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Interactive analysis of the spatial distribution of disease using
a
geographic information system.
Journal of Geographical Systems 2000;2(3):243-256.
Wall PA, Devine
OJ.
Abstract
Abstract. Geographic information systems (GIS) provide a variety of tools for
the manipulation and display of public health data. Few, however, enable
users to interactively evaluate hypotheses on spatial trends in disease risk
that may be suggested by maps of measures of disease impact. We addressed
this limitation by developing a seamless interface between a commercial GIS
and a suite of spatial analysis algorithms. Users of the system can utilize
the GIS's capability to interactively select and manipulate geographically
referenced data and, through a series of pull-down menus, apply a variety
of exploratory analysis methods to this information. In the presented application,
we illustrate this capability by including algorithms for the reduction of
random noise in observed incidence rates, for the detection of unusual aggregations
of disease events, and for the statistical evaluation of inferences drawn
from spatial trends. We demonstrate this application by examining lung cancer
mortality in the state of Ohio.