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Geographic Information Systems

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Public Health Informatics and Information Systems

Part of the book series: Health Informatics ((HI))

Abstract

Geographic information systems provide powerful tools that can enable public health practitioners to analyze and visualize data and to make informed decisions in a timely and relevant manner. Since the publication of the first edition of Public Health Informatics and Information Systems, GIS has become increasingly more accessible and widely used. It has also become more powerful as new applications are developed and more spatial statistics are incorporated into GIS software programs. Many public health professionals—in epidemiology and disease surveillance, environmental health, and community assessment—are using GIS as a tool for analysis and decision-making. While the educational background of such professionals often does not include GIS, it is important for these GIS users to understand basic geographic and GIS concepts and to be able to interpret and critically analyze GIS maps created by others. Eventually, as such part-time GIS users become more familiar with the technology and its wide range of applications, they will go beyond mapping and begin to use GIS for more sophisticated forms of spatial analysis. However, GIS users must recognize that GIS is not a panacea; they must be aware of its limitations. Some of these limitations are tied to issues of map scale and the accuracy and completeness of available data; others concern the proper use of visualization and spatial analysis tools.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Carol L. Hanchette PhD

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  1. Carol L. Hanchette PhD
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Correspondence to Carol L. Hanchette PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Informatics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

    J.A. Magnuson

  2. Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA

    Paul C. Fu, Jr.

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag London

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Hanchette, C.L. (2014). Geographic Information Systems. In: Magnuson, J., Fu, Jr., P. (eds) Public Health Informatics and Information Systems. Health Informatics. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4237-9_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4237-9_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4236-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4237-9

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