The Purpose of Geoinformatics

Geoinformatics is a science dedicated to the processing of information gathered from geology and related branches of engineering, as well as the practical application of that information to make new technology available to engineers and geologists to make their work both safer and more efficient. By focusing on the problems currently associated with geology and engineering and developing models and simulations based upon currently available data, geoinformatics professionals can help geologists and engineers overcome factors that currently limit their work and improve the level of safety for individuals who live in geologically-active areas.

Geoinformatics and Geology

The relationship between geoinformatics and geology is a very complex one, as geoinformatics uses the information gathered from geological study and examines it to see how it can be used to improve the study of geology itself. Researchers who specialize in geoinformatics work to develop technologies which help geologists to more easily access data, confer with their colleagues, and better predict and prepare for geological upheavals and other geological events. This information and these developed technologies can then be used to prepare the populations of areas of geological activity for impending events and also serve to improve the understanding of geologists of why certain areas are more prone to upheaval than other areas which have a similar geological background. The new data that they collect and share with their colleagues is then used by geoinformatics researchers to help improve the quality of the data and equipment that is available to geologists once again.

Geoinformatics and Engineering

Another major part of the work done by researchers in the geoinformatics field is their interaction with certain branches of engineering, especially those who deal with developing building structures which can better stand up against geological activity such as earthquakes. By studying the information available from geology and how it is applied to buildings and other structures, geoinformatics researchers can construct in-depth computerized models which simulate the forces created by different types of geological upheaval. These models can be invaluable to engineers seeking to develop houses and buildings with a greater structural integrity for earthquake-prone areas, and may even lead to the development of new building materials which are secure against a number of different types of natural phenomena. When working with engineers, it may also be possible for geoinformatics researchers to develop more complex simulations to test new building technologies or to see what the shortcomings of previous materials were; this can greatly increase the knowledge available to engineers concerning why certain building designs fail under stress and others don’t, leading to the development of more resistant designs and helping engineers to find out what existing technologies need to be modified to improve building integrity and safety for inhabitants.  

Text 7 Learning About Social Informatics  Social informatics, in general terms, refers to the field of research that applies to the social aspects of information technology. Social informatics strives to bridge the gap between information technology, or IT, and society. It is an interdisciplinary field that has been gaining prominence for over 25 years. Social informatics research aims to understand how information technologies can be viewed in a cultural and institutional context. Some areas that social informatics addresses are the roles of information technologies in social changes as well as how information technologies are influenced by social practices. “What are the social impacts of technology?” is one question that would be asked by those studying social informatics. A majority of the information technology examined with social informatics are communication tools. For example, electronic forms of communication such as e-mail especially have a social aspect. Viewing information society problems is also a main component of recent social informatics research. Social informatics studies integrate a wide range of fields, including anthropology, information systems, computer science, sociology, political science, and many others. Increasingly, universities around the world are providing social informatics study programs for both undergraduate and post-graduate students. The field of social informatics has traditionally been strong in European countries, and is only recently emerging with interest in North American professionals and universities. Social informatics is a relatively young field, beginning near the early 1970's, but research is continuing and the field is expected to grow as many scientific disciplines recognize the usefulness of social informatics.

Text 8 Learning about Consumer Health Informatics

Consumer health informatics is a branch of medical informatics that aims to analyze the interaction between information technology, or IT, and health consumers. Consumer health informatics examines the information needs of health consumers and studies and implements methods that enable the best information possible to reach these consumers. This field of informatics strives to bring the needs and wants of health consumers into medical information technologies. In the information age, health care must be approached differently than traditional methods, and consumer health informatics allows this to be possible. Health information systems and communication tools as part of consumer health informatics can provide skills, information, and support to health care consumers. Consumer health more and more involves computers and other information technology. Some areas that consumer health informatics strives to address and improve include the quality of health care information available on the Internet, the ease of access by consumers to electronic health records, and the design of software to aid consumers and health care professionals. The field of consumer health informatics works on developing, evaluating, and implementing methods for supporting consumers in using health care information.

The benefits of consumer health informatics include the ability of health care consumers to better manage their health. This can be achieved by the availability of modern health care tools such as web sites providing reliable health care information, Internet based health decision tools, online support groups, and personal health records. Consumer health informatics is an interdisciplinary field much as other informatics fields. Some disciplines that may find consumer health informatics valuable include public health, nursing, health education, and communication sciences. Many universities across the globe are increasingly offering consumer health informatics courses and programs of study.

Text 9 Defining Clinical Research Informatics

As technology improves and better options for sharing information become available, amazing new possibilities are discovered for correlating and comparing clinical research data. Clinical research informatics is the field dedicated to helping to develop and maintain new ways for doctors, researchers, and others to create and share information which will lead them to a common goal of better treatments and further advances in medicine. A lot of work and research must go into clinical research informatics if the field is going to continue to grow and be productive, however; in order to make sure that researchers have access to the most up-to-date technologies and easy to use options, it is vital that clinical research informatics professionals are able to stay on top of new developments in computer hardware, software, networking, and communications.