Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Analysis, and Data Visualization
The Statistical Research and Applications Branch staff has an active research program in the area of Geographic Information Systems, the statistical analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of cancer, and data visualization. In addition, staff consult across the Division on the analysis and presentation of geographic data and help coordinate extramural Geographic-Based Research in Cancer Control and Epidemiology. The Geographic Information Systems Web site has additional information on GIS technology and NCI's uses of it.
Examples of current projects are:
- prediction of the numbers of new cancer cases for every US county and state, based on hierarchical statistical models of cancer patterns in SEER counties;
- analysis of the spatio-temporal patterns of the age at first birth in the US and examination of the impact of these changing patterns on breast cancer risk;
- development of the State Cancer Profiles system, Web-based dissemination of cancer and risk factor statistics primarily for public health professionals;
- development of improved methods to explore and display spatio-temporal patterns of cancer rates and their association with sociodemographic and behavioral factors;
- collaboration with other agencies and universities on a Digital Government Initiative NSF grant to improve the quality of federal statistical graphics;
- improvements in methods to detect and display clusters of high cancer rates.
