service

Geospatial Social and Environmental Data

Price: See below for more info

Access census-tract data to power research on social and environmental determinants of health

University of Southern California (USC)
Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LAC DHS)
Goal: Use Informatics-Based Research Tools and Services

Service description

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). Incorporated into research datasets, these data can power research on social and environmental determinants of health without the need to disclose patient addresses. SC-CTSI/CRI and ISI staff can consult with teams interested in these data in their research, to understand the nuance of these variables in context.

42 social and environmental measurements 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

More measurement are being added all the time.


How to get access

Social and environmental measurements are browsable through i2b2. To access i2b2, USC researchers are required to complete the CITI Human Subjects Training and CITI HIPAA Training. Once complete and reflecting in your iStar profile, please submit a ticket to our CRI Service Hub.

Researchers can also obtain patient-level social and environmental health data by submitting a request to our CRI Service Hub.

Click here to view the FAQs for research data requests, tools, and other informatics services.


Cost

See recharge policy here.


Need informatics help?

Submit a request

CRI Open Office Hours

Wednesdays at 10AM: Open hours to discuss anything CRI related except for REDCap.

Zoom link

Contact information

SC CTSI support team

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NIH Funding Acknowledgment: Important - All publications resulting from the utilization of SC CTSI resources are required to credit the SC CTSI grant by including the NIH funding acknowledgment and must comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.