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Online GIS services for mapping and sharing disease information
Sheng Gao1, Darka Mioc, Francois Anton
1Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Canada. sheng.gao@unb.ca
International Journal of Health Geographics
|February 27, 2008
Summary
This study introduces an interoperable, service-oriented architecture for sharing spatio-temporal disease data, enhancing disease surveillance and response through collaborative mapping and analysis.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Informatics
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Spatial Epidemiology
Background:
- Effective disease control relies on timely data sharing, but spatial and temporal disease data face challenges in integration and interoperability.
- Existing systems struggle with data heterogeneity, hindering collaborative response to outbreaks.
- Web-based GIS offers dynamic mapping but requires robust solutions for health data challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate an interoperable, service-oriented architecture for sharing spatio-temporal disease information.
- To overcome challenges in health data integration, interoperability, and cartographical representation.
- To enhance collaborative disease surveillance and response through advanced mapping capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Developed a service-oriented architecture based on Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) specifications.
- Utilized standard OGC specifications like Web Map Service (WMS), Styled Layer Descriptor (SLD), and Web Map Context (WMC).
- Implemented and evaluated the architecture through a cross-border infectious disease mapping case study.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the effectiveness of the architecture in an infectious disease surveillance system.
- Enabled cross-border visualization, analysis, and sharing of infectious disease data between New Brunswick (Canada) and Maine (USA).
- Facilitated open and interactive data sharing and collaboration among multiple partners via a distributed network.
Conclusions:
- Developed a distributed, loosely coupled, and interoperable service-oriented architecture for online disease mapping.
- Successfully applied the architecture to infectious disease studies, showcasing its practical utility.
- Standardized health services and spatial data infrastructure significantly improve public health surveillance efficiency and effectiveness.
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