Interactive spatial data analysis in medical geography.
Interactive spatial data analysis involves the use of software environments that permit the visualization, exploration and, perhaps, modelling of geographically-referenced data. Such systems are of obvious value in epidemiological research, both of an environmental and geographical nature. There is an increasing number of such software environments available on a variety of platforms and operating systems. This paper considers the use of the proprietary Geographical Information System, ARC/INFO, in a spatial analysis context, showing how the spatial analytic tools that may be added to it can be exploited by geographical epidemiologists; such tools include those for modelling possible raised incidence of disease around suspected sources of pollution. The paper also reviews the use of systems such as S-Plus and XLISP-STAT, statistical programming environments to which spatial analysis functions or libraries may be added. The use of INFO-MAP, a system designed to aid in the teaching of interactive spatial data analysis, is also highlighted. The various software environments are illustrated with reference to examples concerned with: clustering of childhood leukaemia in part of Lancashire, England; Burkitt's lymphoma in Uganda; larynx cancer in Lancashire; and childhood mortality in Auckland, New Zealand.
Gatrell
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Department of Geography, Lancaster University, England.
Bailey
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004739:England; D004813:Epidemiology; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009026:Mortality; D009520:New Zealand; D012984:Software