Post Conference GIS workshop

Thursday 25 May - afternoon / Friday 26 May - all day

The overall aim of this course is to describe and demonstrate some ways in which geographical information systems (GIS) can be used with epidemiology and health research.

Initially, the part that GIS can play in such research will be discussed, then some basic principles and functionality of GIS will be introduced, and finally we will outline a few of the specific methods available and how they can be applied. Methods covered range from relatively simple thematic mapping, through various procedures for two-dimensional spatial interpolation and analysis, to more complex methods modelling. Throughout, emphasis is placed both on the potential and limitations of GIS.

Use of these methods for health and population mapping, pollution modelling, exposure assessment and investigation of associations between exposures and health outcome are all discussed and demonstrated. Furthermore, a number of the methods and applications are demonstrated 'live', using real-world data.

The course will draw upon a unique set of applications and studies undertaken in the Small Area Health Statistics Unit of Imperial College London, and includes methods and results developed as part of a number of studies relating to air pollution, road traffic, landfill sites, mobile phone masts and environmental justice.