Technology is poised to play an ever-increasing role in shaping the future of environmental health (EH) within government agencies and our communities. In fact, EH may look very different in 2034 versus what we are used to today. Let’s dive into a few of the exciting potential advancements of technology to support field inspectors, managers, back office staff, and citizens over the next decade.
Data Collection 2.0
It all starts with good data. Satellite imagery, drones, sensors, and other technologies will continue to provide better, real-time data on environmental factors such as air quality, water pollution, deforestation, and more. This critical data enables more accurate monitoring of environmental conditions and will help agencies identify areas of concern within our communities more quickly. Speed to insight is a powerful organizational asset and this trend will continue as more devices become pervasive within our communities.
Predictive Modeling with Business Intelligence
Technology can streamline regulatory processes and enhance enforcement efforts by enabling agencies to track and monitor compliance more effectively. Machine learning algorithms and other advanced analytics, like business intelligence (BI), can be used to develop predictive models for environmental trends and potential hazards. At a macro level, these models help government agencies anticipate environmental needs related to extreme weather and other big picture challenges. At a micro level, BI helps inspectors and back office staff identify which citizen complaints warrant immediate action, triage, or simply sending to a more relevant department to solve.
Decision Support Systems
Technology can facilitate the development of decision support systems that help government agencies analyze complex environmental data and make evidence-based decisions. Let’s be honest, EH teams often feel like they must cover all of their bases when engaging with citizens and business operators. The ability to reduce risk and liability has become more important in a world of finger pointing on social media. In fact, one of the main benefits of utilizing technology versus paper based systems, is that digital record keeping is extremely powerful. We see a world where data-driven EH continues to expand, including data integration from multiple sources to provide better recommendations for policies and resource allocations.
Citizen Engagement at Scale
Next, we predict agencies will become more adept with broadcast technology/tools like citizen portal websites, email notifications, auto-calls/texts, and social media. These digital platforms can be used to effectively engage the public in environmental discussions, while promoting awareness at scale (i.e. one to many) versus one-off emails, texts, and phone calls. Agencies will become experts at using technology to disseminate information, solicit feedback, and encourage citizen participation in environmental monitoring and conservation efforts. This approach also frees up more time for face to face interactions with citizens, which will continue to play a major role in a field inspector's daily activities.
Artificial Intelligence
Today, smart agencies use artificial intelligence (AI) large language models like ChatGPT to improve citizen engagement. AI is already very capable of creating effective email copy, citizen portal notifications, and phone call scripts for staffers that engage with citizens and business operators. AI is also very good at analyzing social media conversations, online articles, and public inquiries to identify emerging environmental concerns, address public misconceptions, and highlight misinformation within specific communities, states, or countries.
As AI rapidly expands into areas beyond language models, it’s difficult to predict exactly what our lives will look like in 2034. On one end of the spectrum, Elon Musk recently said that all human work will become optional. While this may seem overly optimistic by someone who clearly loves technology, we’ll take a more moderate stance -- AI systems will be designed to work collaboratively with human experts in environmental health agencies. Human augmented AI will provide decision-makers with interpretable insights and transparent rationales for their recommendations. This new model will be crucial for ensuring accountability, trustworthiness, and fairness in AI-driven decision-making processes, particularly in sensitive domains such as public health and environmental justice.
To sum up, technology has the potential to revolutionize how government agencies approach environmental health over the next decade, and beyond. By enabling more efficient, data-driven, and collaborative efforts, technology has the ability to address pressing environmental challenges head-on, for the benefit of our agencies and communities.
If you found this topic interesting, Hedgerow Software is excited to sponsor and exhibit at the NEHA Annual Education Conference in Pittsburg. Stop by our booth (704 & 706) to continue the conversation about the future of technology within environmental health.