**7. References**

476 Remote Sensing – Applications

significant risk of erosion as they are laid bare (Van Caillie, 1990, 1997). In addition, the plains downstream of these steep slopes are affected by floods because of silting. These areas contain steep slopes occupied by the poor. In the future, urbanization will continue to locate in areas of high slope, as is already happening in many places on the hillsides

Figure 2 shows that urban growth is more influenced by the roads along the railway. If before independence the railway played a role in the location of industrial areas, the urban railway had not developed, now it has not facilitated access to downtown as a centre of employment and therefore has not polarized urban growth. The roads in Matadi and Bandundu, as well as routes to the drop in Lukaya and to Lake Ma-Vallée, correspond to

Despite the role of highways in urban growth, there are areas that develop latest far from downtown and away from these axes. Indeed, an urban extension area has been observed since the 1990s, south and east of the camp which houses the faculty of the University of Kinshasa. This is the area south Cogelos and neighbourhoods Tchad, Mandela and Department Plateau to the east. These areas develop in the absence of urban amenities. Indeed, they are connected to almost none of the service water supply of REGIDESO. The population is supplied fitted to the sources (Mayi ya Libanga, Mayi ya Niwa, Mayi ya Zamba) or the fountain. This is the case in the district of Mbiti. Where the water is high, people dig a well. The lack of urban amenities does not limit urban growth in Kinshasa. The

The quantitative analysis of urban growth compared to major communication axes, made in the GRASS software, shows that 47.5% of the growth took place at more than 1 km of main roads. Beyond this 1 kilometre threshold, the advantage of proximity to the main roads can be neglected and the neighbourhood effect becomes more important in the sense that people

This helps to highlight the fact that the major communication axes are not always, or are no

Two high-resolution satellite images (SPOT) of 1995 and 2005 were used to map and quantify the urban growth in Kinshasa relatively quickly and with an acceptable reliability. The city spreads very quickly on its margins primarily to the east and southwest along the road to Matadi and Bandundu allowing access by public transport to the city centre which polarizes the bulk of urban employment. However, since the early 1990s, neighbourhoods are growing away from the city centre and transport routes (e.g. district Cogelo, Tchad, Mandela, Department, Plateau), yet they do not benefit from any urban convenience. The extension of the city after 1960 did not spare areas of steep slopes unfit for human settlement

By measuring the average growth rate of the population and the extension of the city over 45 years (from 1960 to 2005), it was found that it is 6.73% versus 4.21% for that of the built-

settled near existing neighbourhoods, but at a greater distance from the road.

in the absence of a particular development. These areas are home to the poor.

(Camping areas, Kindele, etc.).

areas of urban growth today.

**5.1.3 Urban growth and major roads** 

bottom line for people is to have a home.

longer, a major factor in urban growth.

**6. Conclusions** 


**1. Introduction** 

respiration.

**1.1 Background** 

**21** 

*Japan* 

**Remote Sensing for Medical** 

*Kansai University, Tokyo Metropolitan University* 

Radar-based remote sensing techniques are typically employed to determine the velocities and positions of targets such as aircraft, ships, and land vehicles. In particular, X- and Kband microwave devices, including oscillators and antennas, have been used to measure the velocity of automobiles and other moving objects in recent years. Microwave devices that are compact, accurate, reliable, and inexpensive are currently commercially available. Over the past few years, there have been increasing attempts to apply such techniques to biomedical measurements. Although some studies have applied these devices to medicine and health care, such research is still in its infancy. This chapter focuses on the mechanisms of and the recent research trends in microwave remote sensing techniques that are used to detect minute vibrations on the body surface induced by heartbeat and

The increasing proportion of elderly in the population represents an appreciable problem in developed countries due to social concerns such as increased medical and social welfare costs and a shortage of manpower. Such concerns are expected to worsen in the future. It is thus necessary to focus on preventing illnesses and to promote healthy lifestyles. Consequently, simple equipment that can be used to self-monitor medical conditions and to

Vital signs are parameters of physiological functions that are used to express the physical condition. They are used by medical professionals for making initial diagnoses. There are four primary vital signs: heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. Thermometers for home use are commercially available and are generally approved by medical bodies. In addition, heart rate and respiratory rate can be easily confirmed by visual and palpation methods. However, there is currently still not spread to home device capable of accurately measuring and recording vital sign data that can be used to make detailed diagnoses. Monitoring cardiac function can be used for diagnosing arrhythmia and mental stress (Akselrod et al., 1981, Singh et al., 1996, Carney et al., 2001). Recently, monitoring mental condition has attracted more attention than monitoring physiological parameters. And also obesity and aging are thought to contribute to the risk of developing sleep apnea

acquire related data is required for homes as well as medical facilities.

Satoshi Suzuki and Takemi Matsui

**and Health Care Applications** 

