Public Participation Geographic Information Systems as Surveillance Tools in Urban Health

Abstract

Urban environments offer unique opportunities for researchers in the spatial sciences. Urban systems create their own microclimate, are the realization of intensive human activity and are strongly associated with high levels of human population (Steemers et al 1997). These aspects among others afford the opportunity for geospatial technologies to monitor and enhance humankind’s relationship with the environment. However, far too often is this monitoring done by researchers or interested groups which are empowered to do so (Elwood 2006). Marginalized groups within urban settings rarely are offered the opportunity to participate in the development of a monitoring system, which could include geospatial technologies. Often these marginalized groups are not just lacking in the sense of policy decisions but their quality of health is often times inferior to more prominent groups within the city. This level of poor health is not defined and in order for it to be understood sufficiently, the level of spatial differentiation in health needs to be measured (Galea et al. 2005).