Open Access
17
The applications of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) to vector-borne and helminthic diseases have progressed far beyond the pretty pictures which dominated their early use. As Wood et al. indicate in the last chapter, the number of papers in the area has increased drastically over the last decade, in number and sophistication. The editors of this special volume of Advances in Parasitology have been in the forefront of applying statistical and biological approaches to the mapping of vector-borne diseases and have brought together experts to review existing knowledge, identify gaps in understanding, and describe future applications of these powerful approaches. This book is a timely overview of satellite imagery, GIS, and spatial statistics. The emphasis is on vector-borne diseases, with one chapter devoted to helminthic diseases. With the exception of the chapter on spatial statistic and GIS, there is little mention of other epidemiologic applications (e.g., GIS and cancer, AIDS, and environmental health). The book is divided into three parts: three introductory chapters describing the methodology; four chapters which review the applications and provide examples from the authors’ experiences in studying African trypanosomiases, malaria, tick-borne diseases, and human helminthic diseases; and three concluding chapters which describe environmental variables, disease risk forecasting, and the education about and future of remote sensing in human health. Although remote sensing, GIS, and spatial statistics have been reviewed separately elsewhere, the encompassing review, the inclusion of lists of URLs, and the extensive references make the introductory chapters timely and instructive for new users. The audiences that will benefit most from the book include researchers and public health administrators who want to integrate these tools into research, surveillance, and control efforts. This audience, as well as more experienced users, can gain much from the chapters that provide examples of specific applications derived from deep understanding of the biology of disease. The chapters by Rogers, Randolph, and Brooker and Michael, in particular, are based their own research and expertise in trypanosomiasis, tick-borne diseases, and helminthic diseases, respectively. Remote sensing and GIS are particularly relevant to emerging infectious diseases. The chapter entitled Forecasting Disease Risk for Epidemic Preparedness provides a road map for developing early warning systems. While this chapter, like the rest of the book, is clearly written by advocates of the applications of remote sensing and GIS, the authors remain aware of critical issues, such as the distinction between statistical and biological models and the notion that insights gained by false negatives and positives predicted by models are as important as successful predictions. Other issues that have hampered more extensive applications of remote sensing and GIS to vector-borne diseases include lack of training, gaps in data (quality and quantity, particularly of epidemiologic and parasitologic data), inadequate tools for data gathering, and limits on management and understanding. This book goes a long way to address these issues and is likely to lead to more and improved applications of remote sensing and GIS.
90A tale of two cities: The role of neighborhood socioeconomic status in spatial clustering of bystander CPR in Austin and Houston
A tale of two cities: The role of neighborhood socioeconomic status in spatial clustering of bystander CPR in Austin and Houston
Read more4Tickborne Diseases in Children in the United States.
1. Jennifer S. Read, MD, MS, MPH, DTM&H*,† 1. *Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT 2. †Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, VT * Abbreviations: CSF: : cerebrospinal fluid EM: : erythema chronicum migrans IFA: : immunofluorescent antibody Ig: : immunoglobulin RMSF: : Rocky Mountain spotted fever PCR: : polymerase chain reaction The most common tick-borne infections in the United States are Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis. The epidemiology of these infections in the United States is integrally related to the geographic distribution and seasonality of the tick vector of each of the infections. Because these infections can be very serious and sometimes fatal, and because of the inherent delay in obtaining laboratory confirmation (especially with serologic assays requiring acute and convalescent titers), considering early implementation of empirical treatment based on the patient’s clinical presentation is extremely important. Prevention of acquisition of tick-borne diseases requires avoiding tick-infested areas or, if this is not possible or desired, implementing steps to decrease the likelihood of tick bites and the duration of tick attachment. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Understand the etiologic organisms and the associated ticks responsible for transmission, the geographic distribution of and the reported infections associated with the ticks in the United States, and the seasonality and incubation periods of tick-borne infections in the United States. 2. Recognize the clinical manifestations and laboratory abnormalities associated with the infections, especially as they relate to children. 3. Plan for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these infections. Vector-borne diseases, caused by microorganisms transmitted by insects and ticks, are major causes of morbidity and mortality globally. In the United States, vector-borne diseases are occurring more frequently and represent a significant public health concern. (1) The numbers of reported vector-borne disease cases in the United States (tick-borne, mosquito-borne, and flea-borne diseases) are shown in Table 1. (1) The reported incidence of vector-borne diseases most likely significantly underestimates the actual occurrence …
Read more19Monitoring environmental indicators of vector-borne disease from space: a new opportunity for RADARSAT-2
Environmental vector-borne diseases are plaguing much of the world and are a serious concern on a global scale. Many of these diseases are clearly associated with specific environmental conditions and landscape variables. The science and technology associated with remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) are suitable for identifying these environmental targets. Since vector-borne diseases are most often found in tropical environments and during rainy seasons with persistent cloud cover conditions, radar is an important sensor for monitoring and mapping the environmental indicators of disease. Preliminary investigations using RADARSAT-1 C-band horizontal transmit, horizontal receive (C-HH) imagery have proven especially useful for identifying wetland habitats and flooded areas. It is anticipated that the advancements associated with upcoming RADARSAT-2 sensors will improve the science of mapping vector-borne disease risk in tropical areas, particularly with access to increased spatial and temporal resolution and fully polarimetric data. This paper discusses the concept of using radar remote sensing for epidemiology applications, results using RADARSAT-1 for malaria risk mapping in coastal Kenya, and expected results with the advanced capabilities of RADARSAT-2.
Read moreApplications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)in Supply Chain Management: Systematic LiteratureReview
Abstract—To date, the knowledge regarding the potential uses of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Supply Chain Management (SCM) and how GIS applications can deliver business benefits are limited. To explore the current uses of GIS in SCM, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted. Three databases (Web of Science, ProQuest, and Business Source Premier) were explored using the PreferredReporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA) methodology. A total of 79 papers were included in the literature review. The combined findings showed that the GIS applications in SCM were a) network/transportation analysis/ routing algorithms (53 papers), b) Location-Allocation Site Search/ Selection (using multiple-criteria decision analysis [MCDA]) (45 papers), c) spatial analysis(people or land) (34 papers), d) connection with optimisation tools (32 papers) and e) visualisation/ monitoring or BuildingInformation Modelling (BIM) (8 papers). The industries and related Supply Chain (SC) domains that used GIS were a)Biomass Biofuel/Wood (33), b) Logistics (22), c)Humanitarian/ Emergency/ Healthcare (10), d) Food/ Agro-Industry (5), e) Petroleum/ Coal/ Shale Gas (3), f) FaecalSludge (2), g) Recycle & product footprint (2) and h)Construction (2). The research case studies took place in 26 countries, and the most prominent GIS software provider wasEsri’s ArcGIS. The findings of the first literature review ofthe GIS applications in SCM showed that many businessindustries have not utilised the GIS capabilities, such asvisualisation, spatial analysis, optimisation, and site research. However, GIS can significantly contribute to SCM decisionmaking by providing answers to cost minimisation, supplierselection, facility location, SC network configuration andasset management. Keywords— Supply Chain Management, Logistics, SystematicLiterature Review, GIS
Read more1GIS and Spatial Statistical Analysis
This chapter examines several typical statements on the role of spatial analysis in geographical information systems (GIS). Spatial analysis will be applied to an ever increasing number of application areas. GIS data manipulation tools will become ever more sophisticated and easier to use. They are already today being included in office software packages such as spreadsheets. Spatial data analysis requires a highly flexible, interactive computing environment which seems to imply relatively tight coupling of the data analysis function with the GIS, and, particularly, with advanced visualisation facilities. A concept that has been developed by Openshaw and his colleagues is that of GI Sable statistics. By this they mean analytical and other approaches that are suited to a world in which computer power, very large data sets, and the availability of GIS should be taken for granted. The chapter concludes that spatial analysis can be defined but that it can refer to several quite distinct approaches to knowledge creation.
Read more2Geospatial Analysis of Covid-19 to Respond to Pandemic Outbreaks: A Case Study in Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand
Coronavirus (Covid-19) has to date (March 29th 2020) infected over 81,000 Chinese citizens, mostly in Hubei Province, since it was first identified in December 2019. It has so far spread to more than 202 countries. On the 31th of March 2020, the total number of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported by Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Thailand is 1524, of which 127 have recovered, 1388 are receiving treatment (17 cases are severe) in healthcare settings and nine have died. Recently Geographic Information System (GIS) provide epidemiologists and public health officers in the surveillance, monitoring and controlling of many infected diseases such as vector-borne diseases or human-to-human transmission diseases in many countries. Particularly it can provide the functions of collecting, updating and managing disease surveillance and related data, such as geographical factor and socio-economic. They are also pertinent to suit the needs of understanding the spatial spread or diffusion of disease outbreak and response for designing the prevention and control strategies. The major objective of this research is to apply the spatial epidemiology approaches for studying COVID-19 patterns and hotspots in Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR), Thailand. The specific objectives are to analyze the COVID-19 patterns in the terms of population and geographic distribution patterns; to detect the COVID-19 incidence rate under different months by using the spatial analysis. This research provides maps to view the pandemic situation of BMR and the provincial level of COVID-19 in particular heat maps and ring maps.
Read moreA Method of Comparative Spatial Analysis of a Digitized (LiDAR) Point Cloud and the Corresponding GIS Database
Creation of a consistent 3D model of a city requires accurate data. Usually, accuracy assurance problems of data are solved by time consuming and expensive process of collecting and aligning with ground control points (GCP). Therefore, alternative methods become important. Using existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases may decrease the time and cost of creating a reference dataset by reducing the number of GCPs required for producing high quality 3D data or GIS databases can serve as reference data. For this purpose, new spatial data analysis methods are needed to assure that GIS databases are of high-quality. In this paper, we propose a novel methodology and its sample development for comparative spatial analysis of digitized point cloud and the corresponding GIS database in order to statistically assess opportunities to align Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS) data with existing GIS databases or to improve involved datasets. The method is evaluated using LiDAR data provided by Estonian company Reach-U Ltd. and GIS database layers from different Estonian open and closed databases.
Read more10The Potential of GIS Tools in Strategic Urban Planning Process; as an Approach for Sustainable Development in Egypt
During the last 20 years, geographic information systems (GIS) have emerged from the scientific laboratories into the heart of conventional planning practice. During this period, planners have been aggressive adopters and adapters, and strong advocates for local governments deploying GIS. This is true at least in part because GIS provides spatial analysis and manipulation capabilities that align closely with the professional needs of urban and regional planners. GIS technology is currently converging with several other technologies to provide new levels of accessibility and functionality. As GIS use becomes more widespread, planners make up less of the market. The aim of this paper is to study the potential of GIS applications in supporting strategic urban planning process for effective urban governance in sustainable urban development projects in Egypt, and developing the capacity and the empowerment of local administration tools, decision-making and good control for urban areas. As well, to interface the complex problems of urbanization, unplanned and negative impacts on the facilities and services and the environment in general in the cities of developing countries.
Read more
21Using GIS for spatial analysis of rectal lesions in the human body
BackgroundGeographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used in a wide variety of applications to integrate data and explore the spatial relationship of geographic features. Traditionally this has referred to features on the surface of the earth. However, it is possible to apply GIS in medicine, at the scale of the human body, to visualize and analyze anatomic and clinical features. In the present study we used GIS to examine the findings of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), a minimally-invasive procedure to locate and remove both benign and cancerous lesions of the rectum. Our purpose was to determine whether anatomic features of the human rectum and clinical findings at the time of surgery could be rendered in a GIS and spatially analyzed for their relationship to clinical outcomes. ResultsMaps of rectal topology were developed in two and three dimensions. These maps highlight anatomic features of the rectum and the location of lesions found on TEM. Spatial analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between anatomic location of the lesion and procedural failure.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the feasibility of rendering anatomical locations and clinical events in a GIS and its value in clinical research. This allows the visualization and spatial analysis of clinical and pathologic features, increasing our awareness of the relationship between anatomic features and clinical outcomes as well as enhancing our understanding and management of this disease process.
Read moreA Review of Applications of GIS in Pneumoconiosis Research: Implications for Nursing Practice and Occupational Health Nursing
Background: Pneumoconiosis (including silicosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and asbestosis) remains a major occupational health concern, particularly in settings with sustained exposure to respirable mineral dust. Conventional epidemiological approaches often under-represent spatial heterogeneity in exposure contexts, potentially masking localized disease clusters and delaying targeted prevention. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial statistics provide a means to integrate georeferenced occupational, environmental, and health data, enabling spatially explicit surveillance and risk assessment. This review provides an overview of GIS applications in pneumoconiosis research and discusses implications for nursing practice and occupational health nursing. Methods: A structured literature search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar using combinations of keywords related to pneumoconiosis (e.g., “silicosis”, “coal workers’ pneumoconiosis”, “asbestosis”), GIS (e.g., “geographic information system”, “spatial analysis”), and spatial statistical methods (e.g., “Moran’s I”, “Getis-Ord Gi*”, “kernel density”, “SaTScan”, “spatial regression”, “GWR/MGWR”). Eligible publications included peer-reviewed studies applying GIS/spatial analytics to pneumoconiosis outcomes, exposure assessment, clustering/hotspot detection, or spatial risk modeling. Consistent with the template structure, findings are synthesized into three sections: (i) methods to characterize spatial patterns; (ii) hotspot/cluster analysis approaches; and (iii) spatial regression models to identify risk factors. Results: GIS-enabled mapping and spatial statistics consistently revealed non-random spatial patterns of pneumoconiosis, with clustering frequently aligned with mining, stone processing, construction corridors, and industrial zones. Hotspot methods (e.g., KDE, LISA, Getis-Ord Gi*, scan statistics) were useful in detecting localized high-risk areas for intensified screening and prevention. Spatial regression approaches (e.g., spatial lag/error models, Bayesian CAR, and GWR/MGWR) improved inference by accounting for spatial dependence and local non-stationarity, identifying associations between pneumoconiosis indicators and contextual factors such as industrial density, dust exposure proxies, sociodemographic vulnerability, and access to occupational health services. Nursing-relevant applications include improved surveillance sensitivity, geographically targeted health education, risk communication, and prioritization of screening/referral resources. Conclusions: GIS and spatial statistics strengthen pneumoconiosis research by uncovering spatial inequities in exposure and disease burden and by improving the explanatory power of risk models. For occupational health nursing, spatially informed evidence supports proactive surveillance, targeted interventions, and resource allocation. Future work should prioritize interoperable data pipelines, privacy-preserving geocoding, and capacity building to integrate GIS into routine occupational health nursing practice.
Read more78Spatial Analysis of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis near Lyme, Connecticut
Geographic information systems combined with methods of spatial analysis provide powerful new tools for understanding the epidemiology of diseases and for improving disease prevention and control. In this study, the spatial distribution of a newly recognized tick-borne disease, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), was investigated for nonrandom patterns and clusters in an area known to be endemic for tick-borne diseases. Analysis of confirmed cases of HGE identified in 1997–2000 in a 12-town area around Lyme, Connecticut, showed that HGE infections are not distributed randomly. Smoothed HGE incidence was higher around the mouth of the Connecticut River and lower to the north and west. Cluster analysis identified one area of increased HGE risk (relative risk=1.8, p=0.001). This study demonstrates the utility of geographic information systems and spatial analysis to clarify the epidemiology of HGE.
Read more6The Role of Visualisation in Spatial Planning: A GIS-Based Approach
Developments in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have significantly empowered the role of visualisation in spatial planning. Visualisation mobilises ‘visual thinking’ contributing thus to the development of ‘visual communication skills’ through graphical representation, exploration and better understanding of spatial data and spatial relations. Furthermore, GIS support processing and analysis of spatial data as well as the investigation of spatial patterns and future visioning. In their capacity as integrated Spatial Decision Support Systems, GIS offer a critical comparative advantage to the formulation of robust decisions, concerning the future development of complex spatial systems, by enabling the visualisation of the involved elements and the efficient management of geo-referenced data. By refining the integration of Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) into GIS, further advancements can be achieved in spatial decision support processes. The present chapter focuses on the added value that visualisation may provide in spatial planning by integrating GIS technology into the planning process. Firstly, the concept of visualisation under the framework of GIS is analysed. Then, the potential of MCDA in visualisation for spatial analysis is illustrated and finally emphasis is placed on the role such developments may offer in participatory planning and scenario analysis.
Read more5Spatial Analysis to Identify Pedestrian Crash Zones: A Case Study of School Zones in Thailand
Background:In Thailand, it has the second highest road traffic fatality rate in the world at 36.2 deaths per 100,000 populations. The pedestrian crash zones are based on the road and physical environment, vehicle and driver behavior and pedestrian behavior, especially the area around the school. Therefore, this paper would like to improve safety by identifying crash area through Geographic Information Systems (GIS).Objective:The objective of this paper is to identify pedestrian crash zones of primary schools and secondary schools in Bangkok, Thailand through the spatial analysis and GIS tool.Method:The research methodology was the data collection from pedestrian-vehicle crashes in 2016 at 12 schools of 1,218 locations in Bangkok. The data analysis used GIS for geocoding the crash locations. The spatial patterns and pedestrian crash zone map were applied by Moran’s I statistic and the Kernel Density Estimation (KDE).Results:The Moran’s index showed that the accident locations within school zone were a clustered pattern considering on Moran’s Index which approached +1 and the z-scores greater than 2.58. The KDE showed that the pedestrian crash zones were different depending on the physical environment; however, the most significant areas were at urban areas, crowded areas, and intersections of arterial roads and local roads about 508 meters from the school center.Conclusion:This research could be concluded that the spatial patterns and pedestrian crash zone map will assist the transportation planners and traffic police for identifying crash locations and specific vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians and bicycle users.
Read more1Spatial Decision Support System for Bank-Industry Based on GIS and Expert Systems Integration
This chapter performs a case analysis of the integrated use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Expert Systems (ES) to assist decision-making process specifically on the question: where is the best place for a new retailer at the bank-industry? Choosing the best location for a new commerce unit is an important and complex decision because both spatial and symbolic variables are involved. The choice of locations requires strategic decisions based not only on common sense but also on the experience of experts, and this involves solid research. The integration of GIS with other special-purpose software can improve the potential of performed analysis. Particularly GIS integrated with ES can assist those tasks by making them less subjective. GIS can subsidize spatial marketing analysis by combining company socio-economic variables with the concurrence ones, while ES can store the expert’s logical sequence of reasoning and even the importance order of symbolic variables. When the expert queries the ES, he or she gets data collected by other professionals otherwise dependant on them. In bank industry those decisions are critical, because opening a new unit must take in account the spatial variables, as concurrence proximity, and symbolic variables concerned about the building where it will be located. This chapter was based on a dissertation for Master Degree (Carnasciali, A. M. S., 2007) in which a study case was developed, on an analysis using integrated ES and GIS to open a new retailer of HSBC Bank Brazil S/A, in the city of Curitiba, Parana – Brazil. A comparison was made between the methods used by the HSBC experts against the proposed system. Conclusions pointed out that the proposed system has contributed to an improvement in the decision-making process for the banking industry location problems, enlarging possibilities for spatial analysis and assisting the experts with subjective tasks.
Read moreTraining and Utilization of Geographic Information Systems at Rahmatullah Lempake Samarinda Islamic Boarding School
The application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in education is becoming increasingly vital for enhancing digital literacy and spatial analysis skills. Rahmatullah Lempake Islamic Boarding School in Samarinda is one of the educational institutions with significant potential to utilize this technology in supporting the management of its environment and local resources. The initiative aims to provide students with training in GIS, enhancing their knowledge and skills in spatial data management and geographic analysis. The training employed a combination of lectures, discussions, and practical sessions using GIS software. It was attended by students aged 12 to 15 and covered foundational topics, such as an introduction to GIS, mapping applications, and data analysis techniques. The results of this training demonstrated a notable improvement in the students' understanding and basic GIS skills, as well as increased awareness of the technology's potential applications in their local environment. The integration of GIS into the educational process offers significant benefits, particularly in enhancing students' technological literacy and spatial analysis capabilities, which can be applied to environmental management activities within the Islamic boarding school. In conclusion, the GIS training at Rahmatullah Lempake Islamic Boarding School has effectively developed the students' foundational skills in technology and geographic analysis, offering practical benefits for future resource management and environmental planning endeavors.
Read more
Copyright 2026 Cactus Communications. All rights reserved.
