GIS Programming for Environmental Health Research with opensource software (QGIS, R, Python)

In GIS Programming for Exposure Assessment in Environmental Health Research participants will learn how to apply the two most used programming languages in GIS: Python and R, and will be provided with several exercises as Jupyterlab notebooks (https://jupyter.org/) to improve their capacity to process and analyse GIS data. Students will also gain a deep insight into fundamental GIS concepts with the help of QGIS software (https://www.qgis.org/). All of these industry-standard software are open-source and free.

Faculty will support participants to understand and correctly use Coordinate Reference Systems, find and collect valuable GIS data using the most up-to-date tools, dive deep into Vector and Raster analysis, and, finally, map their results.

Participants will build a final research project on a subject of their choice from the following:

• Air Pollution
• Green and Blue Spaces
• Urban Environment
• Infectious Diseases

The course will combine live online sessions with practical exercises. The sessions will be recorded and published on the virtual campus so that participants can access them at any time. The course can be taken asynchronously, by completing the exercises and project within the proposed dates. Attendance at synchronous sessions is recommended but not mandatory.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, participants should be able to:

1. Understand what GIS is and use it in environmental health research.

2. Find, manage, and map vector and raster data.

3. Use advanced programming techniques to process and analyse GIS data.

Assessment

● 50% weekly exercises
● 50% research project

Coordinators

Scientific Coordinator: Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative, ISGlobal
Academic Coordinator: Antònia Valentín, GIS Staff Scientist, ISGlobal
Faculty: Marta Cirach, Bruno Raimbault, Sami Petricola

Certificate

Students who successfully complete the course requirements will receive a certificate from ISGlobal.