InstantAtlas: Presentation Solutions for the
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)*

InstantAtlas is an inexpensive, powerful data visualization and presentation tool. It enhances the value of data by making local patterns easy to see and explore. No expertise in data publishing, delivery or mapping is needed - yet the results can be stunning and effective.

InstantAtlas is now well-established in the United States and United Kingdom and used by state health departments, regional and local public health authorities. It is ideal for presenting data values and trends in a spatial context to internal and external audiences. e.g. demographic data, epidemiological statistics, health indicators. Its serves equally well as a tool for monitoring performance of health resources and presenting survey results. Departments of Health in 18 US States are implementing this software,

Simple to implement

You can take data from a spreadsheet, add your boundary file, publish an InstantAtlas stand-alone dynamic flash report and place it on your web site. Typically, this can all be done in less than a day. You do not need any special technical knowledge. You use familiar tools.

If you currently have data query, table maker or static mapping systems in place or in development, consider this also as a valuable add-on for integration.

InstantAtlas comes with ready-to-use templates that can be customized with the Designer and Style Editors. You only buy the templates that you need to present your data.

If you have a large number of indicators to manage you can upgrade to InstantAtlas Server to improve your data management process and deliver data 'live' to dynamic reports.

GeoWise have been working in the UK and internationally for over 12 years delivering innovative, market-leading data reporting and visualization solutions for location-based statistical data. We offer off-the-shelf products designed specifically to make it easy and fast for you to deliver visual data using maps, charts, tables and area profile reports.

BRFSS Examples

We have included some recent BRFSS examples below, some of which are live operational applications, others are demonstration samples to show the power and flexibility of InstantAtlas. Click on the images below to view the reports.

USA State BRFSS Data 2003-2008

Single Map with time series animation (Demo)

Combining USA Cancer Incidence Data with BRFSS Risk Behavior Data (Demo)

Scale: National, by state (with filters for each region)
Purpose: This Single Map template provides a single map view of current and historical BRFSS state data.. It is ideally suited to viewing and exploring time series data and comparing trends.

InstantAtlas Template: Single Map

Scale: National, by state
Purpose: Provides a double map view of data. Using an Excel spreadsheet, simply combining data from an existing behavioral risk behavior report with CDC/NCI incidence data can make powerful statements. In this first view (click on image) state smoking prevalence and incidence of renal cancer are compared.
InstantAtlas Template: Double Map

BRFSS: MMSA's Single Map 2008

(Demo)

BRFSS: Virginia Counties Double Map

(Live)

Scale: Metro and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSA)
Purpose: This Single Map template provides a single map view of current BRFSS state for specific MMSA's. The use of color-coded symbols make it easier to distinguish data values geographically.

InstantAtlas Template: Single Map

Scale: State, by counties
Purpose: This Double Map template provides a way of presenting data for two risk factors side by side across all Virginia counties.

InstantAtlas Template: Double Map

BRFSS: Mississippi Health Region Profiles (Live)

BRFSS: West Virginia Counties Single Map (Live)

Scale: State, by health regions
Purpose: To provide a publicly accessible geographic visualization of Mississippi's survey results by health region. Enables user to view all total prevalence rates on all risk factors simultaneously and see all variances to the state means in a spine chart.

InstantAtlas Template: Area Profile

Scale: State, by counties
Purpose: This Single Map view presents West Virginia's aggregated 2002-2006 BRFSS prevalence rates across the state highlighting significant variances of county rates versus state and USA averages.

InstantAtlas Template: Single Map

West Virginia Cancer Registry County Profiles (Demo)

New Hampshire Injury Report by Counties

(Live)

Scale: State, by counties
Purpose: To provide cancer incidence and mortality profiles for each West Virginia county and enable users to compare the rates between counties and against the state averages.

InstantAtlas Template: Area Profile Template

Scale: State, by counties
Purpose: Present hospital and injury data by county for New Hampshire residents for each of the last 5 years, with crude and standardized rates shown in the table.

InstantAtlas Template: Single Map

BRFSS: Vermont Counties & District Offices

(Demo)

BRFSS: Wyoming Counties

(Concept Demo)

Scale: State, by district offices
Purpose: Presenting rates in maps and charts from three years of BRFSS questionnaires across Vermont district office areas.

InstantAtlas Template: Single Map

Scale: State, by counties
Purpose: To provide a publicly accessible geographic visualization of Wyoming's survey results by county. Buttons link to double map and regional profile views of the same data.
InstantAtlas Template: Single Map

Visit the InstantAtlas website to learn more about this data visualization solution. Please click here.

Download a 30-day free evaluation. There are resources on our website to help you through that process and if you get stuck, you can contact us for help.

Click here to download a FREE TRIAL

What does it cost?

You pay a one-time license fee for the software. You can publish as many reports as you want on your website. You only pay for the software components you need. A complete stand-alone solution typically ranges in price from US$ 4,300-8,400, depending on the functionality required. Our website explains our pricing: http://www.instantatlas.com/pricing.xhtml

If you are interested in considering using the InstantAtlas dynamic style of data presentation in your organization, please call
John Bartholomew at GeoWise today.
Toll-Free from US and Canada: 1-800-961-8948 (until 12.30 pm EST. Monday-Friday) or +44 31 624 8935

Email: john.bartholomew@geowise.co.uk

A few of the health organizations using InstantAtlas:

World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

World Health Organization, Regional Offices for Europe and Africa
Pan-American Health Organization, Washington, USA

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Alabama Department of Public Health

Alberta Public Health and Wellness, Canada

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services

Altarum Institute

Arizona Department of Health Services

Association of Public Health Observatories, UK
California Department of Public Health

Center for Health Program Development, University of Maryland, USA
East Carolina University, Center for Health Services Research

European Union Public Health Information System (EUPHIX), EU
Federal Health Monitoring (Federal Statistical Office DESTATIS), Germany
Florida Department of Health
German Association of Epidemiological Cancer Registries (GEKID), Lübeck

Institute for Cancer Epidemiology, Cancer Registry Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Institute for Nutrition of Central America and Panama, Guatemala
Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Landesinstitut für Gesundheit und Arbeit NRW (LIGA), Germany

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

Ministries of Health: New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Peru

Mississippi State Department of Health

Missouri Cancer Registry, University of Missouri-Columbia

Montana Department of Health and Human Services
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Netherlands
National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

New York State Department of Health
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics

Ohio Department of Health
Public Health Agency Canada
Public Health Information Unit, University of Adelaide, Australia
University of Texas School of Public Health

Vermont Department of Health
Virginia State Department of Health
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Wyoming Department of Health

InstantAtlas Product Options for Health Mapping and Reporting

InstantAtlas is available as both a Desktop or Server product - you can select the solution that best meets your requirements.

Option 1: InstantAtlas Desktop

Option 2: InstantAtlas Server

1. Inexpensive and easy to implement, the solution is in widespread use internationally

2. Simple and quick to create report outputs for live web publication - create as many reports as you like using different geographies at no additional cost

3. Reports are richly interactive, visually appealing and easy to use

4. Minimise IT implications - simply publish a set of static files on your existing web site

5. The solution is designed for analysts to publish and maintain outputs using familiar tools like Microsoft Excel and Access

1. Larger scale server-based solution to support both health and any other locality-based statistics or performance indicators

2. Data delivered live from a database with ability to support multiple styles of output including flexible area profiles for local county, community or neighborhood reporting

3. Can be linked into your existing web site and branded accordingly

4. Complete suite of web-based administration tools to allow multiple administrators to support the application

5. Can be delivered either as packaged software to implement on-site or as a fully managed service (hosted externally)

About GeoWise and InstantAtlas

GeoWise develops and sells innovative, award-winning products and solutions that manage and present geography and statistics within web browsers. The GeoWise team has a unique blend of skills in data visualization, software, geography and statistics.

InstantAtlas™ improves the management and communication of location-based statistical data. InstantAtlas enables information analysts, researchers and GIS professionals to create highly-interactive web solutions that combine statistics and map data to improve data visualization, enhance communication, and engage people in more informed decision making.

* BRFSS presentation is made by Geowise Limited with data that is in the public domain. There is no implied relationship or co-operation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Sources:
For BRFSS Survey Data: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008.
For BRFSS Survey Questions: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaire. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008.

Keywords of Article and Resource Links | epidemiological statistics mapping, health demographics, health surveillance policy , online health maps, health stats, health demographics, health trends, gis and health mapping, brfss, behavioral risk factor surveillance system, health surveillance, county public health data, Infection Control Surveillance

InstantAtlas: Presentation Solutions for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)*

InstantAtlas Product Options for Health Mapping and Reporting

InstantAtlas: Presentation Solutions for the
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)*