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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Exploratory spatial analysis of pilot fatality rates in general aviation crashes using geographic information systems.

Geographic information systems and exploratory spatial analysis were used to describe the geographic characteristics of pilot fatality rates in 1983-1998 general aviation crashes within the continental United States. The authors plotted crash sites on a digital map; rates were computed at regular grid intersections and then interpolated by using geographic information systems. A test for significance was performed by using Monte Carlo simulations. Further analysis compared low-, medium-, and high-rate areas in relation to pilot characteristics, aircraft type, and crash circumstance. Of the 14,051 general aviation crashes studied, 31% were fatal. Seventy-four geographic areas were categorized as having low fatality rates and 53 as having high fatality rates. High-fatality-rate areas tended to be mountainous, such as the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian region, whereas low-rate areas were relatively flat, such as the Great Plains. Further analysis comparing low-, medium-, and high-fatality-rate areas revealed that crashes in high-fatality-rate areas were more likely than crashes in other areas to have occurred under instrument meteorologic conditions and to involve aircraft fire. This study demonstrates that geographic information systems are a valuable tool for injury prevention and aviation safety research.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1998

Alcohol consumption and injury in Western Australia: a spatial correlation analysis using geographic information systems.

Geographic information systems technology was used to describe, in geographical terms, the nature and strength of the relationship in Western Australia between alcohol consumption and the rates of related injury: night-time assaults (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.); minor night-time road crashes (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), weighted by traffic density; and hospital E-code (external-cause) morbidity, weighted by alcohol aetiologic fractions. The data were aggregated by five conventional state regions: northern, central, western, southern and Perth metropolitan. There was a general association, of equal significance for males and females, between estimated per capita alcohol consumption and the selected rates of injury in the five regions. However, the nature and strength of association between alcohol consumption and individual injury measures varied. Night-time assaults and hospital E-code morbidity were strongly, associated with consumption. Minor night-time crashes had only a weak association. The variation in the relationship between alcohol consumption and injury suggests that prevention strategies need to take into account the particular drinking patterns and associated harm that occur in different regions of the state, and to develop a range of targeted responses. High rates of consumption and injury in most country areas support the need for greater regional prevention efforts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Investigating urban geochemistry using Geographical Information Systems.

Geographical Information System (GIS) is an interactive digital extension of the two-dimensional paper map. Customised maps are created by the selection and aggregation of data from independent sources to assist studies in urban geochemistry. The metropolitan area of Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands, UK is used to illustrate the types of output that can be generated. These include: geographic and geological feature; geochemical data and land use. Multi-layered maps can be used to investigate spatial relationships, for example, between elevated concentrations of metals in soils and industrial land use. Such maps can also be used to assist the assessment of potential exposure of groundwater, ecosystems and humans using maps incorporating guideline values for metals in soils.

England↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immune systems, geographic information systems (GIS), environment and health impacts.

Exposure to dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been related to alterations in cellular and humoral immune responses in both adaptive and innate immune systems of most animal species. These compounds share a common signaling mechanism to exert their effects on cells of the immune system, which includes the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the AhR nuclear translocator (ARN). Recently, the interference of AhR-ARNT with the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB signaling pathway has been proposed as a critical event in the adverse effects on the immune system. Studies on the effects of these AhR-ARNT-related toxicants on the immune system of higher and lower phylum animals and knowledge of intracellular mechanisms of toxicity may contribute to development of biomarkers of ecotoxicant exposure and effects. Biomarkers of this kind allow sampling over extended geographic areas, in several sentinel species, including wildlife animals, and facilitate the building of risk models and risk maps of environmentally induced diseases. On the basis of location, biomarker sampled data obtained through evaluation of ecotoxicant exposure and effects on the immune system in sentinel species can be further integrated and analyzed together with other sources of environmental geographic information, or human population health data, by means of geographic information systems (GIS). The spatial analysis capability of GIS can help to evaluate the complex relationships of overlaid information and to identify areas with high risk indices or "hot spots." This integrative approach can be useful in studies contributing to support environmental and health-related policies and regulations.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Application of global positioning system and geographic information system in surveillance of schistosomiasis].

OBJECTIVE: To use the snail survey data of Yugan, Jiangxi Province as an example to evaluate the effects and advantages of global positioning system integrated with digital maps and remote sensing data in order to manage and analyze the whole country's surveillance data of schistosomiasis by using geographic information system. METHODS: The data of geographic information and snail information of 20 marshlands in Yugan, Jiangxi Province were collected, and by the correction of remote sensing images based on the digital maps and index extraction, the snail current situation and trend were analyzed and expressed. RESULTS: A series of specific procedure images of these 20 marshlands was established and the effects of Yugan surveillance platform based on geographic information system were validated. CONCLUSION: The whole country's surveillance data of schistosomiasis might be successfully integrated with geographic information system by global positioning system and be managed and expressed, which supplies a successful platform in using the surveillance data effectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Examining associations between childhood asthma and traffic flow using a geographic information system.

Using geographic information systems (GIS) and routinely collected data, we explored whether childhood residence near busy roads was associated with asthma in a low-income population in San Diego County, California. We examined the locations of residences of 5,996 children [less than/equal to] 14 years of age who were diagnosed with asthma in 1993 and compared them to a random control series of nonrespiratory diagnoses (n = 2,284). Locations of the children's residences were linked to traffic count data at streets within 550 ft. We also examined the number of medical care visits in 1993 for children with asthma to determine if the number of visits was related to traffic flow. Analysis of the distribution of cases and controls by quintiles and by the 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles of traffic flow at the highest traffic street, nearest street, and total of all streets within a 550-ft buffer region did not show any significantly elevated odds ratios. However, among cases, those residing near high traffic flows (measured at the nearest street) were more likely than those residing near lower traffic flows to have two or more medical care visits for asthma than to have only one visit for asthma during the year. The results of this exploratory study suggest that higher traffic flows may be related to an increase in repeated medical visits for asthmatic children. Repeated exposure to particulate matter and other air pollutants from traffic exhaust may aggravate asthmatic symptoms in individuals already diagnosed with asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Spatial analysis of lymphatic filariasis distribution in the Nile Delta in relation to some environmental variables using geographic information system technology.

Geographic information system (GIS) was used to analyze the spatial distribution of filariasis in the Nile Delta. The study involved 201 villages belonging to Giza, Qalubiya, Monoufiya, Gharbiya, and Dakahliya governorates. Villages with similar microfilarial (mf) prevalence rates were observed to cluster within 1-2 km distance, then, clustering started to decrease significantly with distance up to 5 km (Pearson correlation coefficient = -0.98). the likelihood of negative and high prevalence villages being contiguous was very low (approximately 1.8%, n = 612 village-pairs) indicating homogeneity in disease processes within the defined spatial scales. Of the villages located within 2 km from the main Nile branches (n = 46), 95% exhibited low prevalence. In addition, the spatial pattern of mf prevalence was shown to be negatively associated with annual rainfall and relative humidity, while it was positively associated with annual daily temperature. Average mf prevalence in warmer, relatively drier areas receiving 25 mm of rain was significantly higher (3.9%) than that in less warmer but more humid areas receiving 50 mm of rain (1.6%) (P < 0.0001). Based on the results of the present study, GIS was used to generate a "filariasis risk map" that could be used by health authorities to efficiently direct surveillance and control efforts. This investigation identified some of the factors underlying filariasis spatial pattern, quantified clustering and demonstrated the potential of GIS application in vector-borne disease epidemiology.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Review of Expert System (ES), Geographic Information System (GIS), Decision Support System (DSS), and their applications in landfill design and management.

This paper provides the reader with a brief discussion on Expert System (ES), Geographic Information System (GIS), and Environmental Decision Support System (EDSS) technologies and their applications in environmental engineering in general and in landfill design and management in specific. It also brings into attention the benefits of integrating ESs and GISs together with simulation models (SM) in a decision support systems (DSS) framework to solve complex environmental problems, facilitated by the new advancements of computer technologies (both in hardware and software). Examples of such integration are provided to reflect how such a system can improve landfill design and management. Finally, the discussion concludes with the fact that although solving landfill design problems could greatly benefit from such a combination of technologies, there have been no attempts to combine ES, GIS, and SM for the comprehensive evaluation of landfill design and performance.

Decision Support Techniques↗
PubMed1995

Environmental risk factors for Lyme disease identified with geographic information systems.

OBJECTIVES: A geographic information system was used to identify and locate residential environmental risk factors for Lyme disease. METHODS: Data were obtained for 53 environmental variables at the residences of Lyme disease case patients in Baltimore County from 1989 through 1990 and compared with data for randomly selected addresses. A risk model was generated combining the geographic information system with logistic regression analysis. The model was validated by comparing the distribution of cases in 1991 with another group of randomly selected addresses. RESULTS: In crude analyses, 11 environmental variables were associated with Lyme disease. In adjusted analyses, residence in forested areas (odds ratio [OR] = 3.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2, 11.8), on specific soils (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.0, 4.4), and in two regions of the county (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.6, 7.4) (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.0, 7.7) was associated with elevated risk of getting Lyme disease. Residence in highly developed regions was protective (OR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1, 1.0). The risk of Lyme disease in 1991 increased with risk categories defined from the 1989 through 1990 data. CONCLUSIONS: Combining a geographic information system with epidemiologic methods can be used to rapidly identify risk factors of zoonotic disease over large areas.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed2003

Analysis of molecular data of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Brassicaceae) with Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

A Geographical Information System (GIS) is used to analyse allelic information of 13 sequenced loci of natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana and to identify geographical structures. GIS provides tools for visualization and analysis of geographical population structures using molecular data. The geographical distribution of the number of variable positions in the alignments, the distribution of recombinant sequence blocks, and the distribution of a newly defined measure, the differentiation index, are studied. The differentiation index is introduced to measure the sequence divergence among individual plants sampled from various geographical localities. The numbers of variable positions and the differentiation index are also used for a metadata analysis covering about 26 kb of the genome. This analysis reveals, for the first time, differences in DNA sequence structures of geographically different populations of A. thaliana. The broadly defined west Mediterranean region consists of accessions with the highest numbers of polymorphic positions followed by the west European region. The GIS technology Kriging is used to define Arabidopsis specific diversity zones in Europe. The highest genetic variability is observed along the Atlantic coast from the western Iberian Peninsula to southern Great Britain, while lowest variability is found in central Europe.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2000

[Qingshishan watershed agro-ecology information system and its application with the support of Geographic Information System (GIS)].

Geographic Information System(GIS) is applied to establish Qingshishan Watershed Agro-Ecology Information System (QWAEIS), QWAEIS integrates spatial information such as land use, soil, water and topography with basic information such as population, climate and agricultural production. The watershed agro-ecology information was effectively analyzed and managed by QWAEIS, land suitable classes were evaluated by QWAEIS and the land evaluation result are given, QWAEIS also can support watershed planning with its spatial information.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2003

Using a geographical information system to plan a malaria control programme in South Africa.

INTRODUCTION: Sustainable control of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa is jeopardized by dwindling public health resources resulting from competing health priorities that include an overwhelming acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. In Mpumalanga province, South Africa, rational planning has historically been hampered by a case surveillance system for malaria that only provided estimates of risk at the magisterial district level (a subdivision of a province). METHODS: To better map control programme activities to their geographical location, the malaria notification system was overhauled and a geographical information system implemented. The introduction of a simplified notification form used only for malaria and a carefully monitored notification system provided the good quality data necessary to support an effective geographical information system. RESULTS: The geographical information system displays data on malaria cases at a village or town level and has proved valuable in stratifying malaria risk within those magisterial districts at highest risk, Barberton and Nkomazi. The conspicuous west-to-east gradient, in which the risk rises sharply towards the Mozambican border (relative risk = 4.12, 95% confidence interval = 3.88-4.46 when the malaria risk within 5 km of the border was compared with the remaining areas in these two districts), allowed development of a targeted approach to control. DISCUSSION: The geographical information system for malaria was enormously valuable in enabling malaria risk at town and village level to be shown. Matching malaria control measures to specific strata of endemic malaria has provided the opportunity for more efficient malaria control in Mpumalanga province.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed2000

Analysis of relationship between Anopheles subpictus larval densities and environmental parameters using Remote Sensing (RS), a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a Geographic Information System (GIS).

Remote Sensing (RS), a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a Geographic Information System (GIS) were used to analyze relationship between Anopheles subpictus larval densities and environmental parameters in the Sekotong district on Lombok Island, Indonesia. Distance from the coast to larval habitats, season and surface water were considered as environmental parameters for determining An. subpictus larval densities. Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS) Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer (VNIR) satellite imagery for the area acquired by National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) were used to detect water, which could be used to characterize larval habitats. Data on larval sampling sites obtained from a GPS were entered into a GIS for mapping larval habitats to measure distance between the coast and the larval habitats. A GIS was used for overlaying of data coverages (i.e., water distribution from RS data and larval habitats coupled with data on larval densities) to identify factors that may explain the spatial distribution patterns of larval densities. An. subpictus larval densities were significantly associated with season and distance from the coast to larval habitats. The rainy season and the distance from the coast to larval habitats were critical environmental determinants for presence of An. subpictus larvae in the study. In this paper, we investigated relationship between An. subpictus larval densities and the environmental parameters using RS/GPS/GIS to determine if these tools could be used to predict larval densities.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Risk assessment of bluetongue disease incursion into Germany using geographic information system (GIS)].

Using a geographic information system (GIS), by analysis of the relationship between the spatial distribution of cattle density and the risk factors temperature, altitude and rainfall, we defined geographical habitats enabling optimal development and competence of Culicoides spp. to transmit Bluetongue-Virus (BTV): Risk zones (low, high, highest risk) were identified mainly in Baden-Württemberg, Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz if persistently infected ruminants are imported into these zones in summer (June to August mainly), based on the current climatic conditions, BTD outbreaks are considered a real possibility. Overwintering of the virus seems unlikely. However, global warming will lead to a steady increase of the size of the risk zones. In addition, the possibility of primary outbreaks increases. The reason for this is not only the expected northern shift of Culicoides imicola, but in addition an increasing vector competence of domestic Culicoides species. We therefore recommend the storage of vaccines as well as conducting ecological studies analysing the presence of Culicoides vectors. Using the data from these studies, it will be possible to produce updated quantitative risk assessment via GIS.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Geographic information systems and public health.

Geographic information systems (GIS) and analyses based on GIS have become widespread and well accepted. GIS is not the complete solution to understanding the distribution of disease and the problems of public health but is an important way in which to better illuminate how humans interact with their environment to create or deter health.

Geographic Information Systems↗
PubMed2004

Assessment of groundwater contamination by nitrate leaching from intensive vegetable cultivation using geographical information system.

This study employed the Geographical Information System (GIS) technology to investigate nitrate contamination of groundwater by agrochemical fertilizers in the Kakamigahara Heights, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. Thematic information and chemical data of groundwater from the Heights were analyzed in a GIS environment to study the extent and variation of nitrate contamination and to establish spatial relationships with responsible land use types. The high and correlated concentrations of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), SO(4)(2-), and NO(3)(-) reflected the polluted nature of the unconfined highly permeable Kakamigahara aquifer. Ninety percent of the water samples showed nitrate concentrations above the human affected value (3 mg/l NO(3)(-)), while more than 30% have exceeded the maximum acceptable level (44 mg/l NO(3)(-)) according to Japan regulations. The spatial analyses indicated that groundwater contamination by nitrate is closely associated with one specific land use class, the "vegetable fields". The nitrate concentration of groundwater under vegetable fields was significantly higher than that under urban land or paddy fields. Most of the unacceptable nitrate levels were encountered in boreholes assigned to "vegetable fields" but a few were also found in boreholes allotted to "urban" class. Therefore, the vegetable fields were considered the principal source of nitrate contamination of groundwater in the Kakamigahara. However, contamination from urban sources is also possible.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Estimation and allocation of solid waste to bin through geographical information systems.

This study presents a geographical information system (GIS)-based procedure for the precise estimation of solid waste generation, computed using the local population density and income group distribution. Using a triangulated irregular network (TIN) in a GIS environment, the procedure further determines the command area for waste allocation to a particular bin which is generally located so the route slopes towards the collection points for ease of transportation by cart pullers. Computational results of bin location, type, size and the frequency of removal are presented for a typical urban area with known population density, income group distribution, road network and topology.

Cities↗