Epidemiological-survey-based multidimensional modeling for understanding daily mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic across urban-rural gradient in the Chinese mainland

Human mobility survey data usually suffer from a lack of resources for validation. Epidemiological records, which are released to the public as containment measure by local authorities, provide place visitation details validated authority. This study collected and analyzed epidemiological reports published governments in Chinese mainland, between January 2020 November 2021. To reveal patterns during COVID-19 pandemic across urban-rural gradient China’s we derived key indicators rural megacities. We then applied exploratory factor analysis identify latent factors that affected people’s mobility. found poses varying impacts middle small cities more influenced. Our results also showed did not enlarge gender gap mobility, was significant driving explaining quantity out-of-home activities well extent life space, while age group city levels were significant. Overall, argue valuable sources daily modeling, especially relevant studies understand human pandemic.