Leveraging the Supercomputer Fugaku for the Assessment of Droplet/Aerosol Transmission Risks in COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts

Abstract

This work delves into the significant advancements in epidemiological modeling and public health policy driven by detailed, quantitative analyses of COVID-19 aerosol transmission utilizing the capabilities of the supercomputer Fugaku, the world's fastest supercomputer in 2020. By integrating novel computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques integrated in the multi-physics solver CUBE, we achieved scalable, high-resolution simulations essential for modeling micrometer-sized virus-containing aerosols, revolutionizing our understanding of transmission risks in various societal contexts. This innovation significantly reduced the time-to-solution for these intricate simulations and allowed for the quick creation of digital twins that captured a broad range of social scenarios with substantial transmission risks. These efforts required a significant amount of computational resources, which were provided for through Fugaku, during COVID-19. The detailed transmission risk assessments that were produced through this work had a significant impact on public health policies and public behavior throughout Japan, exemplifying a pivotal shift in the digital transformation of epidemiology and the proactive management of pandemic-related challenges. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.