Enhancing the Sustainability and Impact of Geomarker Assessment Tools for Research

Project Summary
DeGAUSS (Decentralized Geomarker Assessment for Multi-Site Studies) is an open-source research tool that transforms
geocoding and exposure assessment models into FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) computable
exposures, enabling privacy-preserving assessments without sharing identifiable information. The project’s overall objective
is to enhance DeGAUSS’s scalability, interoperability, and reusability, making geocoding and geomarker assessment
more accessible to all researchers. We will leverage advances in computing for enhanced accessibility and portability
by refactoring DeGAUSS using Rust-based geospatial libraries while maintaining an R package as the user interface.
This will reduce dependencies on external system libraries, allow for containerless deployment, and simplify reproducible
environments. We plan to update geocoding for exact address matching with Safe Harbor compliance. We will develop
APIs and interoperable services compliant with modern standards for DeGAUSS. Creating APIs and services that adhere to
Swagger standards will enable seamless integration with existing data pipelines. Building an OCI-compliant container with
a web-based interface and leveraging WebAssembly (Wasm) to embed Rust and R will provide a secure, portable solution
adaptable to various environments. We aim to enhance reusability through standardized data formats and expanded testing.
Adopting standardized input/output data formats and expanding testing with diverse datasets will enhance the accuracy,
reliability, and applicability of geocoding and geomarker assessment tasks. We plan to increase community engagement
and uptake through improved dissemination channels. By developing educational materials, conducting workshops, and
collaborating with standards organizations, we will raise awareness, improve usability, and ensure DeGAUSS aligns with
evolving best practices, fostering widespread adoption. By achieving these aims, the project will extend DeGAUSS’s impact
and sustainability, contributing to a better understanding of environmental influences on health and supporting the NIH’s
mission to leverage advanced data tools for improving public health outcomes.

Grant Number: 1R03ES037996-01
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Cole Brokamp