Building GIS Capacity for Chronic Disease Surveillance

About

The GIS Capacity Building Program is designed to enhance the ability of staff in health departments and Tribal Epidemiology Centers to integrate the use of GIS into daily operations. These operations support existing priorities for surveillance and prevention of heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases. The GIS program includes hybrid trainings (virtual and in-person workshops), as well as shorter online-only trainings.

Overview

Participants learn key GIS and cartographic skills to create maps that display geographic patterns in:

• The burden of heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases.
• Sociodemographic groups.
• Community characteristics.
• Proximity to health care facilities and other facilities that can either support or hinder population health.

Participants put their GIS skills into action to address chronic disease priorities in their organizations by creating maps that document geographic disparities, inform program and policy decisions, and enhance partnerships.

Collaborating organizations

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)
• Children's Environmental Health Initiative at the University of Illinois, Chicago

Objectives

Enhance the capacity for health department staff to use GIS techniques to:

• Document geographic disparities in chronic diseases.
• Assist collaboration within each agency and with partner organizations.
• Guide chronic disease policies and program development.

Examples of how health department staff are using GIS and maps for chronic disease prevention

MapLogs
Maplogs are a series of blog posts highlighting how GIS and maps are being used to identify and address geographic disparities in chronic disease. CDC works with Children's Environmental Health Initiative (CECHI) to develop and publish the MapLogs.

Chronic Disease Map Gallery

Chronic Disease GIS Hallmarks

Chronic Disease GIS Snapshots

Rate Stabilizing Tool

On This Page

• Overview
• Examples of how health department staff are using GIS and maps for chronic disease prevention

Sept. 11, 2026

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Content Source

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP); About the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke PreventionAbout This Page

Published: November 19, 2024

Updated: September 11, 2026This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

Reviewed: September 11, 2026The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.

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