19 May 2017

There is no one place on Earth where we can see and learn all there is to know about our planet, but what if we could somehow get a view from up above, and capture images and information on a global scale? Could we better understand our Earth and its environment? The simple answer is yes, and we're doing it right now! Earth observation (EO) satellites orbiting our planet allow us to see large-scale phenomena to a degree of detail that could only be matched by hordes of observers on the ground.

What do satellites see?
Plenty! From space, they gather essential information on the ocean, ice, land and the atmosphere. Satellites can even be used to collect data on environmental conditions that have an impact on our health.
Decreasing ozone levels, for example, are linked with increased UV radiation and more cases of skin cancer. The same is true for data on air and water quality. And did you know that high levels of soil moisture indicate a possible increase in the mosquito population in a given area? Since mosquitoes can carry diseases such as malaria and the West Nile virus, if we can somehow better detect the location of mosquito populations, we can improve our intervention efforts and reduce the risk to public health.
The use of EO satellites is still fairly new in the area of public health and more research needs to be done, but it is growing rapidly.

New research aims to improve detection and prevention of urban health risks
A research team is investigating the use of EO satellites to identify environmental health risks, specifically in urban areas. The project aims to use RADARSAT-2 data to help find areas where vulnerable populations would be exposed to high heat, air pollution or infectious diseases (viruses) transmitted by mosquitoes.

Not just satellites… but also data from various sources
The data gathered by RADARSAT-2 can help detect vulnerable zones based on urban patterns or land characteristics. But this is only part of the research puzzle. The broader goal of the project is to use the satellite data in combination with environmental information and risk factors from various sources. In addition to RADARSAT-2 images, the project will use information from other EO sensors, various databases and field data.
These diverse datasets will then be integrated into a single database for public health agencies so that prevention and control measures can be put in place. While the approach is being developed in Montreal, once it is proven, it could be applied in other Canadian cities facing similar public health issues.