Geography plays an important role in both crime and public health issues. Knowledge of the geography of a disease can lead to better understanding of interactions between health and culture, behavior, and the environment (Moore and Carpenter 1999). According to Harding and Wittman, alcohol-related problems are a result of interactions between the individual and his environment (1995).
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) look at "the role of space... place...and location" to investigate patterns of social and behavioral problems (Wieczorek and Hanson 1997) and publich health practice and research (Richards et. al 1999).
GIS is a computerized mapping systems that allow association of collections of data with specific locations through a coordinate system in order to study spatial relationships. GIS is currently being used to investigate the epidemiology of alcohol-abuse and patterns of alcohol-related crime and drunk-driving events (Stevenson et. al 1998). GIS is also being used to help plan and implement community programs to help prevent alcohol-associated problems.
This website was created as part of a class project in Imaging the Earth, at Davidson College.
Link to other GIS Student Web Sites.
Please email me at lemartineau@davidson.edu with questions, comments or concerns.