Integrating geographic information systems into veterinary education within the one health framework: an interdisciplinary approach
IntroductionGeographic Information Systems (GIS) have become essential tools in animal and public health, particularly within the One Health framework. Despite their relevance in health and environmental science programs, GIS training is not yet fully integrated into veterinary curricula. This gap l...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1612524/full |
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| author | Antonio Contreras Víctor Cuevas Jorge Rivera-Gomis Jorge Rivera-Gomis Antonio Sánchez Pelayo Acevedo Joaquin Vicente |
| author_facet | Antonio Contreras Víctor Cuevas Jorge Rivera-Gomis Jorge Rivera-Gomis Antonio Sánchez Pelayo Acevedo Joaquin Vicente |
| author_sort | Antonio Contreras |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionGeographic Information Systems (GIS) have become essential tools in animal and public health, particularly within the One Health framework. Despite their relevance in health and environmental science programs, GIS training is not yet fully integrated into veterinary curricula. This gap limits the ability of veterinary students to effectively utilize spatial data in their future professional practice.MethodsTo address this educational shortfall, we implemented a teaching innovation project at the University of Murcia, aimed at incorporating GIS training into veterinary education. Using open-access tools, we designed a series of tutorials, manuals, and exercises with graduated levels of complexity. These resources were based on real and simulated epidemiological datasets and focused on topics relevant to animal and public health. The tools employed included online GIS platforms such as the European Rabies Bulletin (ERB), free desktop applications like Epi Map from Epi Info 7 and QGIS, as well as ArcGIS Online, including its story map functionalities.ResultsThe educational pathway developed introduces GIS through a stepwise progression: (1) use of the ERB to explore official rabies data in Europe since 1977; (2) application of fictional disease data in rabbits using Epi Map and QGIS for beginners; and (3) analysis of official bovine tuberculosis sanitation campaigns in Ciudad Real (2007–2011) for more advanced users. The exercises support data visualization, geospatial analysis, and the generation of online outputs. They were designed to be accessible to users with no prior GIS experience and can be implemented remotely and asynchronously.DiscussionThis approach offers a scalable and accessible model for integrating GIS into veterinary education. The ability to visualize epidemiological patterns and combine health and production data with environmental risk layers fosters student engagement and spatial reasoning. Moreover, the capacity to publish results online enhances dissemination and interdisciplinary collaboration. Future work will focus on evaluating student learning outcomes and refining the pedagogical design based on user feedback. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4bdbacc41b04434aa696dba54b1497e4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-4bdbacc41b04434aa696dba54b1497e42025-08-20T03:28:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-07-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16125241612524Integrating geographic information systems into veterinary education within the one health framework: an interdisciplinary approachAntonio Contreras0Víctor Cuevas1Jorge Rivera-Gomis2Jorge Rivera-Gomis3Antonio Sánchez4Pelayo Acevedo5Joaquin Vicente6Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, SpainGrupo Sanidad y Biotecnología (SaBio), Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, SpainDepartamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, SpainCentre for Epidemiology and Planetary Health (CEPH), Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Inverness, United KingdomDepartamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, SpainGrupo Sanidad y Biotecnología (SaBio), Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, SpainGrupo Sanidad y Biotecnología (SaBio), Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, SpainIntroductionGeographic Information Systems (GIS) have become essential tools in animal and public health, particularly within the One Health framework. Despite their relevance in health and environmental science programs, GIS training is not yet fully integrated into veterinary curricula. This gap limits the ability of veterinary students to effectively utilize spatial data in their future professional practice.MethodsTo address this educational shortfall, we implemented a teaching innovation project at the University of Murcia, aimed at incorporating GIS training into veterinary education. Using open-access tools, we designed a series of tutorials, manuals, and exercises with graduated levels of complexity. These resources were based on real and simulated epidemiological datasets and focused on topics relevant to animal and public health. The tools employed included online GIS platforms such as the European Rabies Bulletin (ERB), free desktop applications like Epi Map from Epi Info 7 and QGIS, as well as ArcGIS Online, including its story map functionalities.ResultsThe educational pathway developed introduces GIS through a stepwise progression: (1) use of the ERB to explore official rabies data in Europe since 1977; (2) application of fictional disease data in rabbits using Epi Map and QGIS for beginners; and (3) analysis of official bovine tuberculosis sanitation campaigns in Ciudad Real (2007–2011) for more advanced users. The exercises support data visualization, geospatial analysis, and the generation of online outputs. They were designed to be accessible to users with no prior GIS experience and can be implemented remotely and asynchronously.DiscussionThis approach offers a scalable and accessible model for integrating GIS into veterinary education. The ability to visualize epidemiological patterns and combine health and production data with environmental risk layers fosters student engagement and spatial reasoning. Moreover, the capacity to publish results online enhances dissemination and interdisciplinary collaboration. Future work will focus on evaluating student learning outcomes and refining the pedagogical design based on user feedback.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1612524/fullteaching innovationepi mapQGISArcGIS story mapsEuropean rabies bulletincoinfame dataset |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Contreras Víctor Cuevas Jorge Rivera-Gomis Jorge Rivera-Gomis Antonio Sánchez Pelayo Acevedo Joaquin Vicente Integrating geographic information systems into veterinary education within the one health framework: an interdisciplinary approach Frontiers in Veterinary Science teaching innovation epi map QGIS ArcGIS story maps European rabies bulletin coinfame dataset |
| title | Integrating geographic information systems into veterinary education within the one health framework: an interdisciplinary approach |
| title_full | Integrating geographic information systems into veterinary education within the one health framework: an interdisciplinary approach |
| title_fullStr | Integrating geographic information systems into veterinary education within the one health framework: an interdisciplinary approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating geographic information systems into veterinary education within the one health framework: an interdisciplinary approach |
| title_short | Integrating geographic information systems into veterinary education within the one health framework: an interdisciplinary approach |
| title_sort | integrating geographic information systems into veterinary education within the one health framework an interdisciplinary approach |
| topic | teaching innovation epi map QGIS ArcGIS story maps European rabies bulletin coinfame dataset |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1612524/full |
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