Environmental Studies

Topic Name Role Of Information Technology In Environment And Human Health

BATCH 10: UDAY KIRAN.G [09L223] ANIL KRISHNA.G [09L221] UTTAM KUMAR [09L267] NITHESH CHAKRAVARTHI [09L242] SAI DEEP.N [09L251] PRANAY KRISHNA [09L246]
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ABSTRACT
Information Technology has played a key role in the development of human society. Modern technologies such as information technology have changed the human lifestyle. Development of sophisticated instruments like computers, satellites, telecommunication instruments etc have resulted in total revolution in almost all spheres of life. Information technology has tremendous potential in the field of environment education and health as in any other field like business, economics, politics or culture. A number of software have been developed for environment and health studies which are used friendly and can help an early learner in knowing and understanding the subject. In this project we are going to see that how Information Technology plays a significant role in environment and human health.

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Role of IT in Environment

With the development of Information Technology many good things as well as bad things born which directly or indirectly affects the environment. Geographical Information System (GIS) has proved to be a very effective tool in environmental management. GIS is a technique of superimposing various thematic maps using digital data on a large number of inter-related or interdependent aspects. Several useful soft-wares have been developed for working in the field of GIS.

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Technology is related to environment and human as given below.

Environment, human health and information technology are related to each other. The change in IT affects the human health as well as environment. There are good as well as bad effects on human health and environment. Above figure explain that IT helps to improve the environment and human health. There are several organization which are working to improve the standard of human and without unbalancing the environment.

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Different thematic maps containing digital information on a number of aspects like water resources, industrial growth, human settlements, road network, soil type, forest land, crop land or grassland etc. are superimposed in a layered form in computer using software. Such information of polluted zones, degraded lands or diseased cropland etc. can be made based on GIS. Planning for locating suitable areas for industrial growth is now being done using GIS by preparing Zoning Atlas. GIS serves to check unplanned growth and helps in providing correct, reliable and verifiable information about forest cover, success of conservation efforts etc. The techniques of remote sensing using satellite technologies, geographical information systems, agronomy and soil sciences are used to increase the rice output. They also provide information of atmospheric phenomena, like approach of monsoon, ozone layer depletion many new reserves of oil; minerals etc. with the remote sensing and GIS play a key role in resource mapping, environmental conservation, management, planning and environmental impact assessment.

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Special Case:

Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) Satellite imageries provide us actual information about various physical and biological resources and also to some extent about their state of degradation in a digital form through remote sensing. Now, the ongoing changes in the environment can be assessed easily through satellites by remote sensing techniques. The occurrence of a number of natural calamities like droughts, floods, volcanic eruptions etc., can also be predicted well in advance. Such assessments help the environmentalists and planners to take ameliorative measure to minimize the effects of these extreme natural events. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has created an information system called Environmental Information System (ENVIS) with its headquarters in Delhi. It provides a network database in environmental issues like pollution control, renewable energy, desertification, biodiversity etc. Also we are able to gather digital information on environment aspects like water logging, desertification, deforestation, urban sprawl, river and canal network, mineral and energy reserves and so on.

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Role of IT in Human Health

Information technology also plays a key role in human health. It helps the doctors to monitor the health of people of that area. The information regarding outbreak of epidemic diseases from remote areas can be sent more quickly to the district administration to take corrective measures. Now, patients can seek help of a super specialist doctor placed at far off distance. Many hospitals now, take on-line help of experts to provide better treatment and services to their patients. This has become possible only because of advancement of IT in the recent times. Medical data in the Information Technology field poses many rewarding advantages to physicians, doctors, patients and facilities. Implementing modern day software allows nurses and doctors to create a paper trail on a patients history with ease. Transforming medical records from paper to electronic files is cost-effective and more advantageous to patients, nurses, doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations. According to the Institute of Medicine and others, health care is an information-intensive industry that remains highly fragmented and inefficient. Hence, the use of information technology in delivering clinical care and performing administrative functions has the potential to yield both cost savings and improvements in the care itself.

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These systems allow information to be quickly accessed by health care professionals as well as quickly and efficiently transferring information to third party health care organizations such as insurance companies. Medical software unites all facilities within an organization for efficient, high-quality care that reaches an extensive patient base. With a reliable, integrated system, tasks can be performed quickly with fewer employees, while maintenance costs are reduced, and savings can grow.Another advantage of medical IT is online access to insurance organizations. Insurance companies now have resources available to individuals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Disaster response to masscasualty incidents (MCIs) represents one of the greatest challenges to a communitys emergency response system. Rescuers, field medical personnel, regional emergency departments, and hospitals must provide care to a large number of casualties in a setting of limited resources, inadequate communication, misinformation, damaged infrastructure, and great personal risk. Emergency care providers and incident managers attempt to procure and coordinate resources and personnel, often with inaccurate data regarding the true nature of the incident, needs, and ongoing response.

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New technologies in communications, the Internet, computer miniaturization, and advanced smart devices have the potential to vastly improve an emergency medical response to such mass-casualty incident disasters. Next generation wireless Internet and geopositioning technologies may have the greatest impact on

improving communications, information management, and overall disaster response and emergency medical care. The advent of computer miniaturization, also called smart devices, the Internet, third generation wireless connectivity, and positioning technologies are advanced applications that will help to improve communication in the event of a disaster. Geoposition tracking and miniaturized medical monitoring equipment have been tested on soldiers and medics in the military battlefield. These technologies are being evaluated to improve and enhance patient care and tracking, foster greater provider safety, enhance incident management at the scene, and to coordinate a communitys emergency medical services (EMS), ED, hospital resources. This technology will greatly enhance informatics support at the scene and at receiving EDs and hospitals.

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There will always be conflicts regarding how IT should be implemented in the medical field but IT is improving the quality of care patients receive. The potential benefits IT presents to healthcare organizations are numerous and expanding everyday. Healthcare currently accounts for 15 percent of the economy which amounts to $1.7 trillion per year. These types of potential savings are why so many healthcare facilities are investing in IT now more than ever. In 2004, hospitals spent $25.8 billion on IT and that number is expected to grow to over $30.5 billion by the end of 2005.

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CONCLUSION

As with anything in life, there are two sides to every story. The advantages and disadvantages of using IT in the medical field have been debated for quite some time and will continue to be debated into the future. However, as our technology improves environment and our healthcare system evolves, it seems unreasonable not to implement the many benefits gained by technology.

Health care providers can substantially decrease costs and improve information access with the implementation of IT systems such as electronic medical records and integrated networks. Cost savings that can be generated with medical IT systems. The debate on the safe and appropriate use of IT in medicine will continue to evolve as the capabilities of the technology are progressively being developed at a hurried pace. Only by returning to the fundamental precepts of medical ethics can we continue to meet new challenges posed by new inventions in order to preserve the ideals and aspirations of the profession, and society.

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REFERENCE

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