Introduction

Information technology has tremendous potential in the field of

environment education and health as in any other field like business,
economics, politics or culture. Development of internet facilities,
worldwide web, geographical information system (GIS) and information
through satellites has generated a wealth of up-to-date information on
various aspects of environment and health. A number of softwares
have been developed for environment and health studies which are
used friendly and can help an early learner in knowing and
understanding the subject. Acquisition, storage and processing of
environmental information are becoming vital to preserving the quality
of life. Potentially dangerous changes are happening in the
atmosphere, oceans, animal habitats and places where hazardous
materials are used, or have been discarded without adequate
environmental protections. Since the 1980's, the computer-based
information networking has become a centre of attention of the world
nations. The level of information technology has become an important
criterion for judging the level of national strength of a country. As the
environmental situation is always changing as a result of human
activities and some natural causes, it is very important to obtain the
information on them accurately and take actions accordingly on a
scientific basis. To do this, a support of modern information technology
is needed.

Role of IT in Environment
Remote sensing
Remote sensing provides data and knowledge concerning the global
environment as it is used for mapping and monitoring various natural
resources. It is the acquisition of information of an object or
phenomenon. In practice, remote sensing is the stand-off collection
through the use of a variety of devices for gathering information on a
given object or area. Satellite images provide us actual information
about various physical and biological resources and also to some
extent about their state of degradation in a digital form through
remote sensing. We are able to gather digital information on
environment aspects like water logging, desertification, deforestation,
etc. Earth observation or weather satellite collection, Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), X-
radiation (X-RAY) is all the examples of Remote Sensing.
 Geographical Information System
(GIS)
Geographical Information System (GIS) has proved to be a very
effective tool in environmental management. GIS is a technique of
superimposing various thematic maps using digital data on a large
number of inter-related or interdependent aspects. Several useful soft-
wares have been developed for working in the field of GIS. Satellite
imageries provide us actual information about various physical and
biological resources and also to some extent about their state of
degradation in a digital form through remote sensing. We are able to
gather digital information on environment aspects like water logging,
desertification, deforestation, urban sprawl, river and canal network,
mineral and energy reserves and so on. Different thematic maps
containing digital information on a number of aspects like water
resources, industrial growth, human settlements, road network, soil
type, forest land, crop land or grassland etc. are superimposed in a
layered form in computer using softwares. Such information of polluted
zones, degraded lands or diseased cropland etc. can be made based
on GIS. Planning for locating suitable areas for industrial growth is now
being done using GIS by preparing Zoning Atlas. GIS serves to check
unplanned growth and helps in providing correct, reliable and verifiable
information about forest cover, success of conservation efforts etc.
They also provide information of atmospheric phenomena, like
approach of monsoon, ozone layer depletion many new reserves of oil;
minerals etc. with the remote sensing and GIS play a key role in
resource mapping, environmental conservation, management,
planning and environmental impact assessment.

Other Applications
As after studying the continuous changes in the environment, they are
supposed to be worked upon scientifically, it is necessary for the
environmental scientists and researchers from different parts of the
world to communicate and co-ordinate. This is possible only if they
connect to each other by means of the internet which is a wonder of
information technology. IT can help spreading information accurately
through the world's network of millions of computer systems. The
internet with its thousands of websites has made it very simple to get
the appropriate environmental information for any study or
environmental management planning. This also helps in spreading
public awareness about environmental issues.
A vast quantum of current data is available on World Wide Web. One of
the most important on-line learning center with power web is
Iwww.mhhe.com/environmental science and multimedia Digital
Content Manger (DCM) in the form of CD-ROM provides the most
current and relevant information on principles the most current and
relevant information on principles of environment science, various
problems, queries, applications and solutions.
The World Wide Web with resource material on every aspect, class-
room activities, digital files of photos, power-point lecture
presentations, animations, web-exercises and quiz has proved to be
extremely useful both for the students and the teachers of
environment studies.
Information technology is expanding rapidly with increasing
applications and new avenues are being opened with effective role in
education, management and planning in the field of environment and
health.

Role of IT in human health

Despite incredible improvements in health since 1950, there are still a
number of challenges, which should have been easy to solve.
Consider the following:-

* One billion people lack access to health care systems.

* Around 11 million children under the age of 5 die from
malnutrition and mostly preventable diseases, each year.
* In 2002, almost 11 million people died of infectious diseases
alone, far more than the number killed in the natural or man-
made catastrophes that make headlines. (These are the latest
figures presented by the World Health Organization.)
* AIDS/HIV has spread rapidly. UNAIDS estimates for 2007 that
there are roughly:
32.8 million living with HIV
2.5 million new infections of HIV
2 million deaths from AIDS
* There are 8.8 million new cases of Tuberculosis (TB) and
1.75 million deaths from TB, each year.
 * 1.6 million people still die from pneumococcal diseases
every year, making it the number one vaccine-preventable cause
of death worldwide. More than half of the victims are children.
* Malaria causes more than 300 million acute illnesses and at
least 1 million deaths, annually.
* More than half a million people, mostly children, died from
measles in 2003 even though effective immunization costs just
0.30 US dollars per person, and has been available for over 40
years

A very important reason for all this is the lack of implementation of

information technology in health services.

Following are few of the ways in which information technology in

human health:-

(1) IT can be used for audio, visual and data communications for
medical consultation, diagnosis, treatment, nursing and medical
education.
(2) IT is used for testing of DNA, creating DNA database and genetic
information about population.
(3) IT helps in spreading awareness about endemic, epidemic and
communicable diseases.
(4) With the help of Remote Sensing and GIS there is identification of
several infested areas which are prone to some diseases like malaria
etc. based upon mapping of such areas.
(5) Telemedicine,i.e. delivery of health care and the sharing of medical
knowledge over a distance using telecommunications.

Conclusion
Hence it is clear that IT plays a very important role in environment and
human health. It should be implemented in as many parts of the world
as possible as few of the developing nations are still deprived of it.