This document discusses the role of information technology in environmental and human health. It describes how biological databases like NCBI store genomic data for research. Biometrics uses human characteristics for identification. Bioinformatics applies computer science to biological problems. Telemedicine uses technology to provide healthcare from a distance. Other areas discussed include biomechanics, spreading health awareness through media, using programs to control biological equipment, and environmental applications like remote sensing, GIS, and databases to study and monitor the environment.

1. ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN
ENVIORNMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH
Submitted by
Richard Johnson B160806ME
Shivaram kruthvik S B160830ME

3. Role of Information Technology in Human
Health
 Biological Databases
 Biometrics
 Bioinformatics
 Telemedicine
 Biomechanics
 Mass awareness
 Biological Equipment

4. Biological Databases
 NCBI- National Centre for Biotechnology Information. Contains several databases
which store genome data, protein data, nucleotide, genotypes, etc
 The National Centre for Biotechnology Information advances science and health
by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
 Several other databases including PCR databases, Metabolic and signal pathways,
RNA, Proteomics, Protein Interaction databases, etc.

5. Biometrics
 Metrics related to human characteristics and traits.
 Biometric authentication is used in computer science as a form of identification and
access control. It is also used to identify individuals in groups under surveillance.
 Distinct, measurable to describe and label individuals.
 Aadhaar is the world’s largest biometric database in the world. Fingerprint, Iris Scan
and face photo along with demographic data of a person is compiled.

6. Bioinformatics
 Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field mainly involving molecular biology and
genetics, computer science, mathematics, and statistics.
 Data intensive, large-scale biological problems are addressed from a
computational point of view.
 The most common problems are modelling biological processes at the molecular
level and making inferences from collected data.
 Biological networks such as gene regulatory networks, metabolic pathways, and
protein-protein interaction networks are usually modelled as graphs and graph
theoretic approaches are used to solve associated problems such as construction
and analysis of large-scale networks.

7. Telemedicine
 Telemedicine is the use of
telecommunication and information
technology to provide clinical health
care from a distance.
 It has been used to overcome distance
barriers and to improve access to
medical services that would often not be
consistently available in distant rural
communities.
 It is also used to save lives in critical care
and emergency situations.

8. Biomechanics
 Biomechanics is the study of how the systems and structures of biological
organisms, from the smallest plants to the largest animals, react to various
forces and external stimuli.
 In humans, biomechanics often refers to the study of how the skeletal and
musculature systems work under different conditions.
 In biomechanics more generally, scientists often try to apply physics and
other mathematically based forms of analysis to discover the limits and
capabilities of biological systems.
 Nano-bots are programmed to act as delivery systems within the organism
(like blood).

9. Mass awareness
 IT helps in spreading awareness
about diseases and preventive
measures to be taken.
 This reduces panic and provides
information about prevention
and if infected, treatment
options.
 One of the best ways to spread
awareness about preventive
measure is by media.

10. Biological Equipment
 Most of the biological
equipment (be it Lab or
Diagnostic medicine) run on
programs and algorithms.
 This makes the machines user-
friendly and time saving.
 Most machines run on pre-
designed programs with
specific applications which
make usage easier.
 Additive manufacturing (or 3D
Printing) also makes use of
programming techniques.

11. eHEALTH
 eHealth is a relatively recent term for healthcare practice supported by electronic
processes and communication.
 It can also include health applications and links on mobile phones, referred to as
mHealth.
 In case of mental illnesses like depression, eHealth provided anonymity to users. It
is also easily accessible.
 It is gaining momentum in academic research as well as in psychology, clinical
work, family and marriage therapy and mental health counselling.

12. ROLE IN ENVIRONMENT

13. ENVIRONMENT
 Tremendous potential
 Can acquire, store, analyse and visualize satellite
data for observation, and protection of environment.
 Easily accessible around the world
 Dramatically reduces costs, increases speed,
improved productivity and opens up new challenges
and opportunities.

14. DATABASES
 The most important application of IT in environment
 Collection of inter-related data on various subjects.
 Can be retrieved when required.
 User friendly and convenient to store large amount
of data and analyse the data gathered.

15. ENVIRONMENTAL DATABASES
 US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs has three environmental databases
that it uses to assess hazards to the environment; to wildlife, aquatic life
and plants.
 Ecotoxicity Database is one of them.
 UNEP maintains several data sets as national, sub regional, regional and
global statistics or as geospatial data sets (maps), covering themes like
Freshwater, Population, Forests, Climate, Disasters, Health and GDP.

16. CONTD…
 In India, Ministry of Environment & Forests, GOI compiles a
database on various biotic communities.
 It also maintains wildlife database, conservation database and
forest cover database.
 National Management Information System (NMIS), DST
compiled a database on Research and Developmental
Projects.

17. ENVIS
 The Ministry of Environment & Forests, GOI has created an
Information System called Environmental Information System
(ENVIS).
 Headquartered at Delhi with 25 different centres all over the
country.
 ENVIS centres work for generating a network of databases in
areas like pollution control, clean technologies, remote sensing,
coastal ecology, biodiversity, Western Ghats and eastern
environmental management, media related to environment,
renewable energy, desertification, mangroves, wildlife, Himalayan
ecology, mining, etc

18. REMOTE SENSING
 Generally refers to using aerial sensor technologies to
detect and classify objects on earth.
 New sensors being developed rapidly.
 Acquisition of information about an object or
phenomenon without making physical contact.
 Important for weather forecasts, climate change or
natural disasters.

19. USING REMOTE SENSING DATA
 Studies have focused on Mapping and monitoring changes in
productivity caused by: 1. Monitoring wind erosion 2.
Monitoring water logging 3. Monitoring the condition of
remnant vegetation 4. Cereal crop yield mapping 5. Predicting
salinity 6. Monitoring rangeland condition
 Cost Effective. Can monitor broader areas
 E.g. The Land Monitor Project in Australia

20. GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
SYSTEM(GIS)
 Designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage
and present all types of spatial or geographical data.
 Broader academic discipline of Geoinformatics
 Science underlying geographic concepts, applications and
systems.
 Can use GIS to study the environment, report on the
phenomena and model the working and responding of
environment to natural and man-made factors.

21. USING GIS
 Manage multiple types of geographical data
 Assess relationships such as run-off and groundwater purity
 Measure changes in wildlife habitat encroachment • Model events such as
drought impact on forest health
 Improve workflow processes from data gathering and analysis to
publication and distribution of findings.
 For example, Project Tiger uses GIS to accurately estimate, track and
protect the remaining 1706 tigers left in the country

22. OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
 Many parts of the world yet to adapt to new technologies
and IT sectors.
 A large amount of information available. Difficult to process
and filter accurate information and infer from the huge data.
 Overloading of information and less storage.
 Also, increasing “silicon valley” products further generate the
problem of e-waste which are difficult to dispose.

23. REFERENCES
 https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-biomechanics-definition-
applications.html
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24272431
 https://en.wikipedia.org

24. QUESTIONS
 WHAT IS ENVIS?
 HOW DOES REMOTE SENSING WORK?
 EXPAND NCBI
 WHAT IS BIOINFORMATICS?

25. THANK YOU!