Leveraging geographic information systems (GIS) for environmental public health practice
Abstract
Advances in geographic information systems (GIS) over the last few decades have enabled innovative solutions to long-standing challenges in environmental public health (EPH) research and practice. GIS is a powerful tool because it allows users to combine different types of spatial information to examine how variables interact and influence individuals and populations.
Despite the potential utility of GIS, knowledge and use among EPH researchers and practitioners varies about its many applications. The aim of this commentary is to highlight how GIS can improve EPH practice and provide information for Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), Environmental Health Officers (EHOs), and managers about incorporating GIS into their work. We begin by defining GIS and providing a primer on spatial data and spatial analytics; we then use these concepts and link them to three real-world examples of how GIS has been used for EPH practice.
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