Geospatial analytics have been used to model the spread of heart disease and diabetes across the state of Victoria.

Data was collected by a computer-assisted interview done by a social research centre. Five environmental factors were modelled including fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, physical activity, and weight.

The medical history of family was also taken into account.

“We wanted to be able to represent the data in a clear way to policymakers and health professionals,” said Yelena Nunn of the Victoria department of Health.

A strong correlation was found between low scores in these five areas and the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

They study threw up a number of interesting facts: although seven out of the eight areas with high levels of overweight people were rural, nine out of ten areas with high levels of obese people were in metropolitan areas.

The anonymised information can be viewed online on the government’s website.