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Article: Check up! GIS supports diverse human health applications.
- Article from:
- GEO World
- Article date:
- November 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Bev-AL Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CRITICAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE AND MANAGEMENT. GEOTECHNOLOGIES--INCLUDING GIS, GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM(GPS), REMOTE SENSING AND OTHERS--DEPICT RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ENVIRONMENT, BEHAVIOR, HEALTH AND DISEASE IN UNIQUE WAYS. THE POTENTIAL IS ONLY BEGINNING TO BE UNLEASHED. AND THE POSSIBILITIES ARE IMMENSE.
Spatial Advantages
Health GIS applications can be broadly classified into three areas: 1) the spatial properties of health delivery systems and their accessibility, 2) the concomitant use and planning of health-care services, and 3) studies of the spatial distribution of diseases or health outcomes and ...