Susan Lo HSCI 273 1. WHAT IS GIS? HOW IS IT USED? Visit the following two sites.

Watch the two videos. Explain what GIS is, how it is developed, and what it is used for as you understand it in both videos. GIS stands for Geographic Information System. It uses information and software to explore fundamental principles of geography and is used to inventory, analyze and manage many aspects of the world. How GIS works is, it takes and inputs words and numbers from databases and creates a map. The map then illustrates patterns in the data that we may not be able to see. The data input on a map helps to ask questions such as where, why, and how with locational information in mind. The GIS is the key tool in determining what all the input means. An example, as described in the clip, is when flipping on a light switch, GIS helps make sure electricity is there, and when driving, GIS helps to manage the signs along the way. Another example could be the existence and use of GIS to make maps that help GPS systems remain up to date and keep users from getting lost. 2. Why does a map like this have value? What can it do that a table could not do? The map displayed is of significant value because it shows the incidence rate of primary and secondary syphilis per 100,000 in a population through the time of recorded date, and is represented spatially for each year it was recorded. This map gives the spectator a better idea of the amount of people per sections of North Carolina affected by primary and secondary syphilis as well as where it spread to regionally during those years; where the highest incidences took place.

By looking at the map, you can see which areas are still affected by the outbreak most, which has lowered, which has remained constant. It captures the trend with minimal words needed, while a table on the other hand only gives numerical data and does not help to represent the impact of its effects in its entirety. 3. What did you learn about GIS from this site? What did you learn about WNV? Give examples to make your point. GIS was helpful in this site because it helped to break down the map of the state, gave numbers of incidences for areas that had outbreaks as well as what kind of outbreak it was. For example, in California, year to date, West Nile Virus activity in California counties display no cases involving humans, horses, squirrels, or sentinel chickens, however we did have 2 cases of dead birds in 2 different counties, and 1 case of mosquitos in pools in 1 county. These cases took place in Sacramento and Riverside. Upon looking at incidences in other states, each state reports its incidences differently. Other states give information on WNV and precautionary measures on its main page. To find statistics, you would have to click another link to take you to the page. Californias main page displayed a demographic of affected areas as well as additional information. Some other states pages were not accessible and had error messages. This site made me aware of the season when human infections occur most, primarily in late summer to early fall. It also mentioned that majority of the people infected with the virus have no illness or at most have an infection similar to mild flu with fever, headache and fatigue. The time for infected people to develop symptoms are between 3 to 14 days after they are bitten by an infected mosquito. It reports that

less than 1% develop severe illness. Up to 20% of infected people will display symptoms and approximately 80% will not show any symptoms. 4. Locate the most recent quakes nearest campus. Record the magnitude, time, distance from Devore, or nearest location. Date: 4/28/2011 Magnitude: 1.9 Distance/Nearest Location: 2 Miles from Colton, 3 Miles from San Bernardino, 4 Miles from Rialto Date: 4/29/2011 Time: 10:34 P.M. Magnitude: 1.6 Distance: 4 Miles from Colton, 5 miles from Rialto. Depth: 19 Miles Time: 3:44 P.M. Depth: 9.7 Miles

5. Why is http://www.epi.state.nc.us/SCHS/gis/atlas/syphilis.html a useful site to understand spread of disease? It is a useful site to understand spread of diseases because it displays the county lines within North Carolina as well as the percentage rate of incidences within

those counties. It helps to track where the incidences are highest, where its rates have lowered and how or where it is spreading to. 6. Discuss what use the map could be in public health. Open street map can be used as a source of guide. For example, if you are visiting or touring anywhere in the world, it would be handy to have this map with you to help navigate your adventures. If we were to use this map in a public health perspective, it would be a good tool to keep track of outbreak incidences in countries throughout the world, and cities within those countries. It could perhaps track tourist rates such as where most people are travelling from and where they are visiting, so that if outbreaks should happen, this map can trace the progress and of outbreaks and cures. See Click Fix type of map may be beneficial in the public health spectrum in that it may keep the public aware of the weight of traffic in a certain area. Or if there is something that requires a change or improvement, this is a helpful tool to find such areas need assistance. Raidsonline could be used in tracking crimes in counties throughout the state. It can also help to keep track of which crimes are highest in which sections of the counties. 7. What is your walk score? Do you think your neighborhood is walkable meaning conducive to walking? Why? My walk score is 12. The housing community I am currently residing is a good source of exercise if I choose to walk around the block. As for other things, it is

not too conducive to walking because there are not many things around the area that are useful or provide items of necessity.

8. What does the map show you? Does a map help you understand anything better than reading a table of numbers with street addresses? Why did you give that answer. The crime map shows where a crime takes place, what kind of crime it is, whether it is a theft, burglary, assault, robbery, auto theft, etc. It also provides locations of registered sex offenders in the sity. Yes a map helps to put into perspective the area and proximity geographically better than reading data off a table would be able to display. The reason being that looking at data from a table, however large or small a number is, maps help to provide a visual relation to those numbers. 9. Look at the U.S. median household income map. Zoom in on California and then San Bernardino county by clicking on the map. When the county is outlined a pop up will show you the income for the county. What is it? Zoom in to the campus. What is the block group number? What is the median household income? Go back to the main menu and select the Supermarket Access Map and zoom in to the area you know is the zip code for the class assignment. What do you understand from the map? San Bernardino County Median Household Income: $ 53,794 CSUSB Block Number: 060710045029 Median Household Income: $ 78,413

Supermarket access page shows stores that provide healthy foods and where they are in proximity to where you live. In the map when I search for zip code 92407, it displays farmers markets, but there are not any near where I am. It is not conducive to walking. 10. What is a food desert? http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/1010/foodesert.html How can we spatially see where those are? Go to http://www.cnngis.org/ and click on Launch Map Viewer. When the map viewer comes up you will need to put the zip code in and click Find Zip. Then find Census Tract 06071004503 using the menu. A click on the screen will do what is selected on the left menu. Move the map by selecting Pan and then drag the map to the upper left so that you can reveal the campus area. Using Layer List click on the places people could buy food or go to get prepared food. Use the legend to see those. Pan so that University Parkway is in the center of the map. Go to the top menu to Print this Map and click on that. After that you will generate the map and then see the map. Select Print but actually save it as a PDF file. You can then use the map later in your powerpoint. Write a paragraph to indicate the types and locations of food retail and restaurant. How does this relate to the disease info from your Excel assignment? How does it relate to food desert? Measure

Food desert is defined by Kirk Goldsberry and Sarah Acmoody from Michigan State University as an urban area with little or no access to nutritious foods, so

residents of these areas have higher tendency to be overweight, and have more health related problems. The types of locations surround CSUSB are mainly fast food restaurants. Based on the map, there are not many places to get healthy foods other than at the grocery stores where you can purchase vegetables and fruits, more health conscious foods. This relates to food desert due to students being limited to what we can afford to purchase, time spent preparing foods and time used to study, and the foods available to us to purchase when we do not have time to cook. The options are not the healthiest of choices we have available to us. Because of the choice of foods available, it can be a contributing factor to high overweight, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes incidence rates, Low availability of healthy foods contribute to high rates of health complications.