Lyza McRae

Health Science 273

February 23, 2016
GIS #1

1. What is GIS?
GIS (Geographically Information Services) uses computer and software to
explore the fundamental principle of geographic location that is important
in peoples lives.
Analyze and manage different aspects of the world.

What are three uses of GIS?

When you use a power grid, GIS is there to make sure your light switch
turns on.
GIS helps manage signals on highways that driven daily.
GIS takes information and ties it directly to a location that you can access
through a maps database.
It is use to answer; where, why and how.

How might GIS be used in solutions to problems?

It helps with better understanding traffic problems.
Along with traffic problems it gives a better understanding to where, when
and why certain situations evolve.

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?

Lyza McRae
Health Science 273
February 23, 2016
GIS #1

Dr. Chetan used an example of a map by John Snow that shows a cholera
outbreak in London. The main source of the outbreak was contaminated
water coming from Broad Street. A street in which was marked as part of
the location containing cases of cholera.
With this being said, he follows up with saying that it is important to know
the representative of the phenomena, the control for differences in
populations, to prove a place of context, an automate, and to be easy to
use when referring to maps to provide information based on health.

What are the concerns about the data?

Concerns about the data are that is it data mapped only, meaning that it is
based on population structures, socio economic groups, environmental
risks, disparity in access to health, and certain groups are more vulnerable
to risky behavior.

3. Geographic Information Systems in Public Health

Explain three (3) examples listed in this presentation about the use of GIS in
public health.
Location of grocery store
Location of healthy food
Location of parks

4. Go to http://www.riversideca.gov/rpd/crstats/default.asp

Lyza McRae
Health Science 273
February 23, 2016
GIS #1

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 is crime in this area specifically theft
from vehicle.

Why is this type of map useful in public and community health? Justify your
answer.
It shows you what kind of crime is in a specific area. This is useful
because if you were to visit a bank or gas station on the corner of I-60 and
Fredrick you would need to know that it is probably not safe to leave your
vehicle unlocked while you are away for a moment or any amount of time
for that matter.

5. Go to the following link: http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?

id=da76de09076b4959ad005e1dc2c48049

What is the median household income?

The medium household income is $53,364 in 2012. That is 6% above the
U.S. average.

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?
This is useful in public health because knowing where a higher socio
economic class is usually implies less risk of disease and crime.

6. Using online GIS mapping software

3

Lyza McRae
Health Science 273
February 23, 2016
GIS #1

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 is .5 miles

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?
It would be a difficult walk because the roads are not that well maintained.

What is screen shot?

What are the common ads on both markets?

Sandys Market and Garcias Market
4

Lyza McRae
Health Science 273
February 23, 2016
GIS #1

What are the causes of those diseases from a social standpoint for
populations?
The causes could come from a lack of health food stores

How would you make the association between death by ZIP code and the
availability of food in 92411?
The availability of food, especially health food, is directly related to
disease and health related issue in this zip code.

7. Go to http://www.walkscore.com/

What is your walk score in your neighborhood?

My walk score for my neighborhood is 0

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

walking?
Unless you think of walk-able as walking through the desert.

Give examples to provide specifics to support your argument.

When referring to walk-able as availability to walk to a food or health
care facility is in not likely my neighborhood is walk-able. I live in a very
rural area with few homes around me. However, there is much land to
grow your own food!