Overview of Mapping Applications in Health Research
April 30, 2009Office of MaineCare Services
Helen Hemminger Muskie School [email protected]
Maps in Public HealthIn 1854, John Snow used a map to show a pattern of cholera cases within a neighborhood in London. His maps led to the investigation of certain water pumps as the source of the outbreak.
Geographic Information SystemsGeographic Information Systems
GIS
Software
Hardware
Data
“Humanware”
A computerA computer--based tool for representing, analyzing,based tool for representing, analyzing,and communicating geographical informationand communicating geographical information
Why GIS?
The power of a GIS over paper maps is the ability to select particular layers of information as needed.
GIS allows different “layers” of spatial data to be selected, organized, linked, correlated and more.
In your research, would it be helpful to…Show where your research takes place (locator map)Visualize your data (both quantitative or site locations)Look for regional disparitiesExplore data relative to other layers of information (spatial correlation)Find records according to geographic variables…distance from, along routes, within targeted area (spatial selection)
Perform risk analysis or predict based on multiple factors including “where” (predictive modeling) Find minimum routes (network analysis.)
Then GIS may be a tool you want to know more about.
Example of Custom Locator Map
Example of map to visualize where mental health centers, federal qualified health centers and primary care sites are located.
Example of a Map Showing Regional Patterns
YorkSebago
YarmouthSanford
South PortlandParsonsfield
ScarboroughNewfield
PownalLimerick
North Yarmouth
Lebanon
Long IslandHarrison
FalmouthCornish
EliotCasco
CumberlandBridgton
Cape ElizabethBaldwin
LowestHighest
Data: Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, 2006
Example of Visualizing \Data:This map was used to help Community Service Networks look at whether their region was densely populated, sparsely populated or a mixture of both.
Example of a Series of Maps Showing Changes Over Time
Maps created from data in Feb ’09 DHHS report to the legislature
Incidence of Lyme Disease, Maine, 2005-2008*
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2005 2006 2007 2008Year
Rat
e pe
r 100
,000
Number of Reported Lyme Diseae Cases by County of Residence, Maine, 2005-2008*
0306090
120150180210240270300
Andr
osco
ggin
Aroo
stook
Cumbe
rland
Fran
klin
Hanco
ckKe
nneb
ecKn
oxLin
coln
Oxford
Peno
bsco
tPi
scat
aquis
Saga
daho
cSo
mer
set
Wald
oW
ashin
gton
York
Num
ber o
f Cas
es
2005 2006 2007 2008*
Same Data Using Graphs to Visualize the Data
These graphs were in the DHHS report to the legislature
Example of Using Multiple Layers of Data
Where should an additional juvenile drug treatment court be located?
Look for green dots in counties and towns with high levels of drug arrests.
Example of Selecting Records to Analyze