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Overview - Map layers: Population density , Annual incidence , Finetypes , Serogroups

This site provides a brief description of the functionality of EpiScanGIS. Please click here to launch the web application, which lets you monitor invasive meningococcal disease in Germany.

Overview

Using the numbers in the figure below, we will explain which settings may be taken using the respective controls of the application and which information is displayed on the relevant areas.

Screenshot of the EpiScanGIS web application
Screenshot of the EpiScanGIS web application, numbering explained below

The interface of the map viewer offers the following settings:

  1. You may display a printable and locally savable version of the current map using this button.
  2. Filters, that alter the displayed maps, can be set using these dropdown menus:
    1. Age: Age groups (from, to) where the displayed cases should be contained in. Both boundary values are included. Therefore a setting from 0 to 0 would show only those cases of meningococcal disease, which are reported for children under one year of age.
      If you are altering this filter, the serogroup and finetype layer will update automatically.
    2. Observation period: Period that limits the generated epidemiological information.
      The observation period can be set with a precision of one year , again including the boundary values.
      If you are altering this filter, the serogroup, finetype and incidence layer will update automatically.
  3. This area of the application shows one flag for each map layer. The header includes a check box to enable/disable this layer, the layers name and a progress indicator showing if there is an ongoing refresh. To take detailed settings for the respective layer, you have to click left on this header.
  4. The main area of EpiScanGIS shows the current map, which is automatically generated using the current filter settings. You can superimpose more information on a specific spot of the map by clicking left. This queries all active layers for additional data.
  5. The right hand legend explains the meaning of all utilized colors and symbols.

Map layers

Geographical information systems typically organize digital maps using layers. Information, that belongs together, is thereby grouped in one layer.

EpiScanGIS uses amongst others the layers Population density, Annual incidence, Serogroups, Finetypes and Borders.

Elements combined in one layer are always of same geometric type. Borders and incidence are planar, cities and cases of disease are are point information. The separate layers generate the overall picture of the map. You can alter the view by enabling or disabling single layers.

Below we are going to explain each layer and the settings, that can be taken respectively:

Population density

Calculates the population density. This can either be done on basis of federal states or counties.

The figure below shows two examples for this layer:

Population density on basis of federal states and counties respectiveley
Population density on basis of federal states and counties respectively, including borders

Annual incidence

Shows the annual incidence of meningococcal disease for federal states and counties. The calculation refers to all cases of the selected serogroup(s) that occurred during the given period.

The number of cases is extrapolated if the period is shorter than one year and interpolated otherwise.

The figure below shows two examples for this layer:

Annual incidence for 2002, Federal states und counties
Annual incidence of all cases in 2002 (January-December) for Federal states and counties.

Finetypes

Displays the distribution of one meningococcal finetype (epitope sequence typing of PorA and FetA) on the map. The number of shown cases is contained by age group and period. You can find a specific finetype by using the provided search field.

IMPORTANT: You have to enter the finetype exactly as defined below:

{Serogroup} : P1.{PorA} : F{FetA}, for instance B : P1.7-2,4 : F1-5

Please mind the spaces to the left and right of the colons.

The figure below shows two examples for this layer:

Distribution of finetype B : P1.7-2,4 : F1-5 in Germany und North Rhine-Westphalia
Distribution of finetype B : P1.7-2,4 : F1-5 in Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia (January to October 2005)

Serogroups

Visualizes cases of meningococcal disease grouped by serogroup.

The number of shown cases is contained by age group and period. You can display cases of different serogroups at the same time by holding down the Ctrl-key while selecting an item from the list.

Different symbols and colors flag the serogroup B, C, Y, W135, 29E, A and Z unambiguously.

The figure below shows two examples for this layer:

Cases of serogroup B and C respectiveley in Germany
Cases of serogroup B and C respectively in Germany in 2002