In this application, space-based systems (i.e. GIS, GPS, SPOT5) use natural index and in-situ data (i.e. NDVI, Meteosat, Envisat) to assess health risk to human and animal populations.
[1] Internet-based applications of tele-epidemiology include sourcing of epidemiological data in generating internet reports and real-time disease mapping.
Examples of such applications include HealthMap and ProMED-mail, two web-based services that map and e-mail global cases of disease outbreak, respectively.
[2] The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs often refers generally to telehealth for applications linking communication and information technologies such as telesurgery and telenursing, to healthcare administration.
This may not be possible in developing countries because they lack basic laboratory and epidemiological resources[5] Web-based tele-epidemiological initiatives have a unique set of challenges that are different from those experienced by space-based methodologies.