Toxic Mapping with Python and GIS: Exploring Relationships between Carcinogen Dumping and Cancer

摘要

SOCIAL PROBLEM: WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? 1. Cancer is a growing problem, with high social and financial costs for individuals and families TECHNICAL PROBLEM: HOW CAN PYTHON AND GIS LEAD TOWARD ANSWERS? 1. PYTHON = Speed: Data analysis is time consuming and sometimes not feasible depending on type of data necessary for research 2. GIS = Visual: Toxic mapping shows spatial relationships, but demonstrating relationships with cancer rates requires improvements in accuracy, more information, and more time 3. Proximity to facility and cancer rates suggest a spatial relationship, but other variables such as age, type of work, gender, income, and lifestyle, along with type and length of exposure must be considered.