Geospatial Social and Environmental Data

In collaboration with the Spatial Sciences Institute at USC, the SC CTSI provides services for investigators with an interest in linking geospatial and patient health data. We help researchers access census-tract-level data such as exposure to environmental risk factors (e.g., air and water quality metrics), socio-economic and environmental conditions (e.g., median income, education, access to food), and neighborhood demographics (e.g., population density, race, ethnicity). Once linked to patient address in medical records or research datasets, these data can power research on social and environmental determinants of health.

Over 70 data domains from 6 different data sources (e.g., CDC, Cal EPA, ACS/US Census Bureau) are available, including:

• Median income
• Education
• Housing
• Access to food
• Population density
• Race
• Ethnicity
• Air quality
• Water quality

USC researchers are required to complete (1) Human Subjects Training and (2) HIPAA training. Once complete, and reflecting in your iStar profile, please email cri@usc.edu requesting an account and access to i2b2. Please note: a USC Keck-secured Internet network is required to access the application.

See recharge policy here.