Jeff BlossomJeff BlossomSenior GIS SpecialistSenior GIS Specialist

CCenter for enter for GGeographic eographic AAnalysis, Harvard Universitynalysis, Harvard University

March 18, 2009March 18, 2009

Geographic Information Systems and CGA’sServices and Workshops

Presentation for the Fellowship in General Medicine and Primary Care

Geographic Information Systems and CGA’sServices and Workshops

Presentation for the Fellowship in General Medicine and Primary Care

OverviewOverview

Geographic Information SystemsGeographic Information Systems

CGA’s ServicesCGA’s Services

CGA’s Training WorkshopsCGA’s Training Workshops

Sample ProjectsSample Projects

GeographicGeographic Information Systems (GIS) Information Systems (GIS)

Geography – The study of where features are located on Geography – The study of where features are located on the Earth’s surface. the Earth’s surface.

GeographicGeographic coordinate systems coordinate systemslatitudelatitude

longitudelongitude

- Represent exact positions on the EarthRepresent exact positions on the Earth- 42.3216, -71.089118 (lat. long. for Boston)42.3216, -71.089118 (lat. long. for Boston)

Georeferencing / Geocoding – The process of assigning Georeferencing / Geocoding – The process of assigning geographic coordinates to features to represent their geographic coordinates to features to represent their location.location.

GeographicGeographic Information Systems (GIS) Information Systems (GIS)

Geographic feature representation: Geographic feature representation: points, lines, points, lines, polygons, rasters.polygons, rasters.

Points – U.S. Cities Points – U.S. Cities

Lines – U.S. InterstatesLines – U.S. Interstates

Polygons – U.S. StatesPolygons – U.S. States

GeographicGeographic Information Systems (GIS) Information Systems (GIS)

Geographic feature representation: Geographic feature representation: points, lines, points, lines, polygons, rasters.polygons, rasters.

Raster – Boston aerial photoRaster – Boston aerial photo

Geographic Geographic InformationInformation Systems (GIS) Systems (GIS)

Information about the geographic features – stored in Information about the geographic features – stored in tabular formtabular form

Points – U.S. Cities Points – U.S. Cities

Lines – U.S. InterstatesLines – U.S. Interstates

Polygons – U.S. StatesPolygons – U.S. States

Geographic Geographic InformationInformation Systems (GIS) Systems (GIS)

Raster – Boston aerial photoRaster – Boston aerial photo

Geographic Information Geographic Information SystemsSystems (GIS) (GIS)

A collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data designed for capturing, storing, updating, manipulating, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.

- Hardware- Hardware- Software - Software - Data - Data - Methodology- Methodology- People- People- Management- Management

2. A set of tools and procedures – A language to perform tasks

1. Smart, interactive, functional Map

DBMSDBMS

3. A well-managed system of 3. A well-managed system of informationinformation

Data FilesData Files

Three views of Three views of GISGIS

Visualization: Visualization: many different waysmany different ways

Maps Maps digital, webdigital, web

Tables Tables database drivendatabase driven

Charts Charts auto updateauto update

Reports Reports embeddedembedded

Photos Photos linkedlinked

3-D animation3-D animation Multi-media presentationMulti-media presentation

CGA Basic ServicesCGA Basic Services Maintaining Maintaining help deskshelp desks in both campuses; in both campuses; Consulting with students, faculty, and staff Consulting with students, faculty, and staff

on research and teachingon research and teaching projectsprojects;; Consulting on Consulting on grant proposalsgrant proposals;; Providing non-credit group Providing non-credit group instructioninstruction in in

geospatial software applications on a geospatial software applications on a regular basis;regular basis;

Assessing, organizing, financing for, and Assessing, organizing, financing for, and maintaining university site licenses for maintaining university site licenses for softwaresoftware;;

Providing Providing hardwarehardware and support for and support for geospatial tools; geospatial tools;

Undertaking initiatives that improve the Undertaking initiatives that improve the university university infrastructureinfrastructure in relation to in relation to geographic analysis. geographic analysis.

Research ConsultationResearch Consultation Data issues, e.g.Data issues, e.g.

• Public and commercial data sourcesPublic and commercial data sources• Data collection and management techniquesData collection and management techniques• Data conversion, scanning, digitizing, etc.Data conversion, scanning, digitizing, etc.

Hardware/software issues, e.g.Hardware/software issues, e.g.• What GPS to buy – accuracy, compatibility, etc.What GPS to buy – accuracy, compatibility, etc.• Which software to use for various tasksWhich software to use for various tasks

Methodology issues, e.g.Methodology issues, e.g.• How to select parameters in spatial How to select parameters in spatial

interpolationinterpolation• How to build location-allocation modelsHow to build location-allocation models

Visualization issues, e.g.Visualization issues, e.g.• How to do 3-D maps or time-series animationHow to do 3-D maps or time-series animation• How to allow users make interactive maps How to allow users make interactive maps

from a web browserfrom a web browser

Washington Life Expectancy Mapping and Washington Life Expectancy Mapping and VisualizationVisualization

Indian Physician MigrationIndian Physician Migration

Quantifying air pollution in Accra, GhanaQuantifying air pollution in Accra, Ghana

Health Clubs per Census TractHealth Clubs per Census Tract

HealthMap.orgHealthMap.org

Nationalatlas.govNationalatlas.gov

Youth Tobacco Initiative

Instructional Instructional ServiceService

Semester courses in Faculty of Arts and Semester courses in Faculty of Arts and SciencesSciences

Winter recess courses in Harvard Medical Winter recess courses in Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public School and Harvard School of Public Health Health

Non-credit GIS training seminarsNon-credit GIS training seminars Customized GIS course modules in various Customized GIS course modules in various

courses (e.g. history, business, health, courses (e.g. history, business, health, government)government)

Extension school courses in GISExtension school courses in GIS Online tutorials and self-learning materialsOnline tutorials and self-learning materials

GIS WorkshopsGIS Workshops

Designed to introduce GIS concepts and Designed to introduce GIS concepts and teach basic GIS software use.teach basic GIS software use.

2 hours of instructor led, hands on training.2 hours of instructor led, hands on training. 4 workshops, offered 3x per year in 4 workshops, offered 3x per year in

Cambridge and Longwood.Cambridge and Longwood. Available to anyone with Harvard IDAvailable to anyone with Harvard ID Register online at:Register online at:http://http://gis.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keywordgis.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k235&pageid=icb.page189848=k235&pageid=icb.page189848

GIS Workshop: GIS Workshop: Intro to GISIntro to GIS

Brief introduction to GIS-Brief introduction to GIS-related terminology and related terminology and spatial data basics. spatial data basics.

Students create a basic map Students create a basic map using ArcGIS, and MassGIS using ArcGIS, and MassGIS data. data.

GIS Workshop: GIS Workshop: Wrangling Data into MapsWrangling Data into Maps

Covers techniques and methods of converting Covers techniques and methods of converting different data types from various sources into a different data types from various sources into a map.map.

Students create a map of publishable quality Students create a map of publishable quality from geo-coded, tabular, text, and online data. from geo-coded, tabular, text, and online data.

GIS Workshop: GIS Workshop: Getting the most out of Google EarthGetting the most out of Google Earth

Hands-on exploration of the extensive functionality Hands-on exploration of the extensive functionality of Google Earth including navigation, feature of Google Earth including navigation, feature creation, and map georefererencing. creation, and map georefererencing.

Import/Export of data from/to ArcMap. Import/Export of data from/to ArcMap.

GIS Workshop: GIS Workshop: Making Sense of Spatial DataMaking Sense of Spatial Data

An introduction to spatial analysis for various kinds An introduction to spatial analysis for various kinds of problem solving in a GIS environment.of problem solving in a GIS environment.

Students work with raster and vector data, Students work with raster and vector data, performing spatial operations like overlay, performing spatial operations like overlay, buffering, and interpolation. buffering, and interpolation.

GIS Workshop: GIS Workshop: Intro to Google Maps mashupsIntro to Google Maps mashups(Fall of 2009)(Fall of 2009)

How to perform online mapping and publish results How to perform online mapping and publish results on a website.on a website.

Embedding a custom Google Map on a website. Embedding a custom Google Map on a website.

GIS Workshop: GIS Workshop: Global Positioning System MappingGlobal Positioning System Mapping

A hands on workshop that will introduce the concept and A hands on workshop that will introduce the concept and various uses of the Global Positioning System (GPS).various uses of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Students will use mapping GPS devices in the field, and Students will use mapping GPS devices in the field, and upload the mapped data into desktop and internet mapping upload the mapped data into desktop and internet mapping applications.applications.

Intended for students / researchers who plan to use GPS for Intended for students / researchers who plan to use GPS for their field work. their field work.

Thank YouThank You

Credits: This presentation includes material provided by the Center for Geographic Analysis, Harvard University, Harvard Credits: This presentation includes material provided by the Center for Geographic Analysis, Harvard University, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Garmin, Warigia Bowman, School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Garmin, Warigia Bowman, and Google.and Google.

Jeff BlosssomJeff BlosssomContact: Contact: jblossom@cga.harvard.edujblossom@cga.harvard.edu

Website: Website: http://gis.harvard.eduhttp://gis.harvard.edu

Geocoding and mapping:Geocoding and mapping: http://http://www.batchgeocode.comwww.batchgeocode.com http://maps.google.comhttp://maps.google.com http://maps.yahoo.comhttp://maps.yahoo.com http://earth.google.comhttp://earth.google.com

Public Health:Public Health: http://www.nationalatlas.govhttp://www.nationalatlas.gov http://healthmap.orghttp://healthmap.org http://healthlandscape.orghttp://healthlandscape.org

Surgical Safety website:Surgical Safety website:http://cga2.cga.harvard.edu:8080/KML/Surgical_Safety.htmhttp://cga2.cga.harvard.edu:8080/KML/Surgical_Safety.htm