The broad patterns of contacts in a population may not be sufficient to inform detailed epidemiological models, in particular if they aim to be applied to a specific situation. Instead of these contact rates, we show that detailed field-data about pedestrian interactions in given settings can be collected empirically and combined with spatially resolved models of viral transmission via respiratory droplets to infer the risks of new infections raised in each situation. Redesigning strategies to mitigate viral spread can then be assessed.