Spatial Epidemiology and GIS for Disease Mapping Training Course

Module 1: Foundations of Spatial Epidemiology and GIS in Public Health

ü  Introduction to spatial epidemiology, disease ecology, and the spatial dimension of health

ü  Core GIS concepts: Vector (points, lines, polygons) and raster data models

ü  Coordinate Reference Systems (CRS), projections, and spatial data harmonization

ü  Overview of GIS software ecosystem: QGIS, ArcGIS, and R spatial packages

ü  Practical Session: Setting up QGIS, importing spatial datasets, and reprojecting health boundary layers

Module 2: Spatial Data Capture, Geocoding, and Public Health Databases

ü  Sources of spatial health data: DHIS2, GPS field surveys, census, and open data repositories

ü  Geocoding clinical records, patient addresses, and health facility locations

ü  Spatial data cleaning, handling missing spatial coordinates, and topological validation

ü  Privacy, confidentiality, and ethics in spatial health data handling (geomasking techniques)

ü  Practical Session: Geocoding patient address logs and applying geomasking to protect patient privacy

Module 3: Disease Mapping Principles and Cartographic Design

ü  Types of health maps: Choropleth maps, proportional symbol maps, dot density, and flow maps

ü  Cartographic design rules: Classification schemes (equal interval, quantile, natural breaks), color palettes, and scale

ü  Calculating standardized disease rates: Crude rates, Age-standardized rates, and Standardized Mortality/Morbidity Ratios (SMR)

ü  Avoiding spatial mapping artifacts: Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) and boundary effects

ü  Practical Session: Constructing standardized disease rate choropleth maps in QGIS using age-adjusted mortality data

Module 4: Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) and Point Pattern Analysis

ü  Principles of Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis in health research

ü  Spatial distribution analysis: Mean center, standard deviational ellipse, and spatial dispersion

ü  Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) for mapping disease intensity and risk surfaces

ü  Nearest Neighbor Analysis and Ripley’s K-function for point pattern aggregation

ü  Practical Session: Running Kernel Density Estimation to map cholera outbreak hotspots from point location data

Module 5: Spatial Autocorrelation and Disease Cluster Detection

ü  Testing global spatial autocorrelation: Moran’s I and Geary’s C statistics

ü  Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) and Local Moran’s I for hotspot and coldspot detection

ü  Spatial scan statistics using SaTScan for circular and elliptic cluster identification

ü  Evaluating statistical significance and controlling for underlying population density

ü  Practical Session: Executing Local Moran’s I and SaTScan cluster analyses to identify significant tuberculosis disease hotspots

Module 6: Space-Time Analytics and Surveillance Systems

ü  Concepts of space-time interaction and dynamic disease transmission tracking

ü  Space-time permutation scan statistics and prospective outbreak detection

ü  Visualizing temporal trends in spatial disease data (space-time cubes and animated mapping)

ü  Integrating GIS with early warning systems for vector-borne disease epidemics

ü  Practical Session: Performing prospective space-time cluster detection to identify emerging disease outbreaks in real-time

Module 7: Environmental Raster Data Integration and Exposure Modeling

ü  Extracting satellite remote sensing data: NDVI, land surface temperature, rainfall, and elevation

ü  Interpolation techniques for environmental exposure mapping: IDW, Kriging, and spline surface generation

ü  Buffer analysis and proximity modeling to environmental hazard sources (water bodies, pollution sites)

ü  Overlay analysis and Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) for vector habitat suitability modeling

ü  Practical Session: Performing Kriging interpolation on meteorological data and overlaying vector breeding sites to model malaria risk

Module 8: Spatial Regression and Ecological Risk Modeling

ü  Introduction to ecological study designs and ecological fallacy

ü  Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and diagnostic tests for spatial autocorrelation in residuals

ü  Spatial Lag and Spatial Error regression models for non-independent spatial data

ü  Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) for modeling spatially varying relationships

ü  Practical Session: Fitting Spatial Error and Geographically Weighted Regression models in R to evaluate environmental risk factors for dengue transmission

Module 9: Bayesian Methods and Small Area Estimation in Disease Mapping

ü  Limitations of classical SMR in small areas with low population counts or rare diseases

ü  Introduction to empirical Bayes and hierarchical Bayesian spatial smoothing models

ü  Besag-York-Mollié (BYM) model structure using CAR (Conditional Autoregressive) priors

ü  Implementing spatial smoothing models using R-INLA or WinBUGS/JAGS

ü  Practical Session: Running a Bayesian spatial smoothing model in R-INLA to smooth unstable disease rates in low-population health districts

Module 10: Web-Based GIS, Interactive Dashboards, and Public Health Decision Support

ü  Principles of web GIS and interactive map architecture

ü  Designing interactive public health dashboards using R Shiny, QGIS Cloud, or Power BI

ü  Translating spatial evidence into policy briefs and stakeholder communications

ü  Final capstone project presentation and peer review

ü  Practical Session: Building an interactive web dashboard in R Shiny/QGIS Cloud to display real-time spatial surveillance data

About Our Trainers

Our training facilitators are senior spatial epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and GIS specialists with extensive international experience across global public health agencies, academic research centers, and disease control initiatives. They hold doctoral and master’s degrees in spatial sciences, public health, and epidemiology, with proven track records in designing spatial surveillance systems, publishing peer-reviewed research in spatial medicine, and consulting for international health organizations. Each trainer brings a wealth of practical expertise to deliver hands-on, high-impact instruction.

Quality Statement

Phoenix Training Center is committed to delivering world-class, practical, and impact-driven professional development programs. Our courses are meticulously researched, continuously updated, and designed to meet international educational standards. We adhere to rigorous quality assurance protocols to ensure our training solutions address contemporary industry challenges, comply with regulatory standards, and deliver maximum return on investment for both individual participants and sponsoring organizations.

Tailor-Made Courses

We understand that every organization has unique challenges and opportunities as well as unique training needs. Phoenix Training Center offers tailor-made courses designed to address specific requirements and challenges faced by your team or organization. Whether you need a customized curriculum, a specific duration, or on-site delivery, we can adapt our expertise to provide a training solution that perfectly aligns with your objectives. We can customize this Course to focus on your industry, specific risk profile, or internal stakeholder dynamics. Contact us to discuss how we can create a bespoke training program that maximizes value and impact for your team. For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254737296202 or Email training@phoenixtrainingcenter.com.

Admission Criteria

ü  Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.

ü  Applicants must live up to Phoenix Center for Policy, Research and Training admission criteria.

Terms and Conditions

ü  Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free

ü  What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.

ü  Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.

ü  Course Improvement: The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.

ü  Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.

Booking for Training

Kindly send an email to the Training Officer on training@phoenixtrainingcenter.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training. Or call us on +254720272325 / +254737296202

Payment Options

We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments a week before the training starts (at least 5 to 7 days before the Training start date) to reserve your seat:

ü  Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Phoenix Center for Policy, Research and Training Limited should be paid in advance, a week before the training starts.

ü  Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.

ü  Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)

Cancellation Policy

ü  Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.

ü  Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.

ü  No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.

Accommodation and Airport Pick-up

For physical training attendees, we can assist with recommendations for accommodation near the training venue. Airport pick-up services can also be arranged upon request to ensure a smooth arrival. Please inform us of your travel details in advance if you require these services. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@phoenixtrainingcenter.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254737296202.