Geospatial and Data Analysis Core

Geospatial and Data Analysis Core
Leveraging data to protect health and build weather-resilient communities.

Severe weather affects our health in ways we're only beginning to understand. The Geospatial Data Analytics Core brings together data from multiple sources to uncover how extreme weather impacts people's lives using data from:

  • Health Systems
  • Weather Records
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Neighborhood Conditions

We work with researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to turn complex data into actionable knowledge and then practical solutions that improve public health and strengthen local resilience in the greater Chicagoland area and beyond.

What We Do

  • Connect the Dots Between Extreme Weather and Health – We combine data on air and water quality, hospital visits, and neighborhood infrastructure to reveal how weather events—from heat waves to floods—affect health outcomes.
  • Build Tools for Action – We’re developing a place-based data tool to help researchers and communities explore health and environmental data over space and time, making it easier to spot trends and plan interventions, including nature-based solutions. Check back here for updates.
  • Map Risk and Opportunity – Using advanced mapping and exposure science, we help identify which areas are most vulnerable to weather-related health risks and where solutions can make the biggest impact.
  • Provide Analytic Support and Capacity Building – Working closely with the Community Outreach and Engagement Core, our interdisciplinary team equips researchers, trainees, and community partners with tools and skills that enable state-of-the-art analyses; we advance data collection, analysis, and interpretation tailored to community needs and priorities.

Why It Matters

  • Empowering Communities: We make data accessible so local organizations can advocate for change and design smarter health programs.
  • Supporting Decision-Makers: Our insights help public health officials and city planners prepare for severe weather challenges and protect vulnerable populations.
  • Driving Research Forward: We support scientists across UIC and beyond with the tools they need to study the intersection of weather, green infrastructure, and health.