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Geographic Information Systems, more commonly known as GIS, are computer-based
decision support systems that link geographic information with descriptive information.
The main feature of GIS is the ability to display geospatial representations
of data in map format. These maps help policy makers anticipate future outcomes
and allow them to analyze data. For example, data on demographic, socioeconomic
and disease prevalence for individuals residing in certain counties can be entered
as in a GIS system. Each of the data fields would receive its own layer. All
of the layers could be superimposed on census maps to display the data to track
disease incidence In a certain area. The use of GIS is exploding in the public
health arena.
Overview of GIS
GIS.com: http://www.gis.com Developed
by ESRI, the leading maker of GIS software, this site provides an excellent introduction
to GIS.
Public Health Applications
Cancer Mortality Maps and Graphs: http://www3.cancer.gov/atlasplus/ Provides
interactive maps, graphs, text, tables and figures showing geographic patterns
and time trends of cancer death rates for the time period 1950-1994 for more
than 40 cancers
CDC/USGS West Nile Virus Maps: http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov/ Contains
maps detailing county-level human, mosquito, veterinary, avian and sentinel data
and information on West Nile Virus outbreaks.
EPA EnviroMapper: http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/em/index.html
Allows users to map various types of environmental information, including air
releases, drinking water, toxic releases, hazardous wastes, water discharge permits,
and Superfund sites.
FEMA Mapping and Analysis Center: http://www.gismaps.fema.gov/ Provides
national level GIS support and maps for natural disasters including Hurricanes
Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
Geographic Products and Information
Census 2000: http://www.census.gov/geo/www/census2k.html An
index to data files and maps based on the 2000 Census. This site also provides
a link to TIGER, an automatic digital mapping database from the US Census Bureau.
Injury Maps
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/maps/default.htm CDC
Injury Center's interactive mapping system, Injury Maps allows users to create
county-level and state-level maps of age-adjusted mortality rates for the entire
US and for individual states.
Interactive Atlas of Reproductive Health: http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/gisatlas/ A
web-based interactive geographic information system (GIS) dedicated to reproductive
health issues such as infant mortality, fertility, and low birth weight.
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) GIS and Public Health: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/gis.htm Designed
to provide information on GIS at NCHS and in the larger public health community,
you can access current or past reports of Public Health GIS News and Information,
selected maps, and links to related sites.
USGS Geography: http://geography.usgs.gov/ This
website from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) contains a variety of mapping
and geographic resources. Several federal agencies create maps using USGS data.
World Health Organization Public Health Mapping: http://www.who.int/csr/mapping/en/ The
system allows the computer-assisted visualization of disease foci, the monitoring
of newly infected or reinfected villages, the identification of at-risk populations,
and the highly targeted, cost-effective distribution of interventions.
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