Workshop - Health and GIS 101, March 17th, 2009

Participants learned the fundamental design and construction techniques used to create linkages between tabular health databases with geographic identifiers. The workshop reviewed key data sources available to health researchers in British Columbia specifically designed for research in human health and well-being and discuss how these data might also be used for research using GIS

During the afternoon session, participants worked with instructors creating health data maps in a GIS and engaging in group discussion as to possible usages of GIS for exploring the spatial pattern of disease and health outcomes. Upon completion of this workshop, participants gained familiarity with GIS and its strengths for research into human health and well-being as well as information pertaining to the access and availability of data for health-related research in British Columbia.

Download workshop presentation (19.6Mb pdf)

Instructor - Nathanial J. Bell, PhD Candidate, Simon Fraser University

Prerequisite - Attendees should have working knowledge of the Excel and/or Access platforms of the Microsoft Office Suite.

Audience - People working with health data that have no experience using GIS but would like to learn how it can be applied in their research.