Health

Geospatial methods have established their value in health research and in public health practice over the last 30 years, but there remains great potential for developing the role of these methods in health even further. This presentation outlines key geospatial concepts and their relevance to a broad range of issues in health research design, from study site selection and sampling to data acquisition and analysis to dissemination of findings to research protections for human subjects. The lecture includes an introduction to global and local spatial statistics, spatial regression models, and models of spatially varying processes. The presentation suggests ways to make health research more spatial and better able to uncover from the vast data available the key configurations of factors that come together in particular places to affect our health.

The fourth and final episode explores geospatial technology around the world: monitoring global climate change, preventing famine, tracking disease and mapping communities never before seen on a map.

Interactive maps developed by Michigan State University researchers show, rather than simply tell, how urban residents are losing access to fresh produce.