Interactive, dynamic mapping of health and social justice factors in North Carolina

Background: Maps and spatial analyses are useful for describing disparities in health outcomes and underlying factors. Maps facilitate discovery of patterns in data, suggest hypotheses, and visual confirmation of correlations in hypothesis testing. Maps are also useful for communicating information to the public and engaging community partners in research and interventions to improve public health. Mapmaking and spatial analysis typically involves expertise with complex GIS software designed to create static products. We have employed a new interactive dynamic software system to make data accessible to researchers, public health practitioners, and the public. Methods: Data from the US Census, vital records, and surveys were assembled at the county level for North Carolina and aggregated as necessary to be generalizable and protect confidentiality. Data were then configured for input into InstantAtlas™ to create publicly accessible, web-based, interactive, dynamic maps. Results: Five types of map templates were published on a website, each allowing users to create choropleth maps and analyses of an extensive list of variables. Examples of variables are: mortality, poverty, education, homelessness, food security, and environmental factors. User defined, interactive maps and analyses include: 1) Profile maps with spine charts relating county values to each other and a benchmark; 2) Double map displays of counties and scatter plots with regression for analysis of bivariate correlations; 3) Maps and Bubble Plots of four indicators controlled by user; 4) Maps with Scatter Plots and Funnel Plots showing confidence limits; and, 5) Map of counties with Radar Charts of up to 9 variables per county. Discussion. This innovation in mapping systems is easy to employ and requires little training and experience. It can be manipulated by users interactively on a website for community diagnosis, policy analysis, research, and teaching. It can facilitate prevention through innovative and effective information technology.