MATERIALS AND METHODS: Additional analytical blocks on comparative and dynamic analysis of morbidity by the groups of nosologies were developed using the software meeting the general concept of the software complex (JavaScript, PHP, and others) and integrated into a new version of the Web application "Epidemiological Atlas of Russia. Territory of the Federal District". The initial data including information by the groups of diseases were converted into a set of interrelated tables with their further integration into the database of a new version of the Atlas under the control of a free relational MySQL database management system.
RESULTS: The existing classifications of nosologic forms and the search for additional characteristics, potentially forming the groups of nosologies, have been analyzed and the current database of the Epidemiological Atlas has been optimized. The algorithms for obtaining and evaluating epidemiological indicators in the new analytical blocks for estimating cumulative morbidity by the nosologic groups were designed. There were created original analytical modules "Comparative analysis of morbidity by the groups of nosologies" and "Dynamic analysis of morbidity by the groups of nosologies" for the Web application "Epidemiological Atlas of Russia. Territory of Federal District" for the comparative and dynamic morbidity analysis based on the groups of nosologies in the administrative-territorial subject units, in the district subjects, and in the district as a whole, with the possibility of information detailing. The materials based on the database queries contain temporal (calendar month) and spatial detailing (administrative-territory unit of the Russian Federation subject). All materials may be exported as tables, graphs, or maps in various formats (.xls, .pdf, .csv, .png, .jpeg, .svg). Since the databases of the current epidemiological atlases of the Volga Federal District and Russia are universal, the mechanisms of processing tables and queries are identical providing the possibility of using the developed approaches employed in the Epidemiological Atlas of Russia or atlases of other federal districts in case of replicating a new Web application version. New analytical blocks may extend notions on the incidence of current infectious diseases and reveal characteristic regional features, facilitate more exact scientifically grounded proposals for decision-making by the executive authorities and timely taking preventive and anti-epidemic measures.
CONCLUSION: The developed analytical modules integrated into the new version of the "Epidemiological Atlas of Russia, Territory of the Federal District" were designed to extend the analytical capabilities of the geoinformation software complex. They are characterized by a high significance in optimization and quality improvement of epidemiological monitoring, operative and retrospective epidemiological analysis of current infectious and parasitic diseases in a separate subject, a federal district, and the Russian Federation as a whole, and represent an essential potential for further improvement of analytical methods and technologies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The GIS software package "Epidemiological Atlas of Russia" was designed for data monitoring, epidemiological analysis, and cartographic visualization and was implemented as a web resource consisting of a web application, a package administration module, and a database management system. The following development tools were used to create the package: JavaScript, PHP, additional mapping libraries (Leaflet, OpenStreetMap), MySQL database management systems, Visual Basic .NET. The primary information for the database was taken from official federal statistical observation forms No.1 and No.2 "Information on infectious and parasitic diseases".
RESULTS: Analytical methods and GIS technologies used in epidemiological practice were evaluated, optimal technical solutions based on the experience of developing the "Epidemiological Atlas of the Volga Federal District" were selected. A versatile database structure was designed and developed to create an array of input and output statistical values of an epidemiological nature. Original algorithms were created to obtain and evaluate epidemiological indicators. Web application "Epidemiological Atlas of Russia" was developed to present, analyze, and visualize information on infectious and parasitic diseases in the subjects of a district, federal districts, and the Russian Federation as a whole. It allows to work with report forms of the Ministry of Health to organize federal statistical monitoring in the field of health protection and with laboratory studies results to create thematic modules providing detailed information on individual nosologies. Initial data were temporally broken down by months, and spatially, by Russian Federation subjects. All visualization results were dynamically updated and generated based on user's interactive request.
CONCLUSION: GIS software package "Epidemiological Atlas of Russia" was developed as an open and publicly accessible information resource and is designed to improve the quality of epidemiological monitoring, operational and retrospective epidemiological analysis of the incidence of current infectious and parasitic diseases in the Russian Federation. The package is intended for use in federal executive authorities, in supervisory authorities and institutions of Rospotrebnadzor, in medical organizations of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and is in line with the state policy aimed to introduce modern technologies into practice.