Web-based health mapping — A short way from the data to the user

Abstract

This chapter addresses public health data communication as an important application area for mapping on the Internet. It is argued that changes within the health system and the globalized information society require on the one hand the general need for spatial information and on the other hand its communication. First, the difference between health data analysis and health data communication is shown taking GIS into account. Afterwards the advantages of delivering health data over the Internet compared to traditional printed publications are discussed, followed by the presentation of three Internet mapping applications on the national, continental and global level. Two further examples on the German state level are presented more comprehensively to shed light on the two most important areas for health mapping on the Internet: disease surveillance and public health reporting. Finally, some conclusions are drawn and it is argued that the future potential is already inherent in the numerous more or less functional examples which are under development.