Multiple data sources are used in a variety of biosurveillance systems. With the advent of new technologies, globalization, high performance computing, and "big data" opportunities, there are seemingly unlimited potential data streams that could be useful in biosurveillance. Data streams have not been universally defined in either the literature or by specific biosurveillance systems. The definitions and framework that we have developed enable a characterization methodology that facilitates understanding of data streams and can be universally applicable for use in evaluating and understanding a wide range of biosurveillance activities- filling a gap recognized in both the public health and biosurveillance communities.
Objective
To develop a data stream-centric framework that can be used to systematically categorize data streams useful for biosurveillance systems, supporting comparative analysis