Satellite data and epidemic cartography: a study of the relationship between the concentration of NO2 and the COVID-19 epidemic

Satellite data are widely used to study the spatial component of epidemics: to monitor their evolution, to create epidemiological risk maps and predictive models. The improvement of data quality, not only in technical terms but also of scientific relevance and robustness, represents in this context one of the most important aspects for health information technology that can make further significant and useful progress in monitoring and managing epidemics. In this regard, this paper intends to address an issue that is not always adequately considered in the use of satellite data for the creation of maps and spatial models of epidemics, namely the preliminary verification of the level of spatial correlation between remote sensing environmental variables and epidemics. Specifically, we intend to evaluate the contribution of exposure to the pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on the spatial spread of the virus and the severity of the current COVID infection.