Applications of GIS [geographic information systems] technology to disease control

This booklet focuses on the application of GIS to the epidemiology of infectious diseases, particularly in Africa. It begins by describing the four major subsets of GIS and the five roles a GIS can play -- for data collection/storage, data management, data querying, modeling, and decision making. Technical aspects of GIS are examined next, including methods for gathering and structuring data; data sources include administrative records of public agencies, surveys, and remotely sensed data from satellite imagery. While surveys have been the main source of data for GIS"s to date, remote sensing holds great potential for epidemiology in Africa, and possible applications are discussed in some depth. Following this is a short discussion of the implementation of a GIS within an organization. Applications of a GIS, while limited to date, have included tracking vectors that carry diseases such as Rift Valley fever and trypanosomiasis. The application of GIS to the epidemiology of malaria, onchocerciasis, and AIDS may be key areas for the future. Finally, the role of GIS in the public health decision making process is discussed; linking the science of GIS to real-life social and health issues is essential. Includes references, and an appendix describing six GIS software packages -- MapInfo, MapInfo for Windows, IDRISI, GisPlus, pcArc/Info, and SPANS.