Jessica Miki

PySAL an Open Source Development Framework for Spatial Analysis for Health Data ©2015

This paper addresses the application of open source development tool for spatial analysis research in health studies. It aims to create a framework of available open source tools through Python that, by utilizing Python Library for Spatial Analysis (PySAL) offers the opportunity to adapt open source practices to studying injuries and their contributing factors. The methodology explores the benefits and issues that an accessible spatial analysis toolset can offer for health geography. This study aims to promote the use of PySAL and open source toolsets for integrating spatial analysis into health and social development fields. The novelty and capabilities of open source tools through methods such as PySAL allow for a cost efficiency as well as give planning an easier methodological toolbox for advances spatial modelling techniques. Avoidable injuries, a growing concern in Ontario, are particularly explored through the spatial analysis integration of the explored tools.