1. What is GIS?

A geographical information system is uses computers and software to explore the

fundamental principle of geography.

What are three uses of GIS?

GIS is used to inventory, analyze, and manage many aspects in the world.

How might GIS be used in solutions to problems?

GIS can make maps coded by values from the data base to help illustrate patterns,
for example, to better understand traffic accidents we might first group we might first
group collisions by police grid then as hot spots, finally we can show where citations
are issued. Overtimes taking a look at the grid we are able to distinguish where
accidents happen the most.
2. Dr. Chetan Tiwari and Using Maps as Public Health Decision Support Tools

What examples did he use to demonstrate the use of GIS in health decision
making?

An example pf that would be a map by John Snow in 1854, where he talked about a
Cholera outbreak, the idea was that he mapped where cholera deaths were
occurring and he was able to connect it to a water pump in located in broad street
that was supplying contaminated water.

What are the concerns about the data?

If youre not careful about the choice of unit you pick when creating the map you can
actually end up getting different maps. Using the same data but different units you
can express different incidence rates. There is also more complexity to these maps
like population structures are different, Socio-economic groups tend to cluster

together, Environmental risks are uneven over geographic space, Disparity in access
to health care, Certain groups are more vulnerable to risky behaviors.
3. Geographic Information Systems in Public Health - 4 points

Explain three (3) examples listed in this presentation about the use of GIS in
public health.

In public health we use GIS as a way to effectively display information and get our
mains points across. The first example is a GIS map of Obesity trends from 1985 to
2010 and how the map changes. The Second, we associate aspects of the
neighborhood (built environment) neighborhood factors like sidewalks, parks, and
see how that relates with behaviors and chronic diseases such as diabetes. The
third looks at the GIS maps of mortality rate of the chronic disease, then look at
poverty status, where parks are if the population has access to physical activity. We
also look for the fast food chains are and where the convenience stores are and if
they have a correlation with the chronic disease.
4. Go to http://www.riversideca.gov/rpd/crstats/default.asp -6 points

What is the most frequently occurring issue in this area (see the Incident
Layers to understand the iconsnot everything is crimeATTENTION TO
DETAIL)?

The most frequently occurring issue in this area is Sex offenders, there is more of
these living in this area.

Why is this type of map useful in public and community health? Justify your
answer.

The type of map is useful because it allows the public to better understand the
issues going on in their community. When the public can see what each marking is
they can know what kind is the most serious issue by occurrence and plan as a
community how we can stop this occurrence.
5. Go to the following link: 6 points
http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=da76de09076b4959ad005e1dc2c48049

What is the median household income?

The median household income for 2012 was 53,364

Why is this useful in public health/why do we need to use median household

income when we decide populations at risk or in need of services?

Studies have shown that lower income families face greater health disparities.
Health officials can use this information to determine where interventions may be
necessary to improve the quality of life for the families/individuals in those
communities.
6. Using online GIS mapping software- 12 points

Go to http://www.cnngis.org/ and click on Launch Map Viewer.

Go back to the browser window with the ZIP code and census tract map.
Take a screen shot that shows the map of food locations.

For someone who lived at the corner of W. 17 th St and N. Perris St what is the
distance for them to walk to the Stater Brothers store?

The distance between the location and Stater bros is 0.5miles.

Map that along the road using several points along the way to keep the plotter on
the road and take a screen shot.

Use Google map in the browser where you have the address for the grocery and
use the street view icon to see what that road looks like. Why would that be a
difficult walk to the store?

I think it would be difficult to walk to the store because from what I can see, it looks to
me as if there are no sidewalk for the people to walk to the store. Even though it is a
residential neighborhood it can still be dangerous to be walking on a street with no
sidewalks. It also looks from the street view on google maps that there is no street light
or pedestrian signs so that can also be dangerous. The people have to cross over a
freeway bridge which can also be dangerous due to cars driving fast around that area.

Using Google street view follow the street down to 14 th and Massachusetts to see
the two grocery stores on that corner. Take a screen shot to use in your
presentation. What are the common ads on both markets?

Most of the markets mention money gram/order fax machine/copy ATM EBT/Food
beer/wine as well as lottery.

Think about the Excel assignment and the disease rates you have been
investigating.

What are the causes of those diseases from a social standpoint for populations?

Those diseases can be caused by lack of nutritious food and exercise and low SES.
Basically, this mean thats income and health play a big role in determining their
quality of life.

How would you make the association between death by ZIP code and the
availability of food in 92411?

There is a lot of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and about two large chain
grocery stores in this area. There is no farmer markets nearby which mean that the lack
of these types of store contribute to the poor health of this community. This can
essentially effect the residents in this area causing them to have shorter life terms.
7. Go to http://www.walkscore.com/ 4 points

What is your walk score in your neighborhood?

The walk score in my neighborhood is a 70, which means thats most common
errands can be accomplished by walking.

Do you think your neighborhood is walk-able meaning conducive to walking?

I think that my neighborhood is very walk-able since it has a pretty high rate and it
has many stores nearby.

Give examples to provide specifics to support your argument.

It has many street lights and sidewalks that people can walk on. There is grocery
market nearby as well as a farmers market about 5 min away from my house a bank
a post office and pharmacys. Most errands can be done by walking I would say my

neighborhood is a good example of how all neighborhoods should become walkable.