This clear and accessible text helps public health professionals gain a solid understanding of geographic information system technology, what it is, how it works, and how it shapes their careers. Using examples drawn from public health practice, the author fully explains this exciting technological development. The text builds from basic to more advanced topics, such as:

• A description and the history of GIS
• Getting started using GIS: hardware, software, and Internet essentials
• Examples of the use and relevance of GIS for environmental health, communicable disease control, injury prevention, chronic disease prevention and control, and community health assessment and improvement
• Also, limitations and potential problems of the technology
• The connection between GIS technology and public health management and practice, including the future role of public health officials
• Also includes graphs, charts and maps to reinforce the text; tables that summarize important information; and URLs for useful web sites; glossary of key terms