Spatial Health Lab

Spatial Health Lab

Exploring the Intersection of Environment and Health

We seek to apply innovative study designs, new technologies, and geospatial data science approaches to understand how environmental conditions influence human health and translate this information into effective policy and prevention activities.

The Spatial Health Lab specializes in the following areas

Asia air pollution map

Human and Planetary Health

Our research in Human and Planetary Health focuses on understanding the complex connections between human health and wellness and the health of our planet.

Colorful abstract map with geometric shapes and lines.

Environmental Exposure Science

A primary goal of our research is to develop innovative exposure assessment methods by integrating advanced geospatial analysis, data science, and interdisciplinary study designs.

Aerial view of a residential neighborhood with houses, roads, and trees.

Healthy Built Environments

The Spatial Health Lab specializes in identifying and measuring the key characteristics of cities, communities, and neighborhoods that influence individual health behaviors and outcomes.

Aerial view of a city skyline in hazy, smoggy conditions.

Air Pollution

We are conducting a series of research studies across the United States and globally that assess air pollution exposures and examine their associations with both acute and chronic health impacts.

A complex network diagram with various nodes and connections.

Social Media Analytics for Environmental Health

We are developing data science methods and AI tools to use social media data to measure environmental exposures, perceptions, behaviors and health-related outcomes.

A portable air filter unit with a digital display and control buttons.

Environmental Health Accountability Studies

We assess the effectiveness of environmental regulations, such as traffic emission controls and free portable air conditioner and air filter programs, in improving health outcomes.

Updates and news

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Recent publications

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2024

Yi, L., Rifas-Shiman, S.L., Jimenez, M.P., Lin, P., Suel, E., Hystad, P., Larkin, A., Hankey, S., Zhang, W., Klompmaker, J.O., Oken, E., Hivert, M., Aris, I.M., James, P  (2024)  Assessing greenspace and cardiovascular health through deep-learning analysis of street-view imagery in a cohort of US children  Environmental Research  265
Willis, M., Mooney, F., Weuve, J., Hystad, P., Walker, H., Walker, A., Stelly, A., Fox, S., Lees, L.  (2024)  The Promises and Potential Pitfalls of Highway Reclamation for Population Health: A Research Framework  Journal of Urban Health  
Oje, O., Stirewalt, T., Amram, O., Hystad, P., Amiri, S., Gebremedhin, A.H.  (2024)  HierGP: Hierarchical Grid Partitioning for Scalable Geospatial Data Analytics  ACM Transactions on Spatial Algorithms and Systems  
Corsi, D.J., Marschner, S., Lear, S., Hystad, P., Rosengren, A., Ismail, R., Yeates, K., Swaminathan, S., Puoane, T., Wang, C., Li, Y., Rangarajan, S., Kruger, I.M., Chifamba, J., Vidhu Kumar, K., Mohan, I., Davletov, K., Artamonov, G., Palileo-Villanueva, L.M., Mat-Nasir, N., Zatońska, K., Oguz, A., Bahonar, A., Alhabib, K., Yusufali, A.M., López-Jaramillo, P., Lanas, F., Galatte, A., Avezum, Á., Mckee, M., Yusuf, S., Chow, C.K.  (2024)  Assessing the built environment through photographs and its association with obesity in 21 countries: the PURE Study  The Lancet. Global health.  
Harris, L., Harleman, M., Willis, M.D., Hystad, P., Hill, E.L.  (2024)  Limited impact of roadway construction and traffic congestion on nearby housing prices  Transport Policy  157