Abstract
This paper presents the design and development of an open source web-based Geographical Information System allowing users to visualise, customise and interact with spatial data within their web browser. The developed application shows that by using solely Open Source software it was possible to develop a customisable web based GIS application that provides functions necessary to convey health and environmental data to experts and non-experts alike without the requirement of proprietary software.
Highlights
Using maps to visualise data can enable quicker interpretation of complex geographical phenomena [1], identify patterns, and aid in planning, resource allocations for policy and decision making [2]
Within the environment and health fields, recent applications using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have been used in projects such as identifying regions at risk to malaria [4], monitoring effects of air pollution on asthmatics [5] and defining an “Index of Relative Wellbeing“ for an area from census data [6]
Value of development The work undertaken has further highlighted the potential of using open source web GIS to enable the viewing and interrogation of environment and health data anywhere in the world freely via a simple web browser, either on a desktop or mobile device, as a viable alternative to commercial software. As it is open source development, and can be freely modified, it is hoped that with little modification this software could be used by others as a basis for allowing visualisation of their data online in a web browser, improving access to their data
Summary
Using maps to visualise data can enable quicker interpretation of complex geographical phenomena [1], identify patterns, and aid in planning, resource allocations for policy and decision making [2]. Within the environment and health fields, recent applications using GIS have been used in projects such as identifying regions at risk to malaria [4], monitoring effects of air pollution on asthmatics [5] and defining an “Index of Relative Wellbeing“ for an area from census data [6]. The research presented here, reports on results from the European Union (EU) FP6 funded Health and Environment Integrated Methodology and Toolbox for Scenario Assessment (HEIMTSA) project. The project’s overall goal was to support the European Union’s (EU’s) Environment and Health Action Plan (EHAP) by extending health impact assessment (HIA) coupled with
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