Remote Sensors Applied to the Study of Chronic Diseases in the Environment Through Analysis of Atmospheric Pollutants. Case Studies: Quito, Ecuador (Phase 3)

This doctoral project addresses the need to integrate geographic information systems and remote sensing to solve territorial problems in the Geoenvironment and Geohealth domains. The main objective is to overcome the limitations of previous epidemiological studies, which relied on pre-processed variables, by accurately deducing the presence of atmospheric pollutants and their direct relationship with respiratory diseases. By utilizing spatial information provided by remote sensors, such as those emitted by satellites, the project aims to offer a robust alternative to key governmental institutions, including the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health. The proposed solution will facilitate the planning and control of pollution and health risks nationally, especially in regions where accurately identifying air pollution levels and associated respiratory health risks is currently lacking. The expected impact is the improvement of decision-making for mitigating environmental and public health issues.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To estimate air pollutants in Quito, Ecuador, using remote sensing data and analyze their correlation with the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in the population.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Technologies applied to natural resources