Environmental Public Health Tracking Network FY 24 - UK GIS Training and Technical Assistance

ABSTRACT The Commonwealth of Kentucky collects a wide variety of information relevant to public health through multiple cabinets and departments: infant mortality, smoking rates, cancer incidence, mining permits, vehicle crashes, drug-related arrests, and much more. All of these data possess a spatial component-i.e., a location that can be mapped in some way. Mapping and analyzing the spatial distribution of these phenomena enables public health authorities and others to address them more efficiently. Many state employees possess basic geographic information system (GIS) skills but have limited experience with spatial analysis of public health data. Obtaining this experience while on the job is logistically difficult and time consuming, and thus rarely a priority. GIS is a very important spatial analysis tool, which is progressive and timely for public health. Through this contract, we will provide expertise for geographic or spatiotemporal analysis of environmental health hazards to the Commonwealth. We will provide training to state and local health department staff in the areas of data visualization and geographic or spatiotemporal analysis. And we will assist in citizen science projects, such as radon testing and soil metals analysis, upon request.