UCLA Center for Research, Education, Training, and Strategic Communication on Minority Health Disparities

Geographic Information Systems
Training Workshop

Staff of the Advanced Policy Institute

Beginner: Friday, May 4th, 2007

Advanced: Friday, May 18th, 2007

Time: 12-4:30 pm (Lunch served from 12-12:30)

Training: GIS for Research on Health Disparities

May 4: Internet-Based Mapping.

Become familiar with key mapping concepts and valuable online mapping tools, especially those that are useful for health researchers. And, then use these new tools with health data that can be downloaded. Focus will be on web-mapping systems that enable users to quickly produce maps with overlapping thematic layers (e.g. demographic and vital statistics), and with point-based data (e.g. local community health services).

This lab-based training will take participants through more sophisticated features of online GIS (Geographic Information Systems). These include creating personal accounts, saving maps and data for easy access, creating customized geographies for focus or study areas, & uploading datasets--both point and polygon--using Excel files. No background training in using GIS software or data management is required.

May 18: Desktop GIS

Learn how to turn data into visual maps, using the most widely available desktop system! This second laboratory session provides hands-on training to familiarize participants with the basics of ESRI's core mapping software --ArcMap. Students will learn more about the fundamental principles of GIS through applied instruction on managing, processing and interpreting spatial data. Specifically, students will learn the basics of ArcMap, create maps based on GIS data provided by the instructor, and perform spatial overlays using statistical data.

This training is open to graduate students, post docs, faculty and researchers who are actively engaged in research in which this particular methodology would be most relevant. If you are interested in participating in this GIS training please send an e-mail to cmhd@ucla.edu. Include in it your name, whether you are a graduate, post doc or faculty member and your department. Please include the research question/topic which you would like to work on during the workshop, tell us whether this is a funded research project, your dissertation, master's or independent project that you are working on alone. You must register for each workshop separately. So please let us know whether you are registering for the beginning only, the advanced only or both. Your response for the beginner's workshop is needed by 12pm, May 2nd. Your response for the advanced workshop is needed no later than May 14th by 3pm. We will let you know on these days whether or not you have been admitted to the workshop.