Earth Observation, Public Health and One Health: Activities, Challenges and Opportunities

By CAB International

This book reviews the contributions of Earth Observation (EO) to public health practices. It examines how EO is being used to understand, track, predict, and manage infectious and chronic diseases, and it provides discussion on the current challenges and the significant development potential of EO to a One Health approach. Its objective is to address a set of questions: How does EO currently assist public health activities? What are the challenges for operational use of EO in public health? What are the opportunities for EO to benefit public health in the near future? This review concentrates on the following priority themes to which EO and geomatics can make important contributions: mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases; water-borne diseases; air quality and extreme heat effects; and geospatial indicators of vulnerable human populations. EO has also demonstrated potential during the COVID-19 pandemic as an efficient provider of data on rapid environmental and socio-economic changes and impacts. Remotely sensed data are particularly useful for risk modelling and mapping projects to help generate information on occurrence and spatio-temporal trends of disease risk. Similarly, EO can be used to identify risk factors for disease risk or emergence detected in surveillance, and support development of early warning systems. Risk maps enable public health professionals to anticipate and prepare for health threats, and they can support responses to infectious disease epidemics or existing endemic conditions.

This book emerged from the collaboration of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency with contributions of international experts. Their findings will be of great value to public health and EO professionals interested in developing and applying geospatial applications in the risk assessment and management of public health issues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CAB International
• Release date: Apr 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781800621206

Book preview

Earth Observation, Public Health and One Health

Activities, Challenges and Opportunities

Earth Observation, Public Health and One Health

Activities, Challenges and Opportunities

Prepared by:

Public Health Agency of Canada and Canadian Space Agency

Editors:

Stéphanie Brazeau and Nicholas H. Ogden

CABI: LOGO

CABI is a trading name of CAB International

©2022 CAB International. Earth Observation, Public Health and One Health: Activities, Challenges and Opportunities is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library, London, UK.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Public Health Agency of Canada, author. | Brazeau, Stéphanie, editor. | Ogden, Nicolas, editor. | Canadian Space Agency, author.

Title: Earth observation, public health and one health : activities, challenges and opportunities / prepared by: Public Health Agency of Canada and Canadian Space Agency ; editors: Stéphanie Brazeau and Nicolas Ogden.

Description: Oxfordshire ; Boston, MA : CABI, [2022] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: The potential for Earth Observation (EO) to contribute to public health practice: to understand, track, predict and manage infectious diseases and challenges of using EO data for public health purposes. Major foci are mosquito-borne diseases, tick-borne diseases, air quality and heat, water-borne diseases, vulnerable populations and pandemics (including COVID-19)-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021054123 (print) | LCCN 2021054124 (ebook) | ISBN 9781800621183 (hardback) | ISBN 9781800621190 (ebook) | ISBN 9781800621206 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: One Health (Initiative) | Public health--Geographic information systems--Canada. | Public health--Research--Canada. | Public health--Canada--Methodology. | Environmental monitoring--Remote sensing.

Classification: LCC RA566.5.C2 P83 2022 (print) | LCC RA566.5.C2 (ebook) | DDC 362.10971--dc23/eng/20220121

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021054123

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021054124

References to Internet websites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing.

ISBN-13: 9781800621183 (hardback)

9781800621190 (OA ePDF)

9781800621206 (OA ePub)

DOI: 10.1079/9781800621183.0000

Commissioning Editor: David Hemming

Editorial Assistant: Lauren Davies

Production Editor: James Bishop

Typeset by SPi, Pondicherry, India

Printed and bound in the USA by Integrated Books International, Dulles, Virginia

Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

List of Contributors

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

Foreword – P. Guillaume Poliquin, Public Health Agency of Canada

Foreword – Éric Laliberté, Canadian Space Agency

Acknowledgments

Executive Summary

1Introduction to Public Health and Earth Observation

1.1 Public Health and Earth Observation

Key drivers of infectious diseases and the One Health approach

Use of EO data in public health practice

Mandate and role of public health organizations and the importance of geospatial information

Mandate and role of space agencies and the importance of EO

Partnership of the PHAC and the CSA

1.2 Work Program Organization and Management Approaches

Identification and elaboration of key themes

Expert consultation process

Identification of needs and opportunities

Objectives and book outline

2Earth Observation and Public Health Priority: Applications and Research Areas by Theme

2.1 Mosquito-borne Diseases

Thibault Catry, Cécile Vignolles, Serge Olivier Kotchi, Stéphanie Brazeau, Antoinette Ludwig, Nicholas H. Ogden, Dominique J. Bicout, Richard A. Fournier, and Dirk Werle

Context, state of knowledge, challenges, and responses

Examples of recent research

Challenges and questions

Responses and options

Modeling environment–human–vector interaction hazard using EO data and land cover maps in a local, cross-border setting between French Guiana and Brazil

Expected outcomes and impacts

Technical considerations and perspectives for producing risk maps

Risk mapping of entomological Rift Valley fever in Senegal at high spatio-temporal resolution using remote sensing

Expected outcomes and impacts

Technical considerations and perspectives for producing risk maps

2.2 Tick-borne Diseases

Nicholas H. Ogden, Serge Olivier Kotchi, Stéphanie Brazeau, Catherine Bouchard, Joanne C. White, Michael A. Wulder, Andrew Davidson, André Beaudoin, and Dirk Werle

Context, state of knowledge, challenges, and responses

Examples of recent research

Challenges and questions

Responses and options

EO-based risk maps for Lyme disease in central and eastern Canada

Expected outcomes and impacts

Technical considerations and perspectives for producing risk maps

What are the opportunities with EO products and data?

Current products and developments in EO that contribute to the public health sector

Findings and opportunities for collaboration

2.3 Air Quality and Heat-related Health Issues

John Haynes, Didier Davignon, Jack Chen, Yves Rochon, Chris McLinden, Christopher Sioris, and Dirk Werle

Context, state of knowledge, challenges, and responses

Examples of recent research

Challenges and questions

Responses and options

The American AirNow AQI for decision support and future EO missions

The Canadian FireWork system for air quality forecast related to wildfire emission of pollutants

Expected outcomes and impacts

Technical considerations and perspectives for system operation

Findings, opportunities for collaboration, and conclusion

2.4 Water-borne Diseases: EO System for the Coastal Monitoring of Non-Cholera Vibrios

Jan C. Semenza, Joaquin Trinanes, Stéphanie Brazeau, Philippe Berthiaume, Marie-Josée Champagne, Joacim Rocklöv, and Jaime Martinez-Urtaza

Context, state of knowledge, challenges, and responses

NCVs, environmental factors, and satellite-based monitoring capabilities

Challenges and questions

Responses and options

Application example: the ECDC Vibrio Map Viewer from the European Environment and Epidemiology (E3) Geoportal

Outcomes and benefits

Technical requirements

Cumulative fields

Short-term forecast

Future perspectives

What other opportunities do EO technologies and data offer?

Perspectives for the ECDC Vibrio Map Viewer

Conclusion

2.5 Vulnerable Populations

Marion Borderon, Antoinette Ludwig, and Stéphanie Brazeau

Context

Examples of recent research

Challenges and questions

Responses and options

From Anopheles to humans: reconstructing the risk of malaria infection in Dakar, Senegal

Expected outcomes and impacts

Technical considerations for producing risk and vulnerability maps

EO data for estimating the HBR

Perspectives

Example of bottom-up population mapping from WorldPop

2.6 EO and Geospatial Data Utilization During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Appraisal

Dirk Werle and Guy Aubé

Context

Collaboration and participation of the EO and geospatial community

Near-real-time mapping and monitoring

Public health situational awareness and related surveillance

Potential EO applications

Weather

Mobility

Mobile device data

Air quality

Land use and land cover

Vulnerable populations

Conclusion

3Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities: A Review by Experts

Stéphanie Brazeau, Cécile Vignolles, Ramesha S. Krishnamurthy, Juli Trtanj, John Haynes, Steven Ramage, Thibault Catry, Serge Olivier Kotchi, Marion Borderon, Michael Gill, Nicholas H. Ogden, Antoinette Ludwig, Guy Aube, Jan C. Semenza, Joaquin Trinanes, and Didier Davignon

Aligning with and Supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals

Focusing on Public Health Needs and Key Theme Areas for Further Research

Accessing and Developing EO and Geospatial Evidence-based Data Products Leveraging Public Health Capacities

In situ and epidemiological data

Developing a Sustainable Community of Practice

Developing Knowledge and Know-how

Developing Solutions: Methods, Tools, and Systems

AI and ARD solutions for complex issues

Implementing Technical Infrastructures and Technologies

Participating in EO Satellite Mission Development for Monitoring Disease Risks

4Conclusions and Opportunities

Appendix A – Summary of Expert Presentations and Consultations

Strengthening National Capacities for Utilizing Satellite-based Earth Observation Data to Advance National Health-related SDG 3 Targets: A Conceptual Framework

Ramesha S. Krishnamurthy

GEO Activities and Health

Steven Ramage

CNES Activities in Tele-epidemiology: How Can Earth Observation Satellite Data Contribute?

Cécile Vignolles

Getting Ahead of the Curve: Using Earth Observations to Predict Health Risks

Juli M. Trtanj

Earth Observations for Health and Air Quality

John A. Haynes

Healthy Societies and Healthy Ecosystems: An Integrated Monitoring Approach for Biodiversity and Human Health

Michael Gill

One Health – Contribution of Earth Observation to Public Health Issues

Nicholas H. Ogden

Appendix B – Spatial, Spectral, and Temporal Resolutions

Index

List of Tables

2.1.1 The value chain of the RVF project.

2.1.2 Examples of EO-derived products that are potentially useful as geospatial reference or background formation for public health-related studies and applications.

2.2.1 Lyme risk map data needs and constraints related to their use.

2.3.1 Major forest fire databases and inventories.

2.4.1 Possibilities for EO technologies, satellite sensors, and potential proxies or indicators of Vibrio occurrence in coastal waters.

2.5.1 Preliminary data sources for Dakar metropolitan area and census districts (CDs).

AB.1 Classes of resolutions.

AB.2 Examples of EO satellite sensor systems and their spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions.

List of Figures

2.1.1 Example of a land cover map based on the analysis of multi-sensor satellite imagery for classifying wetland areas in a densely forested area at the border between French Guiana and Brazil, South America.

2.1.2 Framework of combining optical and SAR remotely sensed data for characterizing and mapping wetlands and accumulations of water.

2.1.3 Flow chart outlining vector-human interaction hazard mapping in the study of Malaria, with land cover classification derived from optical and SAR EO data for the Camopi area in the border region between French Guiana and Brazil in South America.

2.1.4 The conceptual approach of tele-epidemiology for vector-borne diseases.

2.1.5 Flow chart outlining the RVF entomological risk modeling approach.

2.2.1 Map of tick habitats in a parkland area near Bristol, UK, used to analyze dog walking routes and tick exposure.

2.2.2 Example of a risk map for Ixodes scapularis ticks (and by inference Lyme disease risk) in central and eastern Canada combining climatic and habitat suitability from 2000 to 2015.

2.3.1 Annual SO 2 emissions from 2005 to 2015 derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) for approximately 500 locations worldwide, according to four source types: smelters (S), oil and gas operations (OG), coal-fired power plants (PP), and volcanoes (V).

2.3.2 Example of Landsat-8 TIRS thermal band measurements, dated 20 August 2013, superimposed on detailed satellite imagery of an urban area in Montreal, Quebec, showing the close relationship of land use categories and thermal conditions.

2.3.3 The AirNow operational concept of using satellite data to augment missing PM 2.5 ground measurements in the USA.

2.3.4 Example of a FireWork smoke forecast product, showing the 24-h forecast of the contribution of wildland fires to surface PM 2.5 concentrations, valid at 12:00 UTC on 20 July 2021.

2.4.1 Sample display of the daily NCV risk map viewer provided by the ECDC Vibrio Map Viewer from the E3 (ECDC18) network for the Baltic Sea on 31 July 2021. Areas depicted in dark orange indicate high to very high risk and areas in yellow indicate low to very low risk.

2.5.1 Empirical risk model of malaria infection in Grand Dakar, Senegal.

2.5.2 Conceptual framework applied to the risk of malaria infection.

2.5.3 The inherent interdisciplinarity of assessing risk and vulnerability.

2.5.4 Vulnerability of populations in terms of predicted Anopheles gambiae sl. number of bites per person per night for 22 September 2009.

2.5.5 The estimation of urban net density in Dakar.

2.5.6 The Social Vulnerability Index for Dakar, Senegal.

2.6.1 High-resolution satellite imagery of public spaces showing density of human gatherings before and during pandemic-related restrictions exemplified by numbers of Muslim worshippers surrounding the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on 14 February, 3 March 2020, and 9 March 2020.

2.6.2 High-resolution satellite imagery of the rapid construction activities at the Leishenshan hospital site in Wuhan, China.

2.6.3 High-resolution satellite imagery of the Phoenix Airport rental car centre on 5 March 2020 and again on 16 March 2020.

2.6.4 High-resolution satellite image of mass-grounding of commercial aircraft at Panama City International Airport, 24 March 2020.

2.6.5 Nighttime light conditions within the city of Wuhan, China, based on imagery collected on 19 January 2020 and 4 February 2020 by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA–NASA Suomi NPP satellite.

2.6.6 Distribution of pre-COVID-19 lockdown nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) levels over eastern China 1–20 January 2020 based on data collected by the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on the European Commission’s Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, reduced NO 2 levels 10–25 February 2020 during the lockdown period, and rebounding NO 2 levels 20 April to 12 May 2020 after the lifting of quarantine restrictions and resumption of economic activities.

2.6.7 NASA’s Aura satellite measurements revealing significant reductions in nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) air pollution over the major metropolitan areas of the northeastern USA during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 (bottom map) relative to the average concentrations during that month for the 2015–2019 period.

2.6.8 Comparison maps of average nitrogen dioxide concentration over Italy as determined by European Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite data analysis during the month of March 2019 and during the period of 14–25 March 2020.

3.1 EO and the multiple dimensions of health determinants.

List of Contributors

Stéphanie Brazeau Head of the Public Health Geomatics Unit, Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

Corresponding author at: Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada

E-mail: [e-mail]

Nicholas H. Ogden Director, Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

Guy Aubé Earth Observation Applications, Space Utilization, Canadian Space Agency, Saint-Hubert, Québec, Canada

Philippe Berthiaume Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

André Beaudoin Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Québec City, Québec,, Canada

Dominique J. Bicout Biomathematics & Epidemiology, EPSP, TIMC-IMAG, CNRS Grenoble Alpes University, VetAgro Sup, Veterinary campus of Lyon, Marcy l’Etoile, France

Marion Borderon Department of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Catherine Bouchard Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

Thibault Catry Espace Dev, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Montpellier, France

Marie-Josée Champagne Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

Jack Chen Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Andrew Davidson Science and Technology Branch, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, Ottawa, Canada

Didier Davignon Canadian Meteorological Centre Operations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dorval, Québec, Canada

Richard A. Fournier Department of Applied Geomatics, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

Michael Gill NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia, USA

John Haynes Health and Air Quality Applications, Applied Sciences Program, NASA Earth Science Division, Washington, DC, USA

Serge Olivier Kotchi Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

Ramesha S. Krishnamurthy Health Systems and Innovation Cluster, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Antoinette Ludwig Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

Jaime Martinez-Urtaza Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Chris McLinden Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Steven Ramage Group on Earth Observation Secretariat, Geneva, Switzerland

Yves Rochon Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Joacim Rocklöv Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

Jan C. Semenza Scientific Assessment, SRS, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Solna, Sweden

Christopher Sioris Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Joaquin Trinanes University of Santiago de Compostela, CRETUS Institute, Santiago de Compostela, Spain/University of Miami, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Miami, Florida, USA/NOAA, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, Florida, USA.

Juli Trtanj One Health Lead, Climate and Weather Extremes Integration Lead, NOAA Climate Program Office, Washington, DC, USA

Cécile Vignolles Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Directorate for Innovation, Applications and Science, Earth Observation Programme, Toulouse, France

Dirk Werle Ærde Environmental Research, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Joanne C. White Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Michael A. Wulder Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations