Earth Observation, Spatial Data Quality, and Neglected Tropical Diseases
Date
2015
Authors
Hamm, Nicholas A.S.
Soares Magalhaes, Ricardo
Clements, Archie
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Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Earth observation (EO) is the use of remote sensing and in situ observations to gather data
on the environment. It finds increasing application in the study of environmentally modulated
neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Obtaining and assuring the quality of the relevant spatially
and temporally indexed EO data remain challenges. Our objective was to review the
Earth observation products currently used in studies of NTD epidemiology and to discuss
fundamental issues relating to spatial data quality (SDQ), which limit the utilization of EO
and pose challenges for its more effective use. We searched Web of Science and PubMed
for studies related to EO and echinococossis, leptospirosis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted
helminth infections. Relevant literature was also identified from the bibliographies of
those papers.We found that extensive use is made of EO products in the study of NTD epidemiology;
however, the quality of these products is usually given little explicit attention. We
review key issues in SDQ concerning spatial and temporal scale, uncertainty, and the documentation
and use of quality information. We give examples of how these issues may interact
with uncertainty in NTD data to affect the output of an epidemiological analysis. We
conclude that researchers should give careful attention to SDQ when designing NTD spatial-
epidemiological studies. This should be used to inform uncertainty analysis in the epidemiological
study. SDQ should be documented and made available to other researchers.
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PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
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Journal article
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Open Access
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