Predicting disease outbreaks using remote sensing technology, and the use of vaccination as a preventive measure
Summary of the conceptual design
1. Problem Definition
Remote areas, especially in developing countries, are often severely affected by disease outbreaks. To minimize the impact of disease outbreaks, it is essential for health workers to develop vaccines and administer them before disease outbreaks. The problem is to determine where and when certain diseases are likely to affect people and ensure that vaccines are available for people in the area.
2. Concept Generation.
Satellite technology and space science have been used since the 1980s for public health purposes. According to "Space Technologies For Health" (519-520), the public can benefit from medical advances used during the preparation of space missions. Moreover, the use of earth observation and communication satellites is also essential in the detection of environmental parameters associated with insects that carry diseases.
3. Evaluation and Selection
Medical services used during preparations for space missions cannot be used to determine disease outbreaks in remote countries. Therefore, the use of earth observation satellites is the best option. These satellites can be used to conduct remote sensing in different areas in the world, including extremely remote areas.
Seltenrich (A268-A275) defined remote sensing as the gathering of information on remote locations using satellites. Satellite remote sensing can be used to generate similar types of data over more extensive areas for a long time. Public health officials can use satellite remote sensing to assess and measure large areas for the health programmes. Suzuki and Matsui added that satellite remote sensing is done by measuring light reflections that bounce from various objects on earth hence changes in the environment can be easily observed. Environmental factors such as the type of soil, air, and water temperature that determine the outbreak of certain diseases can be studied. For example, mosquitoes can be easily located using remote sensing leading to predictions of mosquito-borne illnesses. Using this information, public health scientists can come up with control factors for the diseases. Vaccination is the best control mechanism that can be used to reduce the impact and spread of diseases.
4. Detailed Design
The duration will determine the development and administration of vaccines to the expected disease outbreak. In the case of short durations, the spread of diseases will be prevented by existing vaccines. If a particular disease does not have a developed vaccine, then treatment options will be considered to curb the impacts of the disease.
Conceptual Design Diagram
Importance of performance objectives on vaccine development and administration
According to Pozo, Roque da Silva and Tachizawa, performance objectives are used to determine the likelihood of success of a product. The performance objectives include quality, speed, durability, cost, and flexibility.
1. Quality
Quality as a performance objective is essential since it determines whether the product conforms to various specifications including reliability, durability, and its ability to perform the function it was intended for. Using remote sensing to predict a disease outbreak would make the vaccination process a solid step towards disease prevention. Therefore, the vaccine would be able to prevent the disease it was intended to prevent.
2. Speed
Speed measures how fast a product is delivered to the intended customers. Remote sensing would ensure that vaccinations are delivered and administered to people before disease outbreaks.
3. Dependability
Dependability concerns the timely delivery of products, and the product’s ability to perform its functions. Remote sensing would allow for timely delivery of vaccinations before disease outbreaks, and the vaccines would be dependable in preventing diseases.
4. Flexibility
Flexibility allows for the quick adjustment of products in case of new requirements. Vaccination will only be administered when the prediction for the outbreak of a specific disease is made. The type of vaccination is determined by the type of disease predicted.
5. Cost
The cost of using satellite remote sensing to determine disease outbreaks would be very high. Developing, transporting and administering vaccines would also cost a fortune. However, these costs cannot be compared to the cost of treating victims of disease outbreaks hence vaccination is likely to cost less than treatment.
Impact of the concept on the management of information and data
Data obtained from satellite remote sensing is essential since it is transformed into information that would later save lives through vaccination. The data would be precious to public health researchers, healthcare organizations and the general public. According to Haendel, Vasilevsky, and Wirz, the importance of the data would require the use of proactive data management through the application of policies, disciplines, and competencies within the time when the data will be relevant. Information about the spread of diseases would be protected due to its sensitivity. Alaraifi, Molla and Deng (353-370) stated that the aim of data and information management is to promote research that is data-driven. The concept design described above would allow for data obtained from remote sensing to be used for research into other ways of disease prevention. Research would result in the obtaining of more information about the use of space data in public health.
Executive Summary
Disease outbreaks are among the problems that affect developing countries. These outbreaks often result in deaths especially if medication is not availed on time. In order to reduce the impacts of disease outbreaks in remote areas, predicting the occurrence of diseases is essential. Data obtained from space can be used to predict outbreaks. Satellites can be used for remote sensing purposes. Remote sensing allows for observation of changes in the environment and the location of insects such as mosquitoes that spread diseases. Remote sensing can also be used to determine the effect of natural disasters such as floods, and the water-borne diseases that would be associated with the floods. Once a disease is predicted, methods of minimizing the impact of the disease such as vaccinations can be organized. In case vaccinations for the diseases are not available, then medication and healthcare personnel will be transported to these areas to ensure that people are treated.
Works Cited
Alaraifi, Adel, Alemayehu Molla, and Hepu Deng. "An Exploration Of Data Center Information Systems." Journal of Systems and Information Technology
14.4 (2012): 353-370. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
Haendel, Melissa A., Nicole A. Vasilevsky, and Jacqueline A. Wirz. "Dealing With Data: A Case Study On Information And Data Management Literacy." PLoS Biology 10.5 (2012): n. pag. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
Pozo, Hamilton, Orlando Roque da Silva, and Takeshy Tachizawa. "The Influence Of Performance Objectives On The Implementation Of Lean Manufacturing Practices: An Analysis Based On Strategic Groups." Cogent Business " Management 4.1 (2018): n. pag. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
Seltenrich, Nate. "Remote-Sensing Applications For Environmental Health Research." Environmental Health Perspectives 122.10 (2014): A268-A275. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
"Space Technologies For Health." Bulletin of the World Health Organization
93.8 (2015): 519-520. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
Suzuki, Satoshi, and Takemi Matsui. "Remote Sensing For Medical And Health Care Applications." Remote Sensing - Applications (2012): n. pag. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
