During the COVID-19 pandemic, Essex County Health Officer Maya Harlow wished she had a crystal ball that could predict where COVID cases were originating to prevent infection before it happened.

When she became the founding director of the Essex County Office of Public Health Management in 2021, Harlow settled for the next best thing: data and emerging technology.

In 2023, her department began using geospatial artificial intelligence and machine learning technology built by the software company Esri to tackle a wide variety of public health issues, ranging from rodent complaints to flu outbreaks. The same technology was used as the backbone for the iconic Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard. It’s no crystal ball, but it’s a start.

“At the end of the day, COVID taught us all that being reactive, sometimes it’s not good enough and what we need to do is be proactive,” Harlow said. “This is a tool for us to be proactive in public health.”

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The health division started out by mapping lead cases and lead levels in Bloomfield, one of Essex County’s largest cities with a diverse dataset of nearly 56,000 people. The map helped officials identify and address locations with high potential for lead exposure. The county then sent nurses to schools in those areas to speak with parents and share educational resources.

“It allowed us to really take our health resources and deploy them in a more useful way,” Harlow said.

In another case, health officials sat down with Bloomfield first responders who said they wanted to know when most calls came in and where they originated.

Mapping data from the last three years, officials found a high volume of calls from 9 p.m. – 12 a.m., concentrated in certain areas. Harlow said the volunteer squad might use the information to recruit volunteers who live closer to high-volume parts of town.

Essex County is also using the technology to make predictions about the flu, which is currently spreading in New Jersey and throughout the country.

Using data from New Jersey’s Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System, officials were able to determine the areas with the most risk for flu — locations near public transportation — as well as the ages most impacted by the flu — adults 25-35 years old.

Based on those findings, officials collaborated with NJ Transit this year to host a series of flu clinics at train stations in Bloomfield for the first time.

They’ve even used enhanced technology to tackle pest control. By comparing monthly rodent complaints with climate data, officials determined that complaints tend to increase in wet and humid weather. They also mapped the areas of Bloomfield with the most rodent complaints.

Sagal Patel, the chief registered environmental health specialist in Bloomfield, said the town increased rodent inspections and cracked down on garbage enforcement in parts of town with the most complaints.

“What we saw is that if we did proactive surveillance and enforcement, the number of complaints that we got in over the last year has actually reduced,” said Patel.

Patel said the town originally hired a private pest control service to address the issue. But after seeing results through the targeted proactive enforcement, they canceled the contract, saving the town thousands of dollars.

“We’ll continue to collect the data and if we have to relocate where we have to target and move on from there, we will,” Patel said.

The total cost to onboard the Esri platform was approximately $200,000, according to Anthony Puglisi, public information director for Essex County.

The funding came from a county infrastructure grant received from the New Jersey Department of Health. The county pays an annual licensing and maintenance fee of approximately $30,000 to continue using the platform.

The investment was supported by County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

“We understood the importance of having a proactive public health program before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and were in the process of reinvigorating our office,” DiVincenzo said in a statement. “GIS mapping is a progressive tool we can use to promote wellness, prepare and develop defenses against health threats. I am proud that we were able to partner with Bloomfield to implement this initiative and demonstrate how valuable an asset it is.”

The innovation comes at a time when AI is expanding. But with the increased use of AI, concerns have also arisen about its accuracy and privacy.

Essex County officials said their program ensures accuracy by using vetted data that comes from the state database. The information is also protected and not public facing. It’s only accessible to Essex County division of health employees and designated individuals, who use it to inform public health decisions.

“This is a tool. This is not a replacement for public health,” said Harlow.