Environmental Studies

Module 6. Social issues and the environment

Lesson 32
ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) IN ENVIRONMENT

32.1 Introduction

Some of the areas in which information technology is playing a vital role in environmental management are briefly discussed as under:

32.1.1 Biodiversity conservation

Use of GIS (Geographic Information System) and Remote Sensing can help in determining the rates, causes and scale of biodiversity loss. Information on deforestation and land use change can be integrated with data on the distribution of biodiversity and existing information on climate, topography, soil, etc. to obtain a comprehensive picture.

32.1.2 Species monitoring

Not only the existence of flora and fauna can be detected, even counting of animals like elephants, tigers, etc. can be done with the help of GIS. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red Database acts as an aid in appreciating the degree of danger that a species is in.

32.1.3 Site selection

GIS can help in the selection of optimum highway or railway routes, dam or reservoir sites, waste disposal sites, major industrial sites, etc. that can cause minimal disturbance to ecosystems.

32.1.4 Disaster management

Remote sensing data can be effectively used for obtaining near real time information on areas affected by earthquakes, cyclones, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, forest fires and other such disasters. Disaster prone areas can be identified where appropriate action can be taken up to reduce the losses and also disasters like cyclones, floods, etc. can be predicted well in advance.

32.1.5 Soil resources

Satellite data depict the nature of problem, degree of salinity, sodicity and spatial extent of the problem in each mapping unit. The information is extensively used to plan for the reclamation of salt affected soils and for adopting post-reclamation production technology.

32.1.6 Water resources

Remote sensing data proved effective in inventorying, monitoring and managing both surface and ground water resources to augment the water use efficiency. Satellite data serves as a unique tool for extracting information on geology, geomorphology, drainage, land use and soils, which are essential in identifying not only the potential segments of agricultural resources, but also the sites suitable for site selection of recharge structures.

32.2 Role of Information Technology in Human Health

Its various applications include:

• Bioinformatics and osteoporosis

The application of bioinformatics is in the emerging possibility for the cure of osteoporosis-a crippling disease caused by the breakdown of bone, caused by a class of molecules called Cathepsin K. Now the pharmaceutical companies have to find a drug that blocks the Cathepsin K gene only.

• Role in genome sequencing

Bioinformatics played a key role in the final stages of the Human Genome Project. In just four weeks, James kent (a Ph.D student of California University) produced a computer programmers that helped the public consortium to complete the sequencing in time and to present the draft sequence along with Celera Genomics on June26, 2000.

• DNA databases or data banks having genetic information about populations together with their personal physical characteristics (eye colour, height, weight, etc.), finger prints, dental records, medical records, financial records, etc. are used by the Government Departments to identify missing persons, by the investigating agencies (e.g., FBI, CBI, RAW, etc.) to identify criminals, and also by the insurance companies to prevent insurance fraud.
• Many organizations, such as WHO, maintain their web sites with information about endemic, epidemic and communicable diseases to inform people about dangers involving populations.
• Information about new drug release, their mode of action, indications and risk are also available on web sites.
• Any new development in the field of surgery is also available on net to be referred by the doctors of any country at any time.
• Telemedicine and distance medicine is now far-reaching along with documentation and display of human anatomy with the help of internet.