In evaluating environmental exposures, the Environmental Health Institute uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to characterize community environments and/or to estimate individual exposures to various hazards.

Operationally, GIS is used for four different activities:

1. Geocoding - placing addresses on maps to locate subjects spatially
2. Mapping  - producing maps for a variety of purposes
3. Geoprocessing - using GIS to export community and exposure estimates for use in epidemiologic studies
4. Community assessment - using GIS to summarize community conditions of interest. We have data for counties; minor civil divisions such as townships, boroughs and cities; census tracts; school districts, and other relevant geographies