10.a) Explain in detail the application of cloud computing in:
- Healthcare: ECG analysis in the cloud
- Geoscience: Satellite image processing.
Answer:
1. Healthcare: ECG analysis in the cloud
Cloud technologies are increasingly used in healthcare to improve diagnostic processes, such as electrocardiogram (ECG) data analysis. ECG data, which represents the electrical activity of the heart, is crucial for identifying arrhythmias and heart disease. Cloud computing enables remote monitoring of patients’ heart data, allowing for quick analysis and real-time notifications to healthcare providers if abnormal conditions are detected.
In this system, wearable ECG devices collect patient data and send it to a mobile device, which forwards the information to a cloud-based web service for analysis. The service leverages cloud layers (SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS) for processing and storing ECG data. The workflow engine, running on a scalable cloud platform, analyzes the data for anomalies, and if necessary, alerts doctors and first responders.
Cloud computing offers several advantages, including elasticity, which adjusts resources based on demand, and accessibility, as healthcare professionals can access systems from any internet-enabled device. This eliminates the need for large upfront investments in infrastructure. Additionally, cloud services are typically priced on a pay-per-use basis, providing cost savings for healthcare organizations. These benefits make cloud computing an effective solution for remote ECG monitoring and healthcare data analysis.
2. Geoscience: Satellite image processing.
Geoscience applications, particularly those involving Geographic Information Systems (GIS), require the processing and analysis of large volumes of geospatial data. As satellite and sensor technologies advance, the amount of data generated increases, making cloud computing an ideal solution for managing these tasks. GIS applications, which store and analyze geographically referenced data, are used in various fields such as farming, civil security, and natural resource management.
Satellite remote sensing produces massive raw images that need significant processing before they can be used for GIS products. This involves both computational and I/O-intensive tasks. The Department of Space, Government of India, has implemented a cloud-based system to handle these tasks, which integrates multiple cloud technologies. At the SaaS level, services for tasks like geocode generation and data visualization are provided, while the PaaS layer, powered by Aneka, manages data imports and image processing. The system uses a Xen private cloud to dynamically allocate computing resources based on demand.
This approach illustrates how cloud computing can offload heavy workloads from local infrastructure, offering flexible and scalable resources for geospatial data processing.