The Ministry of Health and the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (Haad) confirmed plans to look into introducing "syndromic surveillance" into their current systems.
... Syndromic surveillance, which is still under review by the World Health Organisation, utilises internet search engines and social networking sites to provide a more in-depth report, said Dr Al Hosani. "Google's flu map [Google Flu Trend Tracker] is one of the methods of surveillance.
Google searches and Twitter posts are they resources being explored today. it's ineresting the UAE is looking to get out ahead of the WHO. The UAE already has doctors submit patient info on diseases such as flu to a central database. It's been up and running for two years.
- The National
Next, [after HealthMap] Brownstein wants to see what happens if everyone gets involved. To do it, HealthMap teamed up with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and in late October launched a giant public health experiment called Flu Near You, a new online mapping tool that lets people report their flu symptoms and then creates a living map of the results. The tool, data from which is accessible to anyone, generates real-time maps of reported flu activity by ZIP code. To drive participation in the endeavor, APHA is encouraging its members as well as public health practitioners nationwide to join APHA's Flu Near You Challenge and help recruit as many people as possible to take part in the massive surveillance and prevention effort.
- The Pump Handle Blog (coolest name ever for a public health blog!!!)
A study in Belgium reveals that walkability only has an impact on adolesent activity (boy and girls) for low income neighborhoods.
Neighborhood walkability was related to accelerometer-based physical activity only among adolescent boys and girls living in low-SES neighborhoods.
- press release (BMC Public Health)
by Adena Schutzberg on 01/05 at 03:00 AM |
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Chicago (map) and NYC (map via www.nyc.gov when its up an running) will offer real time snow plow info. While the maps won't get the streets plowed any faster, the transparency is most welcome.
- press release (Chicago)
- ABC (NYC)
Linear referencing is still a challenge on rural roads. In Canada, one community finds it'd cost quite a bit to put in marker numbers for 911 response.
According to Good’s report, it would cost $95,000 to install the markers along Muskoka’s rural roads, with additional costs needed to maintain the signage in the future.
Utility poles can be used in part because they have bar codes and small numbers that are difficult to read from the road and because reponders need permission to use the data.
- Cottage Country Now
The City Council [NYC] on Wednesday passed a measure that requires the Department of Transportation to post information on its website regarding resurfacing and capital improvements.
Data such as when streets were last paved and road conditions will be available. There is an online map, but it has not geocoding yet.
- NY1
by Adena Schutzberg on 01/05 at 03:00 AM |
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On Monday, January 9th Geospatial Training will be releasing a free self-paced, web based, e-learning course titled: Bringing Data to Life with Google Fusion Tables
Part 1 of this course will be released in January with Part 2: Programming the Google Fusion Tables API coming later this year. The course has video lectures and exercises. I wonder how geography/GIS eduators might use these resources?
- Geospatial Training Blog
FIG is offering acadmic grants in areas related to geospatial to those who qualify who are in approrpiately designated countries. Proposals due Jan 15!
- announecement via @micheal_d_gould
The GeoTech Center has made ten sample questions for its National Geospatial Technology Comptetition Round 1 multiple choice test available in a PDF. I'm pleased to report I got them all correct, though some of them were on topics I never studied. The actual test must be taken by March 15 to be in the contest. This year both Round 1 (test) and Round 2 (project) scores will be used to determine the six semi-finalists who will be invited to the Esri EdUC.
- GeoTech Center Blog
by Adena Schutzberg on 01/05 at 02:59 AM |
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