EPITIME: A Computational Framework for Integral Epidemic Models with Structure-Preserving Discretizations
Bruno Buonomo, Eleonora Messina, Claudia Panico, Mario Pezzella, Gaetano Zanghirati
TLDR
EPITIME is a computational framework for integral epidemic models using structure-preserving discretizations, ensuring accurate simulations.
Key contributions
- Introduces EPITIME, a computational framework for integral epidemic models (age of infection, behavioral).
- Uses structure-preserving Non-Standard Finite Difference discretizations for robust simulations.
- Preserves key qualitative properties (positivity, boundedness) of continuous models regardless of time step.
- Demonstrates use with COVID-19 data for infectivity kernel reconstruction and behavioral dynamics.
Why it matters
This paper matters because EPITIME offers a reliable and accessible tool for studying complex epidemic dynamics. Its structure-preserving methods ensure simulation accuracy, crucial for public health modeling. It enables better understanding and prediction of disease spread and behavioral responses.
Original Abstract
We present EPITIME (EPidemic Integral models TIMe profile Explorer), a computational framework for the simulation of two classes of integral epidemic models: an age of infection model and an information dependent behavioural model. The framework combines structure preserving Non-Standard Finite Difference discretizations with modular implementations in MATLAB and Python, together with routines for parameter handling, input validation, performance assessment, and graphical interaction. The proposed methods preserve key qualitative properties of the continuous problems, including positivity, boundedness, invariant regions, and correct long term behaviour, independently of the time step. We outline the numerical schemes for both model classes and their main analytical properties, including first order convergence. We then describe the software architecture and illustrate its use through numerical experiments on asymptotic behaviour, inverse reconstruction of an infectivity kernel from COVID 19 incidence data, and behavioural dynamics under different memory kernels. Overall, EPITIME provides a reliable and accessible computational environment for the numerical study of renewal epidemic models.
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