The
recent exponential growth of the science and technology of geographic
information systems (GIS) has made a tremendous contribution to epidemiological
analysis and has led to the development of new powerful tools for
the surveillance of animal diseases. GIS, spatial analysis and remote
sensing provide valuable methods to collect and manage information
for epidemiological surveys. Spatial patterns and trends of disease
can be correlated with climatic and environmental information, thus
contributing to a better understanding of the links between disease
processes and explanatory spatial variables.
Until
recently, these tools were underexploited in the field of veterinary
public health, due to the prohibitive cost of hardware and the complexity
of GIS software that required a high level of expertise. The revolutionary
developments in computer performance of the last decade have not
only reduced the costs of equipment but have made available easy-to-use
Web-based software which in turn have meant that GIS are more widely
accessible by veterinary services at all levels.
At
the same time, the increased awareness of the possibilities offered
by these tools has created new opportunities for decision-makers to
enhance their planning, analysis and monitoring capabilities. These
technologies offer a new way of sharing and accessing spatial and
non-spatial data across groups and institutions. The series of papers
included in this compilation aim to:
define the state of the art in the use of GIS in veterinary activities
identify priority needs in the development of
new GIS tools at the international level for the surveillance of animal
diseases and zoonoses
define practical proposals for their implementation.
The
topics addressed are presented in the following order in this book:
importance of GIS for the monitoring of animal diseases and zoonoses
GIS application in surveillance activities
spatial analysis in veterinary epidemiology
data collection and remote sensing applications
Web GIS as a tool for data and knowledge sharing.
All
43 manuscripts selected for this book have been peer-reviewed.
These
contributions were originally commissioned for the First international
conference on the use of GIS in veterinary activities organised
by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dellAbruzzo
e del Molise G. Caporale, Teramo, Italy, and
the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE: Office International
des Epizooties) that was held in Silvi Marina, Italy, from 8
to 11 October 2006.
The
editors would like to thank all authors for their valuable contributions.
Paolo
Calistri, Annamaria Conte, Jerome E. Freier & Michael P. Ward
Editors
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