{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,16]],"date-time":"2026-03-16T18:18:20Z","timestamp":1773685100318,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":13,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,16]],"date-time":"2026-03-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773619200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"\n Objective<\/jats:title>\n The purpose of the current studies was to use direct observation and surveys to assess behavioral risk on a college campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n Study 1 used direct observation to monitor safe and at-risk mask-wearing behavior across multiple campus locations and whether mask-wearing differed when individuals were alone or in groups. Study 2 surveyed college students through a click-based campus map survey to identify high- and low-mask-wearing locations on campus and create data heat maps indicating at-risk behaviors. Direct observation analyses were then used to verify the identified locations.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n Study 1 revealed that mask-wearing was likely during a mask-wearing policy implemented across the college campus. However, mask-wearing was less likely when people were in groups than alone. Study 2 showed that survey responses and the heat map analysis identified spatially distinct locations of perceived high and low mask-wearing. These data were validated through direct observation, verifying high and low mask-wearing at the identified locations.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Survey heat maps paired with direct observation can help identify specific locations where safe and at-risk behaviors are most likely to occur. By identifying special patterns of risk, this comprehensive approach offers actionable information to guide interventions, policy enforcement, and resource allocation during health epidemics.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0343811","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,16]],"date-time":"2026-03-16T17:23:04Z","timestamp":1773681784000},"page":"e0343811","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Risk identification strategies for health pandemics and epidemics on college campuses: A comprehensive analysis of heat maps and behavioral observations"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0195-5186","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Matthew M.","family":"Laske","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Abigail 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