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

Mr Stratos Kokolakis from HL7 Europe held a presentation during the 34th Medical Informatics Europe Conference in Athens, Greece, which had the purpose to investigate the relationship between urbanization, environmental and mental health with emphasis on urban streams. Mr Kokolakis demonstrated how urbanization results in phenomena as the “Urban Stream Syndrome” where the deterioration of the stream affects the environment and people.

Besides, it highlighted the need to have awareness about the environmental indicators for the survival of the urban streams. In addition, the presentation pointed out the importance of using technologies such as geoinformatics, Earth observation, and health informatics standards such as HL7 FHIR for the tracking of these ecosystems and the connection of environmental information with mental health results.

Hence, the presentation reached the conclusion that the environment especially the blue and green areas in the urban setting should be well maintained because it has a positive impact on the mental health of the citizen.

Download the presentation here.

Download the paper here.

Author(s): Stratos Kokolakis, Health Level Seven International Foundation (HL7)