Mapping Health on the Internet

Abstract

This thesis is situated in the converging fields of geographic information systems (GIS), multimedia applications on the World Wide Web, and public health surveillance. Recent technological advances in multimedia and GIS software have enabled public health organizations to distribute health maps over the Web, potentially allowing remote users to perform queries and analytical operations. Both static maps and interactive analysis may improve public health through targeted health surveillance and subsequent interventions. The thesis reviews privacy, technological, and cartographic issues related to distributing health data over the Web and evaluates 30 existing sites, allowing for a representative sample of the current state of Web health mapping and suggestions for future health-GIS sites. Most of the sites reviewed were technically sound, but offered little or no opportunity for users to design maps and carry out analyses. The few interactive sites now online allowed for simple queries. Based on ongoing research, we will demonstrate a prototype site that allows for increased interactive use by remote users. Research shows public health officials are concerned about costs involved in incorporating new technology, such as GIS, into their work. The prototype website was created using free software to minimize costs and focuses on asthma, socioeconomic and air pollution data from Hamilton, Ontario. Upon completion the prototype site was tested by target users during a focus group at McMaster University. Survey results from the focus group reiterate findings from the literature. The majority of respondents are interested in incorporating GIS, openGIS and spatial data, but they are concerned of the costs involved with new software. Complete results from the survey administered and how the results led to changes in the original prototype are documented.