Inventory of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Environmental and Occupational Health Data
Sources and Surveillance Activities

Direct link to the inventory: Inventory of Injury Surveillance Data Sources and Surveillance Activities
http://www2.itssti.hc-sc.gc.ca/clf/clfinventory.nsf

Inventory of Data Sources

Spatial Data Warehouse (SDW) (Health Canada)

Contacts
David A. Lewis
Research and Technology Division
Centre for Surveillance Coordination
Population and Public Health Branch
Health Canada
Tel: (613) 946-0451
Fax: (613) 957-6218
E-mail : David_A_Lewis@hc-sc.gc.ca

Kara Linttell
[Affiliation same as above]
Tel: (613) 946-4816
Fax: (613) 957-6218
E-mail: Kara_Linttell@hc-sc.gc.ca

Organization Maintaining the Database
Health Canada

Database URL
gltp://127.0.0.1:80/cwogdi/hdw/hdw@hdw

Purpose of Database
The Geographic information System (GIS) infrastructure developed by Health Canada's Centre for Surveillance Coordination (CSC) supports the spatial information needs of CSC projects, epidemiologists, regional surveillance and public health programs, etc. Does not collect any data, but purchases datasets from, e.g., Statistics Canada, and loads them into the warehouse. These datasets must have a geographic reference (e.g., postal code).

The information may be used to visualize and analyze notifiable disease reports, infectious outbreaks, risks, research issues, and desired effects of program interventions, by linking data from different surveillance databases and public health information systems where their common reference points are geographic locations. GIS layers population demographics, political and administrative boundaries and environmental factors on a series of maps to support evidence-based planning.

Content
Datasets from other sources (e.g., Statistics Canada),which include data on notifiable diseases, risks, research issues, and desired effects of program interventions. Data types: demographic; geographic; epidemiologic; environmental; surveillance. Geolocators: postal code; province; census division; census subdivision; metropolitan area; federal electoral district; census tract; enumeration area.

Year Database Established
1998

Coverage Period
1991 to 1998

Data Updates
Irregularly

Data Providers
Statistics Canada, DMTI Spatial, and Natural Resources Canada; also geographic information systems across Canada.

Data Availability
Access to the data is restricted to individuals designated in the Network for Health Surveillance in Canada, and requires authorization from the GIS infrastructure. User authentication is controlled through F Secure SSH. An OGDI (Open Geospatial Datastore Interface) or OGC plug-in for the GIS software is required to communicate with the warehouse and allow for downloading of data. An end-user agreement restricts use and disclosure of data.

Reports
Not specified

Additional Comments
Spatial information is provided to clients free of charge.