Virtual globes and geospatial health: the potential of new tools in the management and control of vector-borne diseases

Stensgaard, Anna-Sofie and Saarnak, Christopher F. L. and Utzinger, Jürg and Vounatsou, Penelope and Simoonga, Christopher and Mushinge, Gabriel and Rahbek, Carsten and Møhlenberg, Flemming and Kristensen, Thomas K. (2009) Virtual globes and geospatial health: the potential of new tools in the management and control of vector-borne diseases. Geospatial health , 3 (2). pp. 127-141. ISSN 1970-7096

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Abstract

The rapidly growing field of three-dimensional software modeling of the Earth holds promise for applications in the geospatial health sciences. Easy-to-use, intuitive virtual globe technologies such as Google Earth™ enable scientists around the world to share their data and research results in a visually attractive and readily understandable fashion without the need for highly sophisticated geographical information systems (GIS) or much technical assistance. This paper discusses the utility of the rapid and simultaneous visualization of how the agents of parasitic diseases are distributed, as well as that of their vectors and/or intermediate hosts together with other spatially-explicit information. The resulting better understanding of the epidemiology of infectious diseases, and the multidimensional environment in which they occur, are highlighted. In particular, the value of Google Earth™, and its web-based pendant Google Maps™, are reviewed from a public health view point, combining results from literature searches and experiences gained thus far from a multidisciplinary project aimed at optimizing schistosomiasis control and transmission surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the basic analytical capabilities of virtual globe applications are limited, we conclude that they have considerable potential in the support and promotion of the geospatial health sciences as a userfriendly, straightforward GIS tool for the improvement of data collation, visualization and exploration. The potential of these systems for data sharing and broad dissemination of scientific research and results is emphasized

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	geospatial health, virtual globes, Google Earth™, geographical information system, vector-borne disease, schistosomiasis, sub-Saharan Africa, CONTRAST
Subjects:	600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) > 614 Medicina legale; incidenza delle malattie; Medicina preventiva pubblica > 614.4 Incidenza delle malattie e misure pubblica per prevenirle (classificare qui l'Epidemiologia, l'Epidemiologia clinica) 600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) > 616 Malattie (classificare qui la Clinica medica, la medicina basata sull'evidenza, la Medicina interna, la Medicina sperimentale) > 616.9 Altre malattie (altri rami della Medicina) > 616.96 Parassitosi, malattie causate da funghi (micosi) (classificare qui la Parassitologia medica) > 616.963 Malattie causate da trematodi (infezioni da trematodi) (include la schistosomiasi) 900 Storia, Geografia e discipline ausiliarie > 910 Geografia e viaggi > 910.285 Geographic information systems
Depositing User:	biblioteca 7
Date Deposited:	08 Jul 2010 09:56
Last Modified:	08 Jul 2010 09:56
URI:	http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/2843

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