Between the years of 1999 and 2008, many researchers and cancer specialists were noticing an increase in the incidents of cancer in Sudan. Alarmed, four researchers, Elebeaad, Amna Hamid, Hilmi and Galal, came together to determine whether there was a presence of geographical patterns, or clusters, of cancer occurrences. The article, titled Mapping Cancer Disease Using Geographical Information System (GIS) in Gezira State-Sudan, was conducted for the purpose of generation base maps to implement into the Cancer Control Program. Using data gathered from the University of El Gezira State of cancer incidents from 1999-2008, correlation analysis and cluster analysis, it was determined that there was an increase in the incidence rate of cancer in some localities over the ten-year span.

The three cancers, blood, breast, and prostate, were analyzed through a correlation analysis to see if there was a distribution pattern. However, there was found to be significant dispersion across the study area, and therefore no clustering of the distribution. A clustering and outlier analysis were conducted after the correlation analysis. There were found to be three clusters within Gezira; Elmanagil City, Madani City, and Elhosh.

Following these findings, it was recommended that GIS be utilized to make decisions regarding land use and land management practices. It was also stated that data should be collected regularly, as more data allows for more regular analyses. More time and money should also be invested into finding the possible link between pollution due to fertilizer and pesticides and cancer.

While I find this application of GIS extremely interesting, I found that the article was a bit confusing. The grammar was not always clear, and they mentioned and defined spatial autocorrelation, but never related it back to their own analysis. The maps also could have used a bit more effort, as some of the color choices were a bit confusing (colors that looked lighter to me were supposed to signify higher rates of cancer, etc.). I am not sure if they could have done a better job and a more thorough analysis as I could not entirely tell which analyses they did. However, it did seem to serve the purpose. Therefore, I am giving this article a 7 out of 10.