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EASTWeb is a collaborative project involving scientists from South Dakota State University (SDSU)
and the USGS Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS), along with partners from
government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Our research focuses on the application
of geospatial technologies for mapping, risk analysis, and ecological forecasting of infectious
diseases. The specific technologies that we use include satellite remote sensing for environmental
monitoring, geographic information systems for data management and processing, and spatial
statistics for analyzing disease patterns and developing predictive models. We apply these tools
to study how climate and land use patterns influence vector and host populations, and how these
effects lead to outbreaks of disease in humans. Our ultimate goal is to use this knowledge to
develop early warning systems that can forecast areas of future disease risk based on environmental
variability in space and time.
Our current work is aimed at applying data from earth observing satellites to assess the risk of two mosquito-borne diseases: West Nile virus in the northern Great Plains region of the United States, and malaria in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. This research is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (1R01AI079411).We are collaborating with the South Dakota Department of Health and the Anti-Malaria Association to determine how these spatial risk assessments can be used in disease prevention efforts. The main purpose of this website is to provide public access to the various products that will be developed by the project, including geospatial datasets, maps, and forecasts. Other links provide background information, updates on research activities, and relevant web resources.
