Table 1

Examples of geospatial methods classified by type and their application to outbreak investigations

Geospatial methodsStage in outbreak investigation
Identifying outbreakDescribing casesGenerating hypothesesTesting hypothesesCommunicating findings; targeting interventions
VisualisationDot map; rate mapThematic map; smoothed incidence mapVoronoi diagramMapping affected areas and locations of services
ExplorationSpatial averages; spatial case definitionSpatial attack rate comparisonSpatially targeted information
Cluster detectionSpatial scan statisticsK-function analysisK-nearest neighbour test; Knox test; Moran's I
ModellingGeographical profilingDispersion modellingRisk maps