Geographic Information Systems

Natalie StewartPublic Health Information Analyst

2Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

Contents• What is MapInfo?• Historical Context• Geocoding• Thematic• Grid Mapping• How can the use of GIS inform policy & practice?• Limitations• Childhood Obesity• Questions?

3Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

What is MapInfo?*MapInfo Professional is a desktop geographic information system (GIS) software product and is used for mapping and location analytics. MapInfo allows users to visualise, analyse, edit, interpret, understand and output data to reveal relationships, patterns, and trends. MapInfo allows users to explore spatial data within a dataset, symbolize features, and create maps.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MapInfo_Professional

4Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

Dr John Snow’s Cholera Map

5Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

Geocoded Maps

Map showing the location of all schools in Birmingham.

6Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

Thematic Maps

Map showing deprivation levels in Birmingham on an LSOA basis.

7Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

Grid Maps

Map shows counts of road traffic accidents by location in children aged 0-15 over a 4 year period (2008-12).

8Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

How can the use of GIS inform policy & practice?• Research Tools and Planning

– Constructing mathematical models– Service planning and optimisation– Making predictions

• Spatial Decision Support Systems– Infrastructure – roads, towns, services– Census – population statistics– Medical resource (hospitals, clinics, available beds)

• Emergency Response Systems– disease registers systems

9Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

Limitations of mapping• Stacking• Requires full postcodes• Expensive software– Licenses

• Training• Procuring geographic layers– PSMA

10Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

Childhood Obesity

11Birmingham Public Health Information & Intelligence Team

Questions/ comments?

Contact details: -

Natalie StewartPublic Healthnatalie.stewart@birmingham.gov.uk 0121 303 4808