TY - JOUR

T1 - Virtual globes and geospatial health

T2 - the potential of new tools in the management and control of vector-borne diseases

AU - Stensgaard, Anna-Sofie

AU - Saarnak, Christopher F. L.

AU - Utzinger, Jürg

AU - Vounatsou, Penelope

AU - Simoonga, Christopher

AU - Mushinge, Gabriel

AU - Rahbek, Carsten

AU - Møhlenberg, Flemming

AU - Kristensen, TK

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The rapidly growing field of three-dimensional software modeling of the Earth holds promise for applicationsin the geospatial health sciences. Easy-to-use, intuitive virtual globe technologies such as Google Earth™ enable scien-tists around the world to share their data and research results in a visually attractive and readily understandable fash-ion without the need for highly sophisticated geographical information systems (GIS) or much technical assistance. Thispaper discusses the utility of the rapid and simultaneous visualization of how the agents of parasitic diseases are dis-tributed, as well as that of their vectors and/or intermediate hosts together with other spatially-explicit information.The resulting better understanding of the epidemiology of infectious diseases, and the multidimensional environmentin which they occur, are highlighted. In particular, the value of Google Earth™, and its web-based pendant GoogleMaps™, are reviewed from a public health view point, combining results from literature searches and experiencesgained thus far from a multidisciplinary project aimed at optimizing schistosomiasis control and transmission surveil-lance in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the basic analytical capabilities of virtual globe applications are limited, we con-clude that they have considerable potential in the support and promotion of the geospatial health sciences as a user-friendly, straightforward GIS tool for the improvement of data collation, visualization and exploration. The potentialof these systems for data sharing and broad dissemination of scientific research and results is emphasized.

AB - The rapidly growing field of three-dimensional software modeling of the Earth holds promise for applicationsin the geospatial health sciences. Easy-to-use, intuitive virtual globe technologies such as Google Earth™ enable scien-tists around the world to share their data and research results in a visually attractive and readily understandable fash-ion without the need for highly sophisticated geographical information systems (GIS) or much technical assistance. Thispaper discusses the utility of the rapid and simultaneous visualization of how the agents of parasitic diseases are dis-tributed, as well as that of their vectors and/or intermediate hosts together with other spatially-explicit information.The resulting better understanding of the epidemiology of infectious diseases, and the multidimensional environmentin which they occur, are highlighted. In particular, the value of Google Earth™, and its web-based pendant GoogleMaps™, are reviewed from a public health view point, combining results from literature searches and experiencesgained thus far from a multidisciplinary project aimed at optimizing schistosomiasis control and transmission surveil-lance in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the basic analytical capabilities of virtual globe applications are limited, we con-clude that they have considerable potential in the support and promotion of the geospatial health sciences as a user-friendly, straightforward GIS tool for the improvement of data collation, visualization and exploration. The potentialof these systems for data sharing and broad dissemination of scientific research and results is emphasized.

U2 - 10.4081/gh.2009.216

DO - 10.4081/gh.2009.216

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19440958

VL - 3

SP - 127

EP - 141

JO - Geospatial health

JF - Geospatial health

SN - 1827-1987

IS - 2

ER -