Development Of A System Based On Technology Of Geographic Information Systems For Epidemiological Investigation And Analysis

Distribution of disease is an important part of epidemiological research. It may be extremely useful to reveal diseases processes and detect their risk factors. The evidences and results of distribution of disease are valuable for us to make preventive or remedial actions. Since the spatial data and information are highly complex, traditional printed surveillance reports can be cumbersome mechanism to present the information and reveal the relation of variables. The GIS (Geography information system) technology can support us to deal with spatial data .A GIS is a software package that is concerned with the capture, storage, manipulation, query, display and analysis of any and all types of geographical information. In recent years, GIS has been gradually applied in epidemiological study. GIS as a management and analytical support tool in epidemiology, it can be used to monitor diseases, to ensure evenness in the provision of medical facilities, to detect and access the risk of factors in reasonably sized areas. The specialized GIS application software has many functions but it is difficult for non-GIS researchers to operate. Researchers of epidemiology have desire to develop a characteristic GIS tool that ordinary end-users who are not skilled in GIS can use. GIS secondary developing technique made it feasible and economic for epidemiological researchers to develop applied software which include GIS. In this research, we assemble GIS secondary developing technique with database to develop applied software which can manage investigation data and handle geographical information. The software has six modules including eight main functions, which can convert traditional geographical information into a digital format suitable for computer processing and query. The paper explains the design and development strategies for the creation of the software and finally uses a instance to describe capabilities of the software which has epidemiological characteristics.1. ObjectiveUsing GIS secondary developing technique to develop an epidemiological information management system for epidemiological researchers and public health workers.2. MethodsThe visual basic.net software is used as developing tool to creat integration environment. In this environment, we used MapInfo MapX5.0 core components to implement the functions of operation of digital map. Applying the Microsoft office Access to establish database of the system and the the questionnaire data enter interface..Applying dynamic database library to implement data transmission between GIS component function and database and.1:10000 digital map was provided from the Guangzhou Institute of Geography, which including the information of boundary, water, green areas, primary and secondary roads, subway line and so on.We used Hand-held GPS locator to measure the latitude and longitude coordinates. Disease data of dengue fever between 2006 and 2007 of Guangzhou were collected by Guangzhou center of disease control.3. ResultsThe software is made of six modules including seven main functions, which is stable, visualized, simple and convenient tool for epidemiological survey. Main functions are as follows:(1) Designing the questionnaire data enter interface according to different investigation. (2) Establishing the function of data management: input data, inquest and management(3) Operationing function of map: magnifying, micrifing and creating new layer.(4) Inquest: through map to inquire about attribute, through attribute to inquire about map.(5) Manufacture of theme map: According to the data of Access(6) Space analysis: Overlay analysis(7) The system can output different format results: Excel or word document.4. ConclusionsThe software creates a sensory-rich environment, one which allows users to interact with the system to explore connections among data (digital maps, surey), visualize information, formulate their own interpretations, generate hypotheses and reach their own conclusions. It is a visualized, simple and convenient tool for epidemiology. It can increase the work ability of epidemiological researchers and workers.