Disruptive Technologies for Environment and Health Research: An Overview of Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Internet of Things

Frederico M. Bublitz, Arlene Oetomo, Kirti S. Sahu, Amethyst Kuang, Laura X. Fadrique, Pedro E. Velmovitsky, Raphael M. Nobrega and Plinio P. Morita
Additional contact information
Frederico M. Bublitz: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Arlene Oetomo: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Kirti S. Sahu: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Amethyst Kuang: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Laura X. Fadrique: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Pedro E. Velmovitsky: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Raphael M. Nobrega: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Plinio P. Morita: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-24

Abstract: The purpose of this descriptive research paper is to initiate discussions on the use of innovative technologies and their potential to support the research and development of pan-Canadian monitoring and surveillance activities associated with environmental impacts on health and within the health system. Its primary aim is to provide a review of disruptive technologies and their current uses in the environment and in healthcare. Drawing on extensive experience in population-level surveillance through the use of technology, knowledge from prior projects in the field, and conducting a review of the technologies, this paper is meant to serve as the initial steps toward a better understanding of the research area. In doing so, we hope to be able to better assess which technologies might best be leveraged to advance this unique intersection of health and environment. This paper first outlines the current use of technologies at the intersection of public health and the environment, in particular, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The paper provides a description for each of these technologies, along with a summary of their current applications, and a description of the challenges one might face with adopting them. Thereafter, a high-level reference architecture, that addresses the challenges of the described technologies and could potentially be incorporated into the pan-Canadian surveillance system, is conceived and presented.

Keywords: environment; global health; surveillance system; climate change; disruptive technologies; IoT; blockchain; artificial intelligence; reference architecture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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