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Some of the following links go to PDF
files. To view PDF files you will need Adobe
Acrobat Reader or for screen reader accessibility Adobe
Acrobat Access (free downloads from Adobe Web site).
GIS/Mapping SystemsGIS is the acronym
for “geographic information systems.” Those three words give a good
description of what GIS is a system for collecting and analyzing
information based on geography. GIS brings data together from different
sources, and ties the data to a geographic map. It’s becoming more
common to see GIS used in a variety of disciplines. It is commonly
used to map crime and violence data, to map mosquito-breeding areas,
to track the spread of invasive plant species, and to inform new automobile
navigation systems.
So, how does GIS relate to alcohol outlet density?Because much data has a geographic component, GIS can be used to literally plot data on a map. Databases of addresses with liquor licenses can be plotted on a map using GIS, to show the geographic distribution of alcohol sales outlets in a community. This distribution can be compared to locations of other establishments, for example, schools or children’s playgrounds combined with common children’s walking routes. Alcohol data plotted on GIS can be combined with other data plotted on GIS, such as crime or violence data, or demographic and economic indicators. By doing this, you would be able to see the spatial distribution of this data, and any spatial relationships between them. For example, GIS has been used to pinpoint police encounters involving alcohol and other drugs. Attention: Non-MDH link One potential use for GIS during needs assessment is to help target limited prevention resources to geographic areas of greatest need. GIS can connect data to the neighborhood level, which is helpful to community-based prevention. Many county governments and larger townships and cities may already have GIS in-house, due to its use with zoning and planning. ReadingsA number of articles have been published that focus on the spatial dynamics of alcohol availability and alcohol outlet distribution and the relationship to violence, neighborhood structure, crime, drinking and driving, injury and possibilities for prevention in local communities. Some articles focus on the use of GIS for evaluation. Attention: Non-MDH link For questions about this page, please contact the Center for Health Promotion at: health.chemicalhealth@state.mn.us | ||||||||||||||||||||