GIS Training Course

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Public Health

An introductory guide to Geographical Information Systems for North West Primary Care Trust Public Health teams.

From an Institute for Health Research training course March 2002

The Lancashire & Cumbria zone
of the North West Public Health Observatory Institute for Health Research Lancaster University

Please Click on the Links for Each chapter

Introduction to GIS course and health data sets

Training course data sets

A. Opening maps and boundary files

B. Moving around and viewing a map
C. Saving a set of MapInfo files in a workspace

Session 1 exercises

D. Creating a new feature or boundary file
E. Creating a new area layer on a map
F. Saving new layers (area, line or point)
G. Making changes to saved layers
H. Creating a new line layer on a map
I. Creating a new point(s) on a map

J. Setting up a layout page to print from
K. Preparing a page for printing

L. Working with multiple layers
M. Printing multiple maps and pictures, using the layout page

Session 2 exercises (building and using map layers)

N. Importing data into MapInfo, prior to creating a thematic map
O. Creating a thematic map within MapInfo
P. Labels and legends

Q. Creating a point map within MapInfo
R. Linking postcodes to grid references and ward codes using Excel and Access
S. Alternative quick and easy postcoder.
T. Buffering.
U. Point in polygon analysis
V. SQL analysis

Session 4 exercises (Spatial analysis within a GIS)

Appendix A Further reading

Appendix B Definitions & terminology

Appendix C
Appendix D

The Institute for Health Research at Lancaster University
should be contacted for permission to copy any part of this guide for teaching purposes (e-mail: a.gatrell@lancaster.ac.uk)

©Training guide copyright J.Wood, March 2002