空间数据分析技术是分析具有空间属性的事物之间相互关系,对空间信息进行认知、解释、预测及调控等,而公共卫生研究领域集中在疾病时空规律的认识、成因分析以及干预和防御等领域。本文从公共卫生研究的方向出发,论述了空间数据分析技术在公共卫生领域的应用,以及现阶段空间数据分析软件的发展状况,并对空间数据分析技术在公共卫生领域的应用前景作了展望。

Spatial data analysis (SDA) technology mostly is concerned with data, which are not independent spatially and temporally, and the spatial correlation and spatia l association among the studied objects are of interest Spatial correlation mo stly refers to the relation among the objects themselves while the spatial assoc iation considers the neighborhood effects between the objects After the cor relation and association among objects with spatial attribution are analyzed wit h SDA technology, spatial pattern will be perceived and explained Then we can predict and coordinate the spatial processes further In public health study area, most data acquired have spatial and temporal attrib utions, so advanced technology are needed to analysis the pattern of diseases di stribution, this is a preliminary and important step to identify the risk factor s in environment to the diseases With the understanding of the patterns and risk factors, the prevention and intervening counter measures to the disease would b e easily acquired In this paper, the author gave a review on application of SD A technology in public health, including the pattern identification, hotspots de tection, environmental risk factors identification, and public health resourc e distribution as wellMoreover, the developments of the software which are use ful to public health spatial analysis were discussed also Though the progress of SDA technology applied into public health meets some encu mbrance, there are more advantages to public health with spatial analysis And with the fast developments of information technology and geographical informatio n system software’s maturation in applications in many fields, spatial data will be enriched and give potential requirement of SDA technology including public h ealth study.