Background More than 80,000 dengue cases including 215 deaths were reported nationally in less than 7 months between 2016 and 2017, a fourfold increase in the number of reported cases compared to the average number over 2010–2016. The region of Negombo, located in the Western province, experienced the greatest number of dengue cases in the country and is the focus area of our study, where we aim to capture the spatial-temporal dynamics of dengue transmission. Methods We present a statistical modeling framework to evaluate the spatial-temporal dynamics of the 2016–2017 dengue outbreak in the Negombo region of Sri Lanka as a function of human mobility, land-use, and climate patterns. The analysis was conducted at a 1 km × 1 km spatial resolution and a weekly temporal resolution. Results Our results indicate human mobility to be a stronger indicator for local outbreak clusters than land-use or climate variables. The minimum daily temperature was identified as the most influential climate variable on dengue cases in the region; while among the set of land-use patterns considered, urban areas were found to be most prone to dengue outbreak, followed by areas with stagnant water and then coastal areas. The results are shown to be robust across spatial resolutions. Conclusions Our study highlights the potential value of using travel data to target vector control within a region. In addition to illustrating the relative relationship between various potential risk factors for dengue outbreaks, the results of our study can be used to inform where and when new cases of dengue are likely to occur within a region, and thus help more effectively and innovatively, plan for disease surveillance and vector control.

1Background: More than 80,000 dengue cases including 215 deaths were reported nationally in less than 2 seven months between 2016-2017, a fourfold increase in the number of reported cases compared to the 3 average number over 2010-2016. The region of Negombo, located in the Western province, experienced 4 the greatest number of dengue cases in the country and is the focus area of our study, where we aim to 5 capture the spatial-temporal dynamics of dengue transmission. 6 Methods:We present a statistical modeling framework to evaluate the spatial-temporal dynamics of the 7 2016-2017 dengue outbreak in the Negombo region of Sri Lanka as a function of human mobility, land-8 use, and climate patterns. The analysis was conducted at a 1 km × 1 km spatial resolution and a weekly 9 temporal resolution. 10 Results:Our results indicate human mobility to be a stronger indicator for local outbreak clusters than 11 land-use or climate variables. The minimum daily temperature was identified as the most influential 12 climate variable on dengue cases in the region; while among the set of land-use patterns considered, urban 13 areas were found to be most prone to dengue outbreak, followed by areas with stagnant water and then 14 coastal areas. The results are shown to be robust across spatial resolutions. 15 Conclusions:Our study highlights the potential value of using travel data to target vector control within a 16region. In addition to illustrating the relative relationship between various potential risk factors for dengue 17 outbreaks, the results of our study can be used to inform where and when new cases of dengue are likely 18 to occur within a region, and thus help more effectively and innovatively, plan for disease surveillance 19 and vector control. 20 21

Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBF) are promoted as alternatives to structural flood protection measures. Progress has been made in understanding the physics and engineering of these systems; however, engineering, ecological, and social barriers to implementation remain. This paper identifies these barriers using the results of a literature review and summary of expert opinion; contrasts the state of the practice of NNBF with traditional structures; and details the main engineering challenges to NNBF implementation, including the uncertainty in current calculation techniques and lack of engineering design guidelines. We suggest that, emergent vegetation systems can be designed with the current body of information, and an example framework is proposed for assessing these systems for their wave attenuation performance. The framework is discussed in the context of risk, and future research priorities are presented.