Abstract
 Visualization and Simulation of Disease Outbreaks: Spatially-Explicit Applications Using Disease Surveiilance Data Track: Health and Human Services Author(s): Joseph Burns, Eden Wells, Colin Brooks, Charles Hatt, Mark Wilson, Robert Shuchman, Eric Keefauver, Eden Wells Public health agencies are interested in making effective use of disease reporting data and developing a better understanding of disease outbreaks. Methods of using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to accomplish these goals were investigated as part of a larger study of disease surveillance. Two GIS-related aspects of this work are presented. First, an ArcObjects-based tool was developed for visualizing and monitoring disease outbreaks using information that is now available in recently-developed electronic disease surveillance databases. This provides public health agencies with the ability to understand the geo-temporal nature of outbreaks in near real-time. The resulting tool has been demonstrated on both simulated and actual disease outbreak data. Second, a contact network-based simulation of disease outbreaks was developed to provide an environment for assessing new surveillance concepts. An important component of the model is a variable capturing the degree of connectivity for both individuals and areas. Concepts for generating contact networks from GIS data are presented. An example of generating an alternative index of connectivity based on travel times is discussed. Joseph Burns Environmental and Emerging Technologies Division, Altarum Institute 3520 Green Court, Suite 300 Ann Arbor , MI 48105 US Phone: 734.302-4725 E-mail: joseph.burns@altarum.org Eden Wells Michigan Department of Community Health Bureau of Epidemiology 201 Townsend P.O. Box 30195 Lansing , MI 48913 US Phone: 517-335-8165 Fax: 517-335-8263 E-mail: wellsed@michigan.gov Colin Brooks Altarum Institute EETD P.O. Box 134001 Ann Arbor , MI 48113 US Phone: 734-302-5633 Fax: 734-302-4992 E-mail: colin.brooks@altarum.org Charles Hatt Altarum Institute EETD 3520 Green Court, Suite 300 Ann Arbor , MI MI US Phone: 734-302-4726 E-mail: charles.hatt@altarum.org Mark Wilson University of Michigan School of Public Health 109 Observatory Street Room 2006 Ann Arbor , MI 48109-2029 US Phone: 734-936-0152 E-mail: wilsonml@umich.edu Robert Shuchman Altarum Institute EETD 3520 Green Court, Suite 300 Ann Arbor , MI MI US Phone: 734-302-4600 E-mail: robert.shuchman@altarum.org Eric Keefauver Altarum Institute EETD 3520 Green Court, Suite 300 Ann Arbor , MI 48105 US Phone: 734-302-4724 E-mail: eric.keefauver@altarum.org Eden Wells Michigan Department of community Health 201 Townsend P.O. Box 30195 Lansing , MI 30195 US Phone: (517) 335-8165 Fax: (517) 335-8263 E-mail: wellsed@michigan.gov |
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