[Application of Geospatial Information Technologies in Assessing Changes in Regional Health Risks Related to Climate Change]

Hu Li Za Zhi. 2019 Jun;66(3):14-22. doi: 10.6224/JN.201906_66(3).03.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Changes in climate and global warming trends impact the ecological balance as well as human health. The recent development of geospatial information technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing provides useful tools to assess the impacts of climate changes on human health over large areas. This article aimed to conduct a literature review related to the application of geospatial information technologies in order to assess climate-change-related health risks in Taiwan, with primary outcomes of interest including physiological and mental health and infectious diseases. Three environmental factors, including temperature, precipitation, and air pollution, and their impacts on human health were considered. Comments were raised for future studies in Taiwan on this subject area. Among the hundred papers reviewed, 28 were related to the target topic, and air pollution and fine particle studies were the focus of most of these 28 papers. Studies related to extreme temperature indicted growing concern with this issue. However, limited research was found related to precipitation and environmental greenness. Therefore, future studies should pay greater attention to these two environmental issues. We hope that the findings of this literature review will encourage more researchers to investigate this subject.

Title: 空間資訊技術應用於氣候變遷下地區健康風險評估.

氣候變遷及全球暖化持續影響生態系統平衡及人類健康,近年來隨著地理資訊系統、衛星遙測等空間資訊技術的發展,提供了大區域進行氣候變遷健康衝擊分析的良好工具。本文選定溫度、降雨以及空氣污染等三個環境標的,並以空間資訊技術之應用為主軸,針對上述環境因子在氣候變遷影響下,對台灣民眾生理、心理及傳染性疾病風險之影響分析研究進行文獻回顧,最後並針對國內當前相關研究之發展進行評析,並提出未來可能研究方向之建言。在回顧超過一百篇相關文獻後,總計有28篇研究報告與本文之主題有關;其中以空污與細懸浮微粒的應用案例最多,極端溫度的分析研究亦有逐漸增加的趨勢,有關降雨方面,目前仍有許多發展的空間。期望透過本文可有助於空間資訊技術於在地氣候變遷健康風險分析之應用與推廣。.

Keywords: Taiwan; climate changes; geospatial information technologies; health risk assessment; literature review.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Climate Change*
  • Geographic Information Systems*
  • Humans
  • Public Health*
  • Risk Assessment / methods
  • Taiwan