The application of space/time analysis tools of GIS in spatial epidemiology: a case study of hepatitis B in China using GIS

Abstract

Abstract -GIS software provides quite powerful analysis tools for contemporary spatial epidemiology research. When dealing with epidemiological data, some space/time analysis involved in can be done using correlated tools from GIS software. This paper first briefly introduces several space/time statistical analysis tools in ArcGIS and their applications in spatial epidemiology, and then illustrates the space/time analysis procedures of Hepatitis B in China. We think that while current main GIS software provides powerful tools for spatial epidemiological research, the analysis techniques provided by these tools are still limited. It is promising to develop epidemiological analysis module based on a common GIS platform. Keywords: spatial epidemiology, GIS, space/time analysis I. INTRODUCTION Spatial epidemiology concerns the study of the occurrence of disease in spatial locations and time points and its explanatory factors [1]. So space/time data handling is an important issue in spatial epidemiology. In classical epidemiology, statistical analysis has played key role. However, in spatial epidemiology spatial/time statistical analysis techniques become important approaches. GIS (Geographical Information Systems) is a computer system relevant to administration and analysis of spatial data. Current GIS software contains several space/time data statistical analysis tools, which are supposed to be quite useful for the study of spatial epidemiology. This paper first briefly introduces several space/time statistical analysis tools in ArcGIS [5] and their applications in spatial epidemiology, and then illustrates the space/time analysis procedures of Hepatitis B in China. The examples deal with spatial analysis and spatiotemporal analysis of Hepatitis B in China during several years. We conclude that these tools are powerful in the study of spatial epidemiology. They provide spatial epidemiological study with a variety of effective techniques. Whereas, the analysis techniques provided by these tools are still limited. It is hard to meet more complex need for research of spatial epidemiology. And we think that it is necessary, feasible and efficient to develop epidemiological analysis module based on a common GIS platform. II. DOMAIN OF SPATIAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND THE SPACE/TIME ANALYSIS TOOLS OF GIS Spatial epidemiology is the description and analysis of geographically indexed health data with respect to demographic, environmental, behavioral, socioeconomic, genetic, and infectious risk factors [1]. *Corresponding author