An integrated space-based solution in support of public health during disaster relief

Globally, we rely on the use of space assets to support public health. Tele-medicine in remote areas, pandemic monitoring, and remote sensing and satellite communication for disaster relief are just some examples of how space has helped improve public health services. The Space4Health (S4H) team, consisting of 30 individuals from 14 nations with diverse professional backgrounds, convened in Montreal in July 2014 with the task of studying the use of space assets and activities in support of public health goals as part of the requirements for the International Space University´s Space Studies Program [1]. After reviewing the different interactions between public health and space, the S4H team chose to focus on the means in which space resources can be used to support public health during and immediately after a natural disaster. To provide a novel view on the topic, this paper focuses on new concepts and innovations that have the potential to disrupt the market and their possible use in facilitating the operation and coordination of disaster relief efforts.