FOCUS ON:
Renewed GeoConnections
The 2010 Federal Budget announced renewed funding for the GeoConnections program. The Budget provides $11 million in funding over the next two years to continue development of the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) and to provide consolidated geographic-related information to Canadians via the Internet.
News Flash
June 15 2010 Results of Data Needs Assessment for Integrated Landscape Management Decision-Making Processes Now AvailableUpcoming Events
Resources & Tools
Capacity Development in Public Health GIS for Eastern Health Regions of Newfoundland and Labrador
This project will develop strategic and business plans to guide the creation of a web-based health-information tool. The tool will be used to support population health surveillance in the Eastern Health region of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is the largest integrated health organization in the province. The geographical area extends from the St. John's region west to Port Blandford, including both urban and rural communities.
This project will ensure that the tool is sustainable and that it leverages the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) standards and encourages regional and provincial health service providers to collaborate. It will also broaden support for geomatics and better ensure the tool's alignment with the goals and priorities of Eastern Health and its partners.
The process of developing the strategic and business plans will help to bridge information silos, fill information gaps, ultimately improve decisions related to programming and resource allocation, and provide direction for public health surveillance. In addition to generating support for current Eastern Health programs over the long term, the plans will assist in preparing for public health emergencies such as outbreaks and pandemic influenza.
The capacity to access and appropriately use location-based or "geospatial" data is particularly important in regions where expertise in epidemiology (the study of factors affecting population health and illness) is limited, and where there is a definite need to assess population health and respond effectively to issues. Ideally, strategic planning will provide the foundation for placing location-based information in the hands of key public health practitioners and decision-makers within the Eastern Health region, and provide a focal point for further development of this Web-based health information tool across the province.
Primary Partner:
Eastern Health
St. John's,
Newfoundland and Labrador;
Partners:
Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information
Division of Community Health & Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University
Department of Geography, Memorial University
Funding From GeoConnections: $39,680.00 ( 49.1 %)
Estimated Inception Date: September, 2008
Estimated Completion Date: January, 2009
Deliverables from this project benefitted the following provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador;