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Gretchen Estes(004951345)
HSCI 273
Instructor Flores
November 5, 2016
GIS Assignment

1. What is GIS?

What are three uses of GIS? To inventory, analyze and manage many aspects
of the world. For example, turning on lights to a house, the placement of road
signs on a freeway as well as systems such as GPS all use GIS systems to

perform each function.

How might GIS be used in solutions to problems? GIS can be used to track
any number of trends. One such use could be if there was an outbreak of food
poisoning. GIS systems would be able to help investigators in determining what
caused the outbreak by reviewing GIS data and tracking the outbreaks
progression.

2. Dr. Chetan Tiwari and Using Maps as Public Health Decision Support Tools

What examples did he use to demonstrate the use of GIS in health decision
making? The example that the individual gave was an outbreak that had
occurred where by using GIS data people were able to determine that the source
of the outbreak was from a specific waterline.

What are the concerns about the data? The concerns regarding the data is
that the same data can actually create different maps that give the interpreter
different information. Due to this fact the narrator suggests that the maps need to
be more specific to whatever it is that is being analyzed. This way, the data will
provide a more accurate picture of what is going on.

3. Geographic Information Systems in Public Health

Explain three (3) examples listed in this presentation about the use of GIS
in public health. 19th century London John Snow, which tracked the Cholera
outbreak. Obesity trends in the United States which demonstrated the rise in
numbers of Americans becoming obese, as well as tracking the Diabetes
mortality rate which is self-explanatory in that it tracks the death rate of victims to
diabetes.

4. Crime map

What is the most frequently occurring issue in this area (see the Incident
Layers to understand the iconsnot everything is crimeATTENTION TO

DETAIL)? Property crimes are the biggest issue in the given area.
Why is this type of map useful in public and community health? Justify
your answer. These types of maps give public health officials a general overview
of the types of crime and how much crime is going on in the community. Crime is
related to a community and individuals environment which contribute to the
determinants of health. Crime can negatively affect health in several ways.
Violent crimes for example directly hurt an individual, property crimes can cause

stress, etc. High crime areas are also associated with poverty which is also a risk
factor for lower health outcomes.

5. Household Income Map

What is the median household income? For the year 2012 San
Bernardino county median income was 40,910. This is 18 percent below the
United States average.

Why is this useful in public health/why do we need to use median

household income when we decide populations at risk or in need of
services? Its important to public health to know median household income
because income is a determinant of health; higher income is linked to better
health and lower income is related to poorer health. Lower income areas are
also related to lower education which can contribute to how people obtain and
even know how to obtain health care/services Lower income areas typically
need more services because communities stricken with poverty will go
without basic care due to lack of finances and resources.

6. Using online GIS mapping software

7. Walk score

What is your walk score in your neighborhood? The walk score for my
neighborhood is 4

Do you think your neighborhood is walk-able meaning conducive to

walking? Yes and no.

Give examples to provide specifics to support your argument. My

neighborhood is a little secluded as far as local businesses go, so walking to
complete errands isnt practical. However, I believe my neighborhood is walkable as far as for recreational use. It is a very safe neighborhood with low
crime, it has streetlights and sidewalks so you can safely walk the
neighborhood at various times of day. And the environment is nice so
aesthetically it is also walk-able.