The Big Event is tomorrow!!! Please meet at your local Woodbridge elementary school by 9 A.M. so that the day’s events can begin promptly. The event should last for about an hour and a half. We will be assessing the safety of sidewalks and intersections around each of the school sites. This event will help to promote public participation and community pride in Woodbridge Township and hopefully eventually other townships!!
Here is a video about the event for your viewing!!!
For any questions or concerns, please e-mail Bridget M.
A pilot project on the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) for analyzing and planning of Reproductive Health (RH) services was launched in Pattani, Thailand in 2001. The GIS technology was useful in analyzing and seeking clusters of houses of pregnant women who use TBAs services for delivery.
From the study, it was found that most pregnant women in all villages practiced modern way of family planning. Oral contraceptive was the most popular method used. Most pregnant women delivered in government hospitals or sub-district health centres.
From the analysis, it showed that distances from TBAs and health centre had some influence on pregnant women. It was found that those who lived near the Khok Pho community hospital would go to the hospital when delivered. Using TBAs’ services was found more in Muslim village and majority of them used their services in delivery. Almost all of them found TBAs’ services satisfactory.
It also showed that Islamic pregnant women who used the TBA’s services received lower education and were attached to agricultural sector. From the pilot study, it was recommended that the Pattani PPHO should consider about raising awareness on RH to these Muslim women and mobilizing them to use government services.
Because of the success of the pilot program, the GIS technology will be later used to develop health plans and help to manage other health concerns such as STD/HIV/AIDS protection, family planning, adolescent reproductive health, health education and epidemiology for common and rare disease control.
Locations of TBAs and Pregnant Women, and Tentative Service Area of TBAs in Na Pradu Sub-district
For more information, please take a look at the Site.
Melissa Lawrence, Social Marketing Administrator, VERTICES, LLC
The geographic distributions of many Antarctic cephalopod species are not well understood. Many may be influenced by physical factors such as water masses, ice extent or bathymetry. In this study the ability of GIS was shown to handle large amount of data from different sources, particularly cephalopod species distribution. The species distribution maps produced with GIS can be updated as soon as more data are available and can be made available via Internet. The use of GIS and Internet technology combined will allow the scientific community to have easy access to the most recent information.
In the end of the study, a total of 2497 geographic positions of 21 species of squid were obtained, combining data from 1886 (Challenger Expedition) to 1997.
i-MapNJ DEP isone of NJDEP’s environmental mapping tools that can provide you with information about your neighborhood, county, or the state of NJ. i-MapNJ DEP provides the best and most current versions of NJDEP’s Geographic Information System (GIS) environmental data. Users can find out what’s in their backyard; environmental organizations, planners, realtors, and builders can identify open space, various regulatory boundaries, sensitive lands, watersheds, and more.
You can review Tutorials before using the application as well as find out more information about the site by visiting this link.
Melissa Lawrence, Social Marketing Administrator, VERTICES, LLC
A hotspot management based GIS system has been used in India as part of a national control program. A team from India’s National Institute of Malaria Research worked with a team from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme and the State Health Department to use GIS to pinpoint trouble spots for timely preventive action. The system identifies hotspots from which malaria flares up every time conditions favorable for transmission occur.
The main advantage of the GIS platform is fast data updating – as soon as data is entered, revised maps highlight the trouble spots.
For more information, please take a look at the Site.
Melissa Lawrence, Social Marketing Administrator, VERTICES, LLC
Mary Marzano has started a revolutionary effort to help the needy! Mary’s company called “Green Recoverings” encourages hotels around the world to consistently donate all gently used bedding, towels and any other useable discards to the needy, including furniture and kitchenware, instead of shipping it to landfills.
Mary was recently featured on Oprah and in People Magazine where she talked about her organization and how people can help. A clip of the show can be viewed above.
On her site is featured a map that allows anyone to help the cause. All you have to do is find a charity or shelter in your area, determine their needs, then contact local hotel managers to see if they are willing to accommodate any of the needs. Its as simple as that!!
For more information, please take a look at the Site.
Melissa Lawrence, Social Marketing Administrator, VERTICES, LLC
I just want to congratulate all of the Rutgers 2009 graduates!!! We did it!!!
As apart of the “Douglass Difference”, it made me proud to walk down the stage and recieve my diploma! No one knows how hard it was to get to this point but I never gave up and am thankful none of my peers gave up either!! Congrates once again!!
ArcGIS 9.3.1 improves the performance of dynamic map publishing and increases the sharing of geographic information. Some of the interesting as well as beneficial upgrades made to the program are:
High-Performance Dynamic Map Publishing
Better Sharing of Geographic Information
Fast Access to Microsoft Virtual Earth Maps and Imagery
Enhanced Support for Java Developers
Easy to Install
Licensing Changes for ArcGIS Server
For more information, please take a look at the ESRI site.
Melissa Lawrence, Social Marketing Administrator, VERTICES, LLC
Iracoubo is a small rural municipality located on the coastal plain of French Guiana with a population of 1,428 inhabitants. Housing areas are surrounded by rain forest, mangrove forest, and coastal wetlands. To study a 2001 dengue fever outbreak in Iracoubo, the location of all patients’ homes and the date when symptoms were first observed was recorded. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to integrate the patient-related information.
In particular, GIS and spatial statistics were useful choices for the surveillance of dengue fever because no vaccine or specific treatment is available. The only solution to prevent the disease is vector control strategy. This control strategy requires that risk areas and risk periods be identified, which is where GIS comes in. GIS was used to describe the spread of dengue viruses in a small locality.
The results show that heterogeneity in the RR variations in space and time corresponds to known entomologic and epidemiologic factors, such as the mosquito feeding cycle and host-seeking behavior. This finding demonstrates the relevance and potential of the use of GIS and spatial statistics for elaborating a dengue fever surveillance strategy.
For more information, please take a look at the article here.
Melissa Lawrence, Social Marketing Administrator, VERTICES, LLC
GIS Use in Public Health & Healthcare 
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