ABSTRACT
This chapter gives examples of how GIS is currently used in district public health work. All but the last of these applications are within the reach of an ordinary public health department. They need no special resources beyond a standard personal computer, a basic mapping package, and people who are willing to learn. Staff members who have basic computer skills, especially with spreadsheets, can learn to use mapping packages fluently in two or three months. The cost of setting up a system is around £15,000: £2,000 for the hardware (including a good color printer) and about £4,000 to £5,000 each for the mapping package, the map data files, and some statistical analysis software.
