CARTO > Case Studies > Leveraging IoT for COVID-19 Preparedness in Rural Communities

Leveraging IoT for COVID-19 Preparedness in Rural Communities

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Big Data Analytics
Analytics & Modeling - Data-as-a-Service

Applicable Industries

Equipment & Machinery

About The Customer

The customer in this case study is the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), an organization dedicated to fostering digital economy ecosystems in rural America. CORI works to bridge the urban-rural digital divide, create resilient, future-proof communities, and ensure that rural Americans can participate in the digital economy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CORI took on the challenge of analyzing the impact of the pandemic on rural communities across the United States. They sought to identify areas in greater need of support and provide insights into the challenges facing these communities.

The Challenge

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) was faced with the challenge of analyzing disparity levels across the United States to identify areas in greater need of support. The pandemic had a significant impact on rural communities, and there was a pressing need to understand the extent of this impact. The challenge was not only to gather relevant data but also to analyze and present it in a way that would provide clear insights into the situation. This included identifying school districts impacted by the lack of broadband availability and counties facing significant employment risks due to the pandemic.

The Solution

To address this challenge, CORI partnered with AppliedXL, STAT, and CARTO to produce a COVID-19 Preparedness Tool. This tool leveraged the power of IoT and data analytics to provide a comprehensive view of the impact of the pandemic on rural communities. CARTO's mapping and data analytics capabilities were used to create maps that provided greater clarity into the ways COVID-19 was affecting rural America. These maps identified the school districts being impacted by the lack of broadband availability and highlighted the counties facing significant employment risks. The tool and maps were designed to be easily understood and shared, making them a valuable resource for local leaders, officials, and media personnel.

Operational Impact

The COVID-19 Preparedness Tool developed by CORI, in partnership with AppliedXL, STAT, and CARTO, had a significant operational impact. The tool and the maps created using CARTO's mapping and data analytics capabilities received an overwhelmingly positive response. They were widely shared by local leaders and officials who wanted to support their communities, and by members of the media who sought to better understand the challenges facing rural America. The tool provided valuable insights into the impact of the pandemic on rural communities, helping to identify areas in need of support and highlighting the challenges faced by these communities.