Global positioning systems and geographic information systems and physical activity

BackgroundThe International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health includes important considerations of environmental context in understanding disability, but the environmental impact is often difficult to measure.PurposeDemonstrates the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in rehabilitation research in assessing accessibility and participation; describes how to use these methods, and presents several considerations in using GIS and GPS in research.MethodUsing methods from public health and medical geography, this article describes how to apply GIS and GPS technologies to rehabilitation research to measure community participation and accessibility to resources.FindingsDirections for using ArcGIS functions and case examples joining these mapping technologies with rehabilitation measures are provided.ConclusionsTogether with traditional measures, these technologies may provide rehabilitation researchers a more comprehensive approach to assessing accessibility and participation.

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A review of spatial technologies with applications for malaria transmission modelling and control in Africa

Geospatial health ◽

10.4081/gh.2015.328 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Michael T. Gebreslasie

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Information Systems ◽

Geographic Information Systems ◽

Malaria Incidence ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Positioning Systems ◽

Global Positioning ◽

Technology Applications ◽

And Control ◽

Spatial Technology

Spatial technologies, i.e. geographic information systems, remote sensing, and global positioning systems, offer an opportunity for rapid assessment of malaria endemic areas. These technologies coupled with prevalence/incidence data can provide reliable estimates of population at risk, predict disease distributions in areas that lack baseline data and provide guidance for intervention strategies, so that scarce resources can be allocated in a cost-effective manner. This review focuses on the spatial technology applications that have been used in epidemiology and control of malaria in Africa. Peer-reviewed papers identified through a PubMed search using the following keywords: geospatial technology OR Geographic Information Systems OR Remote Sensing OR Earth Observation OR Global Positioning Systems OR geospatial modelling OR malaria incidence OR malaria prevalence OR malaria risk prediction OR malaria mapping AND malaria AND Africa were used. These included mapping malaria incidence and prevalence, assessing the relationship between malaria and environmental variables as well as applications for malaria early warning systems. The potential of new spatial technology applications utilising emerging satellite information, as they hold promise to further enhance infectious risk mapping and disease prediction, are outlined. We stress current research needs to overcome some of the remaining challenges of spatial technology applications for malaria so that further and sustainable progress can be made to control and eliminate this disease.

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Validation of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) Items Using Geographic Information Systems

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.6.s1.s113 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (s1) ◽

pp. S113-S123 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

Marc A. Adams ◽

Sherry Ryan ◽

Jacqueline Kerr ◽

James F. Sallis ◽

Kevin Patrick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Information Systems ◽

Geographic Information Systems ◽

Built Environment ◽

Traffic Congestion ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Activity Level ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Objective Measures

Background:Concurrent validity of Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) items was evaluated with objective measures of the built environment using geographic information systems (GIS).Methods:A sample of 878 parents of children 10 to 16 years old (mean age 43.5 years, SD = 6.8, 34.8% non-White, 63.8% overweight) completed NEWS and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. GIS was used to develop 1-mile street network buffers around participants’ residences. GIS measures of the built environment within participants’ buffers included percent of commercial and institutional land uses; number of schools and colleges, recreational facilities, parks, transit stops, and trees; land topography; and traffic congestion.Results:Except for trees and traffic, concordance between the NEWS and GIS measures were significant, with weak to moderate effect sizes (r = −0.09 to −0.36, all P ≤ 01). After participants were stratified by physical activity level, stronger concordance was observed among active participants for some measures. A sensitivity analysis of self-reported distance to 15 neighborhood destinations found a 20-minute (compared with 10- or 30-minute) walking threshold generally had the strongest correlations with GIS measures.Conclusions:These findings provide evidence of the concurrent validity of self-reported built environment items with objective measures. Physically active adults may be more knowledgeable about their neighborhood characteristics.

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Work Group II: Using Geographic Information Systems for Enhancing Research Relevant to Policy on Diet, Physical Activity, and Weight

American Journal of Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.amepre.2009.01.011 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. S171-S176 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Stephen A. Matthews ◽

Anne Vernez Moudon ◽

Mark Daniel

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Information Systems ◽

Geographic Information Systems ◽

Work Group ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Group Ii

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THE IMPACT OF UNREGULATED FACTOR INFLUENCE ON WINTER WHEAT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Environment Technology Resources Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference ◽

10.17770/etr2009vol1.1093 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 92

Author(s):

Gundega Dinaburga ◽

Dainis Lapiņš ◽

Andris Bērziņš

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Growth And Development ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Global Positioning Systems ◽

Wheat Growth ◽

Crop Cultivation ◽

Positioning Systems ◽

Global Positioning ◽

The Impact

The modern meaning of accurate crop cultivation is closely associated with the new information technologies - geographic information and global positioning systems. Latvia has not published the results of research on soil conditions and the impact of unregulated factors of production conditions on winter wheat growth and yield. Analysis of results of studies aimed to clarify the difference of soil treatment facilities, as the criteria for the treatment of soil using soil characterizing Non-plant growth and development factors. Investigations were carried out in 2005 – 2007 on the production plantations of the Kurpnieki field, the Vecauce Study and Research Farm of the Latvia University of Agriculture. The results, while on a previous year, research on soil management measures to optimize the opportunities associated with global positioning systems, precision field management implementation practice shows that in order to obtain objective indicators and to gain the desired results, it was not enough for one season observation, since a large role in shaping the harvest is the meteorological conditions during the growing period. Unregulated factors: organic matter content, Ap horizon thickness, as well as the relative height above sea-level properties of materials research is the prerequisite for geographic information system-based resource-saving cultivation technology field-crop cultivation.

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