Geographic information systems allow individuals to view and analyze data overlaid on maps, making connections between activities based on geographic proximity. RAND researchers have been using GIS mapping for more than 20 years in a wide range of contexts, such as military simulation and modeling; analysis of health care delivery and quality; documenting neighborhood and demographic changes; land use economics; and transportation systems analyses.
REPORT
Geographic information system (GIS) mapping software is a promising tool for enhancing priority-setting and resource allocation in local health departments (LHDs) by displaying complex geospatial information in an integrated, visual way, enabling comparison of where health services are needed with where they are provided. The study describes options for accessing GIS data and suggests ways for LHDs to integrate GIS into their planning…
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Large local health departments could better inform planning and investments by using geographic information systems to align community needs and health outcomes with public health programs.
REPORT
Since the Global Positioning System (GPS) was originally deployed to aid U.S. armed forces in navigation and position location, it has evolved into a resource supporting civil, scientific, and commercial functions—from air traffic control to the Internet—with precision location and timing information.
REPORT
The sharing of geospatial information provides the DoD both opportunities and challenges. Benefits include improved effectiveness resulting in better outcomes and efficiency in the form of reduced costs. Challenges include concern over security issues and technical difficulties in sharing information.
RESEARCH BRIEF
This research brief summarizes the benefits of and barriers to sharing geospatial data among both private and government organizations and discusses a three-step methodology used to assess the outcomes and benefits of sharing.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Integrated urban models are designed to simulate land-use and transportation interactions and to allow predicts of traffic volume and vehicle emissions at the link level of the urban transport network.
REPORT
Assesses the homeland security implications of publicly available geospatial data and information.
RESEARCH BRIEF
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, some U.S. federal agencies curtailed public access to various sources of geospatial information. While recognizing many public and private benefits of such information, officials were concerned that terrorists...
REPORT
Presents a research design developed to assess the impact of implementing a geographic information system (GIS) on mission-related work in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
REPORT
RAND-CAGIS (RAND's Cartographic Analysis and Geographic Information system) is a modular geographic information system capable of raster, vector, and tabular data manipulation.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Geometric projections have become increasingly important for the purpose of processing geographic (locational) data. A general theory is presented here whereby all mapping equations may be simply derived from one fundamental principle, that of the preservation of incidence relation together with the choice of an appropriate mapping basis (i.e. co-ordinate system).
PEOPLE
Research Programmer
M.A. in political science, University of Rochester
PEOPLE
Project Associate
M.S. in statistics, University of Illinois; M.S. in environmental science & policy, Southern Illinois University; B.S. in entomology, National Taiwan Univ
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Natural Scientist
M.D., Dartmouth Medical School; Ph.D. in sociology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; B.A. in social psychophysiology, University of California, Berkeley
PEOPLE
Research Assistant
B.S. in engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University; M.A. in geography, UC Los Angeles
PEOPLE
Research Programmer
M.S. in applied economics and management, Cornell University; M.A. in urban planning and transportation policy, University of California, Los Angeles
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Analyst
Ph.D. in geography, McMaster University; M.Sc. in environmental engineering, National Technical University of Athens; B.Sc. in environmental studies, University of the Aegean
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Quantitative Analyst
M.S. in epidemiology & biostatistics, Case-Western Reserve; B.S. in molecular biology & genetics, University of Maryland
PEOPLE
Associate Director, RAND Transportation, Space, and Technology Program; Operations Researcher
Ph.D. in geography, University of California, Santa Barbara; M.A. in urban planning, University of California, Los Angeles; B.A., Dartmouth College
PEOPLE
Quantitative Analyst
M.S. in biostatistics, University of California at Los Angeles
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