Space tech makes safe walking maps

Monday April 29th, 2019

Space technology is to be directly applied to healthcare in two new projects, it was announced today.

In one project, satellite monitoring will be used to pick out pollution hotspots and provide personal maps to enable people with lung conditions to by-pass them.

The maps will be accurate to a distance of ten metres, according to scientists at Leicester University where the system is being developed.

The projects are being supported with £5 million worth of grants from the UK Space Agency, intended to show the relevance of investment in space to the NHS.

The Leicester researchers say that AI systems will help develop personalised exercise routes for patients with asthma and others at high risk from pollution.

Developer Professor Andre Ng said: "Whilst we know physical activity is good for many patients with long term conditions including heart and lung diseases, clinicians are often anxious about recommending exercise and often unable to prescribe accurate and effective exercise for their patients.

"We will develop a patient-centred mobile app that takes in satellite data with unique resolution including that of air quality that delivers precise guideline-based exercise advice tailored to their condition and ability. This greatly enhances the confidence of both healthcare professionals to prescribe and patients to put into practice, effective physical activity which improves well-being and reduces healthcare utilisation."

A second project will seek to develop a "cloud-based" AI system, available worldwide to help with bowel cancer diagnosis.

Developers of the EARTH SCAN project aim to apply secure and reliable satellite technology to link doctors worldwide to the system.

Peter Mountney, of Odin Vision, said: "We are moving into a new era of healthcare where Artificial Intelligence will support doctors to identify and diagnose cancer faster and more effectively.

"The EARTH SCAN project is an exciting opportunity to use satellite technology to bring this AI support to doctors in real time. Real time support means doctors can make immediate decisions regarding treatment and patients can receive the results of their scan straight away instead of waiting weeks."

Tags: General Health | Respiratory | UK News | World Health

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