
people in workplaces excluding teachers in schools. The school and workplace contact
layers are mutually exclusive, someone cannot be both a student and a worker.