The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #53126

Joan Gardner¹, Brian Hebert¹, Theresa Cassidy², and Suzanne K. Condon³. (1) Applied Geographics, Inc., 355 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210, 617 292-7125, jng@appgeo.com, (2) MA Dept. of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, 250 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108-4619, (3) Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108

Applied Geographics, Inc. (AGI) worked closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health/Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment to create an application that would automate the calculation, reporting, and mapping of the Standard Incidence Ratio for cancer data by census tract. The application meets a critical need to be responsive to public inquiry about "cancer clusters" and to proactively investigate patterns of cancer incidence. This presentation: · Describes the problem and introduces GIS technology · Details the data development and integration process that paralleled the application development effort. Of note, the application solves problem of changes in census tract boundaries from 1990 to 2000 census. · Describes and demonstrates the features and functionality of the final application - on screen, on demand mapping and SIR calculation by census tract for cancer data, tabular and thematic map viewing and printing.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will understand calculating an SIR across 1990 and 2000 census tracts.

Keywords: Technology,

Related Web page: appgeo.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Applied Geographics, Inc.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employed by Applied Geographics, Inc.