index.Rmd

 

#### About <a href='https://degauss-org.github.io'><img src='figs/degauss_hex.png' align="right" height="138.5" /></a>

DeGAUSS (**De**centralized **G**eomarker **A**ssessment for M**u**lti-**S**ite **S**tudies) is a decentralized method for geocoding and deriving community and individual level environmental characteristics while maintaining the privacy of protected health information. It is a standalone and versatile software application based on containerization.  This means that geomarker assessment is reproducible, standardized, and can be computed on at scale. Importantly, DeGAUSS is executable on a local machine -- it does not require extensive computational resources and PHI is never exposed to a third party or the internet, making it ideal for geomarker assessment in a multi-site study. 

<img src='figs/degauss_multisite_study-degauss_flow.png'/>

> Brokamp C, Wolfe C, Lingren T, Harley J, Ryan P. Decentralized and Reproducible Geocoding and Characterization of Community and Environmental Exposures for Multi-Site Studies. *Journal of American Medical Informatics Association*. 25(3). 309-314. 2018. 

#### Using DeGAUSS

Get started with the [Using DeGAUSS guide](using_degauss.html) or try using our [menu](http://app.degauss.org/menu/).
Below is a realtime recording of using DeGAUSS to geocode, add census geographies, and add measurements of nearby roadways to a set of example addresses:

<div style = "text-align: center">
<img src='degauss_usage_recording.gif' width = 100% height = auto/>
</div>