Critiquing Geographic Information
Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to present your data allows you to not only present data points but also gives you the chance of storing, analyzing, and presenting data in a graphic form that could be used by many different audiences. Many different programs and institutions use GIS to present information and interact with the public. As we explored earlier in this course, biosurveillance and syndromic surveillance use GIS as one tool to provide situational awareness to its users, and many public and private agencies in different levels (national and local) use different mapping solutions to present data.
For this Discussion, you will critique health data from a GIS.
To prepare:
Research the web for a map of health data from a GIS.
Post a critique of the map you selected and the health data it represents. Include the following in your post:
The map image
Describe the map (including: the outcome reported, main findings, and interpretation of the map)
Your critique of the map, describing its strengths and weaknesses
Support your post with additional scholarly resources. Use APA formatting for your Discussion and to cite your resources.
References:
Shi, L., & Johnson, J. A. (Eds.). (2014). Novick & Morrows public health administration: Principles for population-based management (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Chapter 14, Geographic Information Systems for Public Health (pp. 289312)
Ankersen, R., & Richardson, K. (2014). Helping hearts: Interactive atlas deciphers where heart attacks and strokes occur and who is at risk. Esri News for Health & Human Services Winter 2013/2014, 67. Retrieved from http://www.esri.com/~/media/Files/Pdfs/library/newsletters/health/winter-2013-2014.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Geographic information systems (GIS) at CDC. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/gis/
Chanda, E., Mukonka, V. M., Mthembu, D., Kamuliwo, M., Coetzer, S., & Shinondo, C. J. (2012). Can GIS help fight the spread of malaria? ArcNews. Retrieved from http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall12articles/can-gis-help-fight-the-spread-of-malaria.html
Community Commons. (n.d.). Maps & data. Retrieved from http://www.communitycommons.org/maps-data/
Ostchega, Y., Zhang, G., Sorlie, P., Hughes, J. P., Reed-Gillette, D. S., Nwankwo, T., & Yoon, S. (2012). Blood pressure randomized methodology study comparing automatic oscillometric and mercury sphygmomanometer devices: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 20092010. National Health Statistics Reports, no 59. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr059.pdf
Pratt, M., Moore, H., & Craig, T. (2014). Solving a public health problem using location-allocation. ArcUser Magazine, Summer 2014, 5659. Retrieved from http://www.esri.com/~/media/Files/Pdfs/news/arcuser/0614/solving-a-public-health-problem.pdf
University of Reading Statistical Services Centre. (2000). Informative presentation of tables, graphs and statistics. Retrieved from http://www.reading.ac.uk/ssc/n/resources/Docs/PresentationOfTablesGraphsAndStatistics.pdf
Vertices. (n.d.). HealthMap.com Blog. Retrieved from http://healthmap.wordpress.com/
