Overview of Mapping Applications in Health Research

April 30, 2009Office of MaineCare Services

Helen Hemminger Muskie School hhemminger@usm.maine.edu

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

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r 100

,000

Number of Reported Lyme Diseae Cases by County of Residence, Maine, 2005-2008*

0306090

120150180210240270300

Andr

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Cumbe

rland

Fran

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Hanco

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Oxford

Peno

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aquis

Saga

daho

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Wald

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ashin

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York

Num

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f Cas

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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