Dr Benjamin Jacob has a background in spatial statistics with specific training and expertise in real-time geo-spatial artificial intelligence (geo-AI)] and machine learning. Also, he has a background in applied regression (e.g., Poisson, negative binomial etc.) and non-spatial statistics. His research includes real-time, seasonal, predictive, vulnerability mapping environmental landscape changes associated with various vector arthropods (e.g., Similium damnosum s.l. black flies for onchocerciasis, Anopheles gambiae s.l. malaria mosquitoes Aedes aegypti mosquitoes for Zika and dengue etc). Dr. Jacob recieved his PHD in Spatial Mathematics at Tulane. He served as a research assistant professor at the School of Medicine at the University of Birmingham at Alabama. His literature contributions employ eigen-spatial filtering approaches which focus on non-parametrically removing residual zero autocorrelation and other non-Gaussiansim (i.e., heteroscedascitic and or multicollinear covariates in Markovian, semi-parametric, eigen-Bayesian, eigenvector eigen-space, etc.) in public health, epidemiological, time series models for constructing (a) spatially lagged autoregressive models and (b) simultaneous signature autoregressive models constructed from diagnostic, clinical, field and remote/unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) or drone sampled, georeferenced, sentinel site, time sensitive, epidemiological signature covariates. Dr. Jacob’s real time UAV-iOS applications[apps]are based on a infused region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN) embedded in an interactive intelligent app. He has successfully merged a Cascade region proposal network (RPN) and Fast R-CNN [i.e., a machine learning classifier] within a dashboard web-configurable app to build capture point, seasonal, aquatic, vector larval habitat, sentinel site, signatures by classifying potential endemic, landscape capture points (e.g., edges of riverine tributary, agro-pastureland ecosystems,) fDr. Jacob has created two real time integrated vector management programs for geo-spatiotemporally targeting seasonal hyperendemic, sentinel site, capture points using interactive real time dashboards (i.e., Slash and Clear [S & C] for onchocerciasis and Seek and Destroy [S&D for malaria]. Dr Anthony J Masys is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, University of South Florida and a senior fellow at the USF Global and National Security Institute (GNSI). A former senior military officer and defence scientist with the Department of National Defence, Dr. Masys is an experienced academic, innovator, facilitator and thought leader working at the intersection of wicked problems, social innovation and applied systems thinking, futures thinking and design thinking. Dr. Masys has conducted research, lectures and workshops across 5 continents working with various government stakeholders in support of disaster risk reduction and design of resilience strategies for security and public safety. Dr. Masys has a BSc in Physics and MSc in Underwater Acoustics and Oceanography from the Royal Military College of Canada and a PhD from the University of Leicester. He is Editor-in-Chief of Springer Book Series: 'Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications'. He has published extensively in the domains of physics and the social sciences and has published over 23 books pertaining to the application of systems thinking on topics ranging from Global Health Security, human security, disaster risk reduction and resilience.
