Similarly, when Dengue broke out again Pakistan in 2013, the call data of 40 million Telenor Pakistan subscribers was used to understand its geographical spread and timing.
Assisting with Forced Migration
Sanyal says that forced migration is another area where CDR analysis can be used. It provides a solid base for policymakers, local administration, and scientific researchers to study and understand displacement.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHR), the number of displaced people is at its highest rate ever. Migrants often seek asylum in a foreign country to escape civil war or political persecution in their home country. In the period between 2015 and 2016, 2.3 million refugees and asylum seekers arrived in Europe, constituting the biggest ever influx of migrants into the continent since World War II.
Human Migration in Nepal following an Earthquake
Displaced people are the most vulnerable in the aftermath of a disaster or epidemic. Sanyal says that real-time insights on population movement can help to direct relief work more efficiently, and effectively. Following the 2015 Earthquake in Nepal, the data of 12 million NCell subscribers was used to obtain insights on national level population movement. The Insights and maps were made available to humanitarian organizations, helping them to streamline their aid and humanitarian efforts.
