Geographic Information Systems/Remote Sensing Laboratory

There is a growing use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing in the field of public health, as well as a need for public health researchers to understand the capabilities of these systems. The Division of Tropical Public Health has a remote sensing and GIS lab located in Room A2060 for use by USUHS faculty and students for classes and research.

The lab contains the following hardware:

• 8 Windows computers
• A scanner
• 2 color printers

Software on the machines includes:

• ArcGIS
• PCI's Geomatica
• ENVI and IDL
• Various statistical software packages

Courses in GIS and Remote Sensing:

• PMO577 Introduction to GIS in Public Health (2 Quarter Hours)
• PMO578 Remote Sensing Methods in Public Health (3 Quarter Hours)
• PMO1008 Independent Study in GIS (1-12 Quarter Hours)

Example Student and Faculty Research using GIS and Remote Sensing:

• Mosquito Habitats, Land Use, and Malaria Risk in Belize from Satellite Imagery
• Spatial Correlations of Mapped Malaria Rates with Environmental Factors in Belize Central America
• Use of IKONOS and Landsat for Malaria Control in the Republic of Korea
• A Cost Comparison of Two Malaria Control Methods in Kyunggi Province, Republic of Korea, Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
• The Relationship between Mosquito Abundance and Rice Field Density in the Republic of Korea
• Modeling the Distribution of Culex tritaeniorhynchus to Predict Japanese Encephalitis in the Republic of Korea
• Ecological Niche Model of Phlebotomus alexandri and P. papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Middle East

Acknowledgement

The GIS lab is supported through a grant from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Division of GEIS Operations.

For more information, contact penny.masuoka.ctr@usuhs.edu.