**5. References**

Amirpour Haredasht, S.; Barrios, J.M.; Maes, P.; Verstraeten, W.W.; Clement, J.; Ducoffre, G.; Lagrou, K.; Van Ranst, M.; Coppin, P.; Berckmans, D. & Aerts J.-M. (2011). A

In future work the modelling approach may be improved by integration of estimated bank vole population dynamics measured in the field. This could give us the possibility to quantify the carrying capacity based on the field measurements instead of epidemiological models. More details on this application can be found in the work of Amirpour Haredasht et

The outbreaks and spread of Hantavirus have been questioned and studied for many years. An important added value of modelling NE cases is that it can be used in future as a tool to study the mechanism by which the virus spreads, to predict the future course of an

The results of the current study furthermore help to define significant environmental factors on the spread of the disease. Determining a dynamic data-based model for NE which includes factors such as vegetation coverage and abundance of food for bank voles' may provide us with an expert tool to predict and prevent regional incidences of NE cases by making use of remote sensing tools for measuring broad leaves forest phenology and

With the above examples we would like to demonstrate how new technology can help in health monitoring and health management. Different aspects of health have been considered to demonstrate that the conceptual approach does not need to be very different from application to application. In all the above examples we have used mathematical modelling in order to identify and isolate the aspects of the 'system' (i.e. the living organism) that are of interest in every particular application. This way we have developed real-time and automatic algorithms for monitoring and management of health

At the moment, technology and sensors can still be bulky and not very comfortable for use in everyday applications, but it is expected that in the near future this situation will change. Sensors integrated in clothing and energy harvesting from the body pose two candidates to boost wearable device markets and provide solutions for health monitoring and

We would like to thank the IWT (agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie) in Flanders and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven for funding the projects. We would also like to thank all the researchers involved in the projects and have

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al. (2011).

**2.5.3 Conclusion** 

**3. Conclusion** 

related issues.

management applications.

**4. Acknowledgement** 

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**9** 

*1Hong Kong 2New Zealand* 

**Environmental Pollution and Chronic** 

*1Prognostics and Health Management Centre, City University of Hong Kong 2Faculty of Design and Creative Technology, Auckland University of Technology* 

Bernard Fong1 and A. C. M. Fong2

**Disease Management – A Prognostics Approach** 

In many metropolitan cities, environmental pollution has a substantial impact on social and cultural well being. Statistically provable direct heath effects may require further studies to establish the influence on the community and the public healthcare system. The combined effects of fossil fuel burning and economic growth have negative impacts on health and financial costs in many areas. The main research objective aims at exploring the links between environmental pollution and health related problems. The inherently slow and reactive response over generations has repeatedly made corrective actions after an incident but not before and sometimes becomes too late. Also, health and safety precautions are often not properly exercised in a pre-emptive manner. Any proactive measure through proper early warning and environmental control methodologies would certainly yield a reduction in preventable illnesses as well as health degradation that result from improper care and

Pollution is not only a problem in the community as a whole. Even at home, indoor air pollution causes a wide range of health-related issues (Bruce, 2000). The impacts of pollution on human health must therefore be assessed both for indoor and the broader outdoor environment. Since the industrial revolution of the 19th century, health hazards related to discharge of toxic chemicals and heavy metals from manufacturing plants has also become a more serious health issue. Air pollutants can travel hundreds of miles causing respiratory problems and chronic diseases. Heavy metal and toxic chemical deposits enter the food chain through the food chain and water supply (Nasreddinea, 2002). As health of the general population degrades, more people require medical attention that will eventually

Work on reducing health problems directly or indirectly caused by environmental pollution is urgently needed because demand on public health services is expected to grow substantially over the next two decades as a direct consequence of population aging in most developed countries (Christensen, 2009). In many cases, chronic disease is avoidable if appropriate actions are taken especially among senior citizens given access to the

The environment has a substantial impact on both chronic and infectious disease (Hall-Stoodley, 2004). Take, for example, water contamination that was caused by massive

**1. Introduction** 

environmental pollution.

stretch healthcare resources to their limits.

appropriate assistive technologies.

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