Mapping Software
- Social Explorer This link opens in a new windowAllows users to visually display demographic data in the U.S. from 1790-present at a variety of geographic levels, createreports, maps and animations that can be downloaded.
- Google Fusion TablesUse Fusion Tables (in Google Drive) to create maps from tables of data. Make your own tables or use existing data tables.
- PolicyMap This link opens in a new windowInteractive mapping tool for viewing and creating maps displaying economic, health, and social data.
- ArcGIS for DesktopIf you are a currently enrolled USC student (undergraduate, masters, or doctoral) with a valid student ID, you can obtain a free one-year student trial license of Esri’s ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced and/or an account for one of the ArcGIS Online subscriptions supported by USC.
- ArcGIS and Esri software for students from Spatial Sciences InstituteUSC students are also eligible for selected versions of Esri software. Contact the Spatial Sciences Institute for details.
Why use maps in health research?
You can use maps to help you identify geographic areas with health disparities, economic differences, or other characteristics. This can help you select an appropriate area or issue for research.
You can also use maps to communicate your research findings. Maps can be quick ways to communicate complex ideas.
Check out these sites to see maps relating to health research.
LA Times: California's Growing Public Health Threat shows immunization opt-out requests received by schools in California, indicating the percent of unvaccinated kindergarteners at each school. In this map, dots indicate the schools from which data was collected. Dark grey dots indicate that up to 3.1% of students are unvaccinated; grey dots indicate 3.1-8% are unvaccinated; light orange dots mean 8-20% are unvaccinated, and bright orange dots mean over 20% are unvaccinated.
TraumaMaps shows one health disparity: areas of the United States where individuals have to travel over 60 minutes by helicopter to access trauma centers. Use the Map Options to add information about population age, type of trauma center, and additional data.
Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles Health Atlas provides hundreds of maps covering different health, social, and economic indicators for the people of Los Angeles. The map on the left shows Mental Illness Hospitalization Rate per 100,000 residents (darker colors indicate higher rates) and comes from chapter 6 of Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles Health Atlas.
How can I find out more?
The USC Libraries provide support and assistance with mapping. Check out these sites and contact the librarians named on the sites to get help!
- Statistics and Data GuideLibrarian created guide of databases, links, and tools focused on social science numeric sources.
- Spatial Sciences and GIS guide (USC Libraries)A guide to GIS and spatial data resources. Contains resources by geographic region: Los Angeles, United States, and International.