Abstract
The concept that our health is linked to air and water quality is not new. Nor is the idea that spatial patterns in disease outbreak could hold the key to solutions. What is new is the unprecedented access to spatially-resolved environmental data, thanks to space technology: whether they be satellite-based observations of our planet, or information from smart phones, through citizen science initiatives. Such streams of data open up new avenues for exploring the links between the environment and disease outbreaks. In this talk some applications of space technology for the study of water-associated diseases will be presented, drawing on our own work as well as that of others. However, when addressing such a complex problem, satellite technology can only provide a piece of the puzzle, at best. There is a need for scientists of various disciplines to work together with health practitioners and with the citizens in vulnerable areas, to enable effective and long-lasting solutions. Such thinking is embedded in the One Health concept of World Health Organization. They can also contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, especially those that relate to water.