Systematic Review of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Applied to Dengue Detection

Abstract

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become a key tool for the surveillance, detection, and control of dengue, a vector-borne disease with a growing global impact. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the application of GIS in dengue detection through a systematic review based on the PRISMA methodology and a bibliometric analysis. Of a total of 861 documents, 70 studies from the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scielo databases were evaluated to identify publication trends, collaborative networks, and the main technologies used. The results reveal a steady increase in publications since 2018, with a notable rise in recent years, indicating a growing interest in this field. The geographic analysis shows a concentration of scientific output in developed countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, while Thailand stands out as an endemic country with a high incidence and regional leadership in dengue research. The most frequent keywords focus on ‘dengue’, ‘human’, and ‘epidemic’, demonstrating a focus on epidemiological surveillance. However, challenges remain, such as computational limitations and a lack of studies on real-world implementation in contexts with limited infrastructure. Overall, the findings underscore that the applicability of GIS to dengue research is expanding, but still needs strengthening in its applied and contextual dimensions, especially in highly vulnerable countries.