Compared to the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003, the development of big data has played an outstanding role in building solid epidemic prevention with the support of the Internet during the current novel coronavirus epidemic. 

It can collect, store and analyze data in huge quantities scattered in diverse formats. With its results, relevant administrations can find problems and their trends. People can also search for information about the epidemic such as whether they are close contacts or if flights have infected patients aboard.

With the accelerated progress of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, big data technology has also seen rapid growth. At the same time, smartphone Internet users reached 99.1 percent of the total at 854 million. So telecommunication operators and major Internet companies with user information can successfully provide data during disease prevention and control.

For instance, China Telecom has adopted the technology to analyze the mobility of its customers visiting Hubei Province in central China to support the government in making decisions and early warnings.

It is also used to reduce personnel flow and create huge convenience for infected disease control.

Many provinces have carried out services online. Enterprises are encouraged to organize video conferences and use online office platforms instead of workers commuting to offices. Schools have launched online courses since they have delayed reopening. In addition, big data also contributes to the guarantee and allocation of supplies.

In fact, the outbreak also offers an opportunity to test the social application of advanced technologies such as big data, AI and cloud computing.

So we should enhance the capacity of solving public health events and risks, and further promote the progress of big data. It is expected that more innovative development can be achieved for big data with more competitive advantages.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Workers' Daily on February 12)