Estonia’s e-health system is an international model, but its next leap forward requires higher-quality health data, greater involvement of doctors and evidence of the real benefits of digital solutions, say three European health informatics experts.
Science
When a severe storm drives up coastal water levels, every hour counts: the earlier the danger is detected, the more time ports and shipping operators have to prepare or respond. As part of Europe’s Destination Earth initiative, TalTech’s Department of Marine Systems was tasked with developing a solution to identify such rises early, assess their possible extent and, where necessary, produce a much more detailed forecast for the area.
Cheaper, more reliable heating will increasingly depend on how intelligently we combine different energy sources. TalTech thermal energy specialist Igor Krupenski sees considerable untapped potential in waste heat from industry, data centres and wastewater in Estonia, alongside continued roles for wood chips, heat pumps and storage. Well-managed district heating could soften price fluctuations and help balance the energy system.
Just as we scan our own shopping and book flights and hotels ourselves, healthcare is increasingly moving towards self-service. TalTech Professor Peeter Ross believes people could collect and manage more of their own health data and receive advice before illness develops. Estonia is already taking its first steps in that direction.
After a heart attack or stroke, patients are prescribed medication and sent home. What happens next depends largely on how well they follow their treatment plan and attend check-ups on time. TalTech researchers are now testing an AI-based digital doctor to monitor patients continuously at home, remind them to take medication and flag when a doctor or nurse is needed.
Pakistani researcher Kaleem Arshid has studied and worked in China, Italy and Spain. For the past few months, he has worked at TalTech’s Virumaa College, researching how people and intelligent machines can act as partners — with robots working alongside people rather than replacing them.
The final gala of the “Science in Three Minutes” competition takes place at the Estonian Academy of Sciences at 18:00 on 6 October, with fifteen early-career researchers presenting their research in just three minutes.
Smartwatches collect ever more data about our health, but not every reading can yet be trusted. TalTech researchers are investigating how to make information collected on the wrist usable in healthcare.
A young city tree can die long before anyone notices. Above ground, it may still look alive; below the pavement, its roots may already be struggling with dry soil, compacted ground or poor growing conditions. TalTech professor Muhammad Mahtab Alam wants to make that hidden stress visible with a sensor- and AI-based system that helps cities know when trees need water – and how to keep urban greenery alive in a changing climate.
Why does the same fertility treatment produce a considerable number of eggs in one woman, but only a few in another? One possible answer may lie in the egg cell’s immediate surroundings – the environment in which the egg grows and matures before ovulation.