Nairobi, Kenya | Geospatial analytics | Climate and health
Geospatial evidencefor climate resilient health systems.
I use satellite imagery, GIS, spatial epidemiology, digital research data systems and reproducible Python workflows to map climate sensitive health risks. My work connects heat, flooding, WASH, settlement change, health facility access, population vulnerability and field surveillance systems. I translate complex spatial and survey data into clear maps, datasets, manuscripts and decision products for research, implementation and policy teams.
Research identity
Health systems researcher with a geospatial spine.
My work sits at the intersection of climate science, environmental exposure assessment, population health and implementation evidence. I build reproducible workflows that move from raw satellite and surveillance data to publication ready outputs, technical reports, dashboards and decision products.
Current work focuses on climate and health analytics in East Africa, including extreme heat, flood exposure, WASH resilience, peri urban transition, health service accessibility, surveillance data systems and operational decision support.
Clear questions, defensible methods and outputs aligned to publication and implementation needs.
Python, Earth Engine and GIS workflows that are documented, reproducible and ready to hand over.
Maps, figures, narratives and dashboards that make complex analysis understandable to decision makers.
Research interests and skills
Current work areas
Research areas spanning climate hazards, environmental exposure mapping, spatial epidemiology and health systems planning.
Heat
Extreme heat and priority populations
Subnational heat hazard, exposure burden and vulnerability mapping for pregnant women, children under five and older adults.
Floods
Flood exposure and WASH resilience
Sentinel 1 flood metrics linked to Community Health Unit water, sanitation and longitudinal surveillance indicators.
Remote sensing
Settlement and land cover change
Multi proxy classification of peri urban transition using Sentinel, nighttime lights, WorldPop and open geospatial layers.
Health systems
Digital health and service access
Travel time, catchment modeling, DHIS2 aligned analytics and evidence products for health systems planning.
Software and methods
Technical toolkit
Core tools for reproducible geospatial analysis, satellite data processing, health information systems, visualization, analytics and deployment.
ODKODK
Offline mobile data collection, ODK Central and Collect workflows, and field data quality checks.
KoboToolboxKoboToolbox
Survey deployment, field monitoring, and humanitarian or research data collection workflows.
SurveyCTOSurveyCTO
Secure mobile surveys, repeat structures, constraints, case management, and team workflows.
REDCapREDCap
Secure research databases, surveys, longitudinal projects, data dictionaries, and export workflows.
Python
Data science, automation, modeling, ETL and reproducible workflows.
Google Earth Engine
Satellite data processing, exposure mapping and zonal statistics.
QGIS
Spatial data management, cartography and field mapping outputs.
DHIS2
Routine health information systems, API workflows and service analytics.
PostgreSQL
Relational databases, analytical systems and structured data management.
Power BIPower BI
Interactive dashboards and decision ready reporting for stakeholders.
TableauTableau
Visual analytics, executive views and exploratory data products.
Docker
Containerized data systems, reproducible environments and deployment.
Featured portfolio
Selected current and applied projects
Applied research and implementation work across climate analytics, health systems, geospatial modeling and surveillance data systems.
Climate GIS
Climate exposure mapping and decision support
Spatial epidemiology, satellite derived exposure metrics, facility analytics and decision ready products for climate resilient health systems.
Climate health cohort
Community based climate, WASH and nutrition surveillance
Baseline household survey to inform longitudinal surveillance of climate sensitive health, WASH, food security, nutrition, maternal and child health, anthropometry and hemoglobin outcomes in Northern Tanzania.
Climate, conflict and health
PREPARE CC Kenya case study
Mixed methods research on how climate shocks, conflict, displacement and fragile health systems interact to shape women’s and children’s health in Kenya’s refugee hosting borderlands.
Surveillance
Verbal autopsy data management and analysis
Data management and analytical workflows for mortality surveillance, community health learning and health systems decision support.
Hotspots
Geostatistical hotspot mapping
Hotspot mapping, spatial analytics and dashboard oriented support for program design, targeting and inclusion planning.
Access
Health facility coverage and accessibility analysis
Catchment logic, travel time and facility coverage analysis to support service planning and implementation decisions.
Collaborators and research network
Selected collaborators and senior research links
Research links across global child health, evidence synthesis, population health, environmental health and climate health analytics.
Prof Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
Maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition and global health evidence.
Google ScholarProf Jai K. Das
Public health, systematic reviews, implementation research and child health.
ORCIDProf Anthony K. Ngugi
Epidemiology, health information systems, community health and maternal and child health research.
Google ScholarDr Fredrick O. Gudda
Environmental exposures, climate and health analytics and applied epidemiological research.
Google ScholarPublications and preprints
Selected outputs
Recent work and selected earlier publications across climate exposure, WASH resilience and geographic access to health services.
Thirty five years of accelerating heat stress in Kenya
Oluoch FF, Gudda F, Makena P, et al. Subnational patterns of hazard, exposure burden and vulnerability in priority populations. Preprint.
DOISubnational heat stress analysis focused on hazard patterns, exposure burden and priority population vulnerability across Kenya.
A longitudinal multi proxy geospatial classification of peri urban transitions
Makena P, Oluoch FF, Gudda F, Keter A, Iseme-Ondiek R, Das J, Bhutta Z, Ngugi A. Community Health Units in coastal Kenya. Preprint.
DOIMulti proxy classification of peri urban transition using publicly available geospatial data across Community Health Units.
Satellite-derived longitudinal evidence of flood effects on community water and sanitation resilience in coastal Kenya
Oluoch F, Ondiek RI, Gudda F, et al. BMC Glob. Public Health 4, 63 (2026).
DOISatellite derived longitudinal evidence linking flood exposure with safe water and sanitation resilience across Community Health Units in coastal Kenya.
Comorbidities associated with increased risk of death among children aged 2 to 59 months with severe pneumonia in Western Kenya
Akoo TK, Awandu SS, Oluoch F, Kemunto L, Ochung A, Ayodo G. African Journal of Health Sciences.
DOIComputing the geographic extent of maternity health services to predict skilled delivery utilization
Oluoch F, Ayodo G, Owino F, Okuto E. European Scientific Journal.
DOIModeling the impact of traveling time on the utilization of maternity services
Oluoch F, Ayodo G, Owino F, Okuto E. American Journal of Geographic Information System.
DOIContact
Open to collaborative climate, environment and health research.
For collaboration, training, data analysis, manuscript development or geospatial evidence products, reach me through email or LinkedIn.