CRC for Spatial Information

This research will test whether there is a spatial relationship between the extent of physical damage from natural disasters and non-injury psycho-social stress related health outcomes that while not acute, may significantly impact rehabilitation and reconstruction of an affected location.

The hypothesis is that adverse stress-related health outcomes (eg cardiovascular risk or anxiety) are greater among people who have experienced greater physical damage to their communities and homes than other those who have experienced less damage, but who also live in the city.

The PhD will focus on the 2010-11 Christchurch earthquakes. GIS will be used to estimate exposure to physical damage and community disruption; and spatial statistical methods will be developed to model exposure indicators to health data at a fine spatial scale. Point level hospital Emergency Department attendance and Healthline telephone data will be used to measure health outcomes.