Development and challenges of using web-based GIS for health applications

Abstract

Web-based GIS is increasingly used in health applications. It has the potential to provide critical information in a timely manner, support health care policy development, and educate decision makers and the general public. This paper describes the trends and recent development of health applications using a Web-based GIS. Recent progress on the database storage and geospatial Web Services has advanced the use of Web-based GIS for health applications, with various proprietary software, open source software, and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) available. Current challenges in applying Web-based GIS for health, such as data heterogeneity, data privacy and confidentiality, powerful processing abilities, and appropriate data representation to users are also discussed. The continuous development of Web-based GIS for health applications will further enhance disease surveillance, health care planning, and public health participation.