As neighborhood factors and built environment become increasingly relevant for understanding the pathways to certain health behavior and outcomes, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offers a variety of opportunity to study these linkages. The availability of location data at the individual level, such as residential locations, along with census data and freely available spatial data from a variety of resources provide an opportunity to assess the context of place and the people that drive differentials in health outcomes.
Resources such as ArcGIS Online and ArcMap make it possible to geocode spatial data and map the neighborhood context. Spatial data, the resulting maps and analysis are an increasingly valuable tool to educate, prevent, and respond to community challenges. UCSF researchers now have access to ArcGIS and proprietary data that will allow for further investigation to the effects of location in health outcomes. This presentation will explore how geography intersects with health research and creates insights for understanding issues and directing policy. Local challenges of opioids and homelessness will be cited as examples.
