GIS and Public Health

Geographic Information Science (GIS) allows for capturing, managing, analyzing and displaying all manner of geographically referenced information in the form of maps. The Public Health Department utilizes GIS to better understand the distribution of health and disease in communities, access to Health Department services, and other public health concerns.

GIS links

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/gis.htm - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) GIS site

http://www.who.int/health_mapping/en/ - World Health Organization (WHO) site for GIS tools, data and resources

http://www.esri.com/industries/health/business/publichealth.html - ESRI site on Public Health and the use of GIS

GIS datasets

http://lib.calpoly.edu:8080/gis/ Cal-Poly maintained site with links to many local GIS datasets

http://www.esri.com/data/download/census2000_tigerline/index.html - 2000 Census Tiger/Line data

SLO PHA maps:

West Nile Virus Activity Maps

WNV Positive Birds - 2005 (PDF)

WNV Positive Birds - 2007 (PDF)

Coccidioidmycosis (Valley Fever) map – 2000-2007> (PDF 149Kb)

The PHD Epidemiology unit has limited availability to assist in the production of GIS maps that further the mission of the PHD. Before you make such a request, please visit the SLO Datafinder site hosted by Cal-Poly to see if the local data you are seeking is already posted online.

If you would like to see a particular set of local Public Health Data in GIS format, please contact the SLO County Epidemiologist with a detailed request proposal, including your name, contact information, data set to be mapped, timeframe of data to be mapped, proposed usage of data, source of data (if known), and justification for request. Each request will be evaluated by the Epidemiologist and Communicable Disease Program Manager to see if the request furthers the mission of the Public Health Department and fits within the priorities of the Epidemiology unit.

Email: amcdowell@co.slo.ca.us