Earth Observation and Geoinformatics to Monitoring the Environmental Status of Urban Streams Inextricably Linked to People's Mental Health

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2024 Aug 22:316:1560-1564. doi: 10.3233/SHTI240716.

Abstract

The general condition of urban watercourses is inextricably linked to ecological balance and public health (physical and mental well-being). Given the vulnerability of these systems to climate change and human pollution, this work aims to demonstrate the effective use of environmental indicators to: a) rapidly assess soil and water conditions near urban streams and b) highlight the importance of geoinformatics and earth observation supported by ground-based techniques. There is a great need for new technology and methods for spatial and temporal monitoring and further quantification of environmental quality in urban streams and the land surrounding them to sensitize policymakers and the public to the environmental degradation of these exceptional habitats and to further protect people's mental health.

Keywords: Environmental indicators; degradation; geoinformatics; mental health; pollution; public health.

MeSH terms

  • Cities
  • Environmental Monitoring* / methods
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Humans
  • Mental Health*
  • Rivers