Remote sensing and GIS for schistosomiasis control in mountainous areas in sichuan, China

Abstract

In this paper, we report some of our initial results obtained from a joint research project between a team at the University of California at Berkeley and the Sichuan Institute for Parasitic Diseases. The project began with an intent to apply mathematical modeling to schistosomiasis control and later evolved into the use of GIS and remote sensing to map and model the spatial heterogeneity for the study of schistosomiasis transmission dynamics and the identification of snail habitats. Following a description of our study site in China, we present our results on the use of Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery in mapping snail habitats and the use of a GIS database developed at the village level for schistosomiasis transmission control based on spatial network analysis. © 1998 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.