Darvishi Boloorani A¹ * (PhD), Rashidian A² (MD, PhD), Jokar Arsanjani J³ (PhD), Shaygan M⁴ (MSc)

  ¹ Department of Cartography, Faculty of Geography and UT-RGC, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

  ² Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences   National Institute of Health Research, Tehran, Iran

  ³ Department of Geoinformatic, Faculty of Geography, University of Heidelberg, Germany

  ⁴ Department of GIS Engineering, Faculty of Geomatics Engineering,   Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

  Received: 11 Jan 2012, Accepted: 22 Jun 2012

  Abstract

  This article reviews how geospatial analysis capabilities, remote sensing techniques, as well as geographical information system approaches could be applicable in individuals' and environment’s health observation. The investigation of spatial factors related to individuals' health has been the most important aspect of efforts to identify and control environmental factors. Spatial analysis and geographical information could benefit researches in a variety of ways in this field. This article considers the carried out studies worldwide on integration of remote sensing, GIS with health and diseases related notions, i.e. medical geography. GIS, as a central core of location-based disasters, can play a significant role in discovering the influence of location on inception, existence, and distribution of diseases and infections.This article aims to introduce geospatial techniques and space-based information to researchers who study and monitor health systems, e.g., epidemiologists, demographers and geographers. Thanks to the information technology advancements, GI Systems ease and facilitate temporal, geospatial analysis through data mining, data visualization, and crowd sourcing. More importantly, geospatial techniques provide more precise and valuable information at lower prices and time. Involving location and time into some studies on health system will certainly inspire new visions and creativities to explore influential variables on diseases inception and dissemination, which is very beneficial in controlling and isolating diseases, patients, and environmental impacts.

  Keywords: he alth system, geoinformatic sciences, remote sensing, GIS and spatial analysis

  Please cite this article as follows:

  Darvishi Boloorani A, Rashidian A, Jokar Arsanjani J, Shaygan M. Developed Approaches of Remote Sensing and GISciences in Health System (Part I: A Literature Review). Hakim Research Journal 2012 15(2): 87- 100.

  * Corresponding author: Dept. of Cartography, Faculty of Geography and UT-RGC, University of Tehran.
Tel: +98- 21- 61113520. E-mail: ali.darvishi@gmail.com ali.darvishi@ut.ac.ir