Geographic Information Systems

Code:

OPT_MSP12_30

Acronym:

MSP12_30

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Public Health

Instance: 2014/2015 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Clinical Epidemiology, Predictive Medicine and Public Health Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree Course in Public Health

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MSP	8	Master Degree Public Health - Official Plan12	1	-	3	27	81

Teaching language

English

Objectives

This curricular unit has as main objective the acquisition of knowledge and skills about the main methods of spatial analysis in epidemiology: disease mapping and analysis of spatial data. Enable students to:

• Understand the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the importance of the use of geographic space in Health;
• Understand concepts of cartography for use in GIS;
• Understand the different types of spatial data;
• Learn to choose the methods of spatial data analysis in Health.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of this curricular unit the students will be able to understand the health problems in a geographical context and to choose the spatial analysis methods more suitable for different data types and health problems.

Working method

Presencial

Program

The representation of Earth: geodetic systems, scales, cartographic accuracy. Basic concepts, methods and applications of Geographic Information Systems in Health. Data Types. Quality and sources of population and health data. Georeferencing of data using coordinates, addresses and areas, using Geographic Information System, GPS and Google Earth. Georeferencing accuracy of the different methods and implications in spatial epidemiology. Creating a WebGIS.

Statistical methods and non-statistical analysis of spatial data. History of the disease mapping. Creating a WebGIS.

Relation of socioeconomic and environmental factors on health. Bias and confounding in spatial epidemiology. Disease mapping: limitations of chropleth maps. Mapping mortality data and environmental and socioeconomics data overlay

Mandatory literature

Longley, P., Goodchild, M., & Rhind, D.; Geographical Information Systems and Science, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2005
Matos, J.; Fundamentos de Informação Geográfica, LIDEL, 2008 ((em Português))
Kurland, K.S., & Gorr, L.W.; GIS Tutorial for Health, ESRI Press, 2012

Teaching methods and learning activities

Having the Curricular Unit 3 ECTs, it is estimated a total of 81 hours of student work, of which 27 h are direct contact, distributed in 6 theoretical- practical sessions of 4,5 hours each.

In all sessions will be presented a brief theoretical introduction followed by practical exercises using a Geographical Information System. In each session will be provided to the student: i) General and specialized bibliographic references and ii) Spatial data

Software

ArcGIS 10.2.1

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	40,00
Trabalho escrito	60,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation will consist of individual work performed in the classroom (40%) + final work performed in groups of 2-3 students which should be presented in the form of a scientific paper (60%).