Geoprocessing, public health and spatial analysis

Geoprocessing, public health and spatial analysis

There is a growing demand for the incorporation of GIS techniques in Brazil’s public health. The consolidation of this movement in the industry depends on data access, programs and training, besides the development of spatial analysis techniques. These ways of development are interdependent and technological solutions for the industry should consider the current terms of availability and quality of data, interoperability of cartographic databases, the development of friendly programs, and at the same time, with analytical tools geared to the industry’s problems. Those conditions involve strategies for coordinating the institutions that form the Unified Health System, to offer software and training to special tasks, in a large country full of internal differences. Two initiatives of the Ministry of Health which culminated in academic and research institutions support are including spatial analysis tools as instruments of decision-making: Encourage and co-financing of applications software "open source" TerraView, developed by the National Research Space Institute (INPE) and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (EAST / UFMG), which resulted in the inclusion of a set of statistical space tests, especially targeted for monitoring space and/or timing of injuries. All content is available for download on www.est.ufmg.br/leste; The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), and The Federal University of Goias (IPT / UFGO): a comprehensive manual for training under space analysis, including geographic exploitation, reaching space statistical analysis, set with constructivist content, where theory and practice where taken from a variety of real situations experienced by sanitarians, to be put in action in conventional distance learning. All material is available on www.capacita.geosaude.cict.fiocruz.br.