Regional air quality prediction models using the knowledge－based system approach

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Block Incremental Dense Tucker Decomposition with Application to Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Air Quality Data

How can we efficiently store and mine dynamically generated dense tensors for modeling the behavior of multidimensional dynamic data?Much of the multidimensional dynamic data in the real world is generated in the form of time-growing tensors.For example,air quality tensor data consists of multiple sensory values gathered from wide locations for a long time.Such data,accumulated over time,is redundant and consumes a lot ofmemory in its raw form.We need a way to efficiently store dynamically generated tensor data that increase over time and to model their behavior on demand between arbitrary time blocks.To this end,we propose a Block IncrementalDense Tucker Decomposition(BID-Tucker)method for efficient storage and on-demand modeling ofmultidimensional spatiotemporal data.Assuming that tensors come in unit blocks where only the time domain changes,our proposed BID-Tucker first slices the blocks into matrices and decomposes them via singular value decomposition(SVD).The SVDs of the time×space sliced matrices are stored instead of the raw tensor blocks to save space.When modeling from data is required at particular time blocks,the SVDs of corresponding time blocks are retrieved and incremented to be used for Tucker decomposition.The factor matrices and core tensor of the decomposed results can then be used for further data analysis.We compared our proposed BID-Tucker with D-Tucker,which our method extends,and vanilla Tucker decomposition.We show that our BID-Tucker is faster than both D-Tucker and vanilla Tucker decomposition and uses less memory for storage with a comparable reconstruction error.We applied our proposed BID-Tucker to model the spatial and temporal trends of air quality data collected in South Korea from 2018 to 2022.We were able to model the spatial and temporal air quality trends.We were also able to verify unusual events,such as chronic ozone alerts and large fire events.

Mapping Air Quality Using Remote Sensing Technology: A Case Study of Nairobi County

Nairobi County experiences rapid industrialization and urbanization that contributes to the deteriorating state of air quality, posing a potential health risk to its growing population. Currently, in Nairobi County, most air quality monitoring stations use low-cost, inaccurate monitors prone to defects. The study’s objective was to map Nairobi County’s air quality using freely available remotely sensed imagery. The Air Pollution Index (API) formula was used to characterize the air quality from cloud-free Landsat satellite images i.e., Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+, and Landsat 8 OLI from Google Earth Engine. The API values were computed based on vegetation indices namely NDVI, TVI, DVI, and the SWIR1 and NIR bands on the QGIS platform. Qualitative accuracy assessment was done using sample points drawn from residential, industrial, green spaces, and traffic hotspot categories, based on a passive-random sampling technique. In this study, Landsat 5 API imagery for 2010 provided a reliable representation of local conditions but indicated significant pollution in green spaces, with recorded values ranging from -143 to 334. The study found that Landsat 7 API imagery in 2002 showed expected results with the range of values being -55 to 287, while Landsat 8 indicated high pollution levels in Nairobi. The results emphasized the importance of air quality factors in API calibration and the unmatched spatial coverage of satellite observations over ground-based monitoring techniques. The study recommends the recalibration of the API formula for characteristic regions, exploring newer satellite sensors like those onboard Landsat 9 and Sentinel 2, and involving key stakeholders in a discourse to develop a suitable Kenyan air quality index.

Air Quality Assessment of Ubeji Community near Petroleum-Related Activities

The escalating global concern over air pollution requires rigorous investigations. This study assesses air quality near residential areas affected by petroleum-related activities in Ubeji Community, utilizing Aeroqual handheld mobile multi-gas monitors and air quality multi-meters. Air sampling occurred on three distinct days using multi-gas monitors and meters, covering parameters such as CO, NO2, CH4, NH3, VOCs, Particulate Matter, Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Air Quality Index. Soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical and organic components. Air pollutant concentrations showed significant fluctuations. Carbon monoxide (CO) ranged from 0.00 to 3.22 ppm, NO2 from 0.00 to 0.10 ppm, CH4 from 4.00 to 2083 ppm, NH3 from 371 to 5086 ppm, and VOCs from 414 to 6135 ppm. Soil analysis revealed low total nitrogen, and undetected BTEX levels. Plant samples displayed a pH range of 7.72 to 9.45. CO concentrations, although below WHO limits, indicated potential vehicular and industrial influences. Fluctuations in NO2 and CH4 were linked to traffic, industrial activities, and gas flaring. NH3 levels suggested diverse pollution sources. The result in this study highlights the dynamic nature of air pollution in Ubeji community, emphasizing the urgent need for effective pollution control measures. Although CO concentrations were within limits, continuous monitoring is essential. Elevated NO2 levels gave information on the impact of industrial activities, while high CH4 concentrations may be associated with gas flaring and illegal refining. The study recommends comprehensive measures and collaborative efforts to address these complex issues, safeguarding both the environment and public health. This study shows the potential synergy between air quality sensors and plants for holistic environmental health assessments, offering valuable insights for environmental assessments and remediation endeavours. The findings call for stringent regulations and collaborative efforts to address air pollution in Ubeji community comprehensively.

Investigating the Air Quality Parameters in Louisiana’s Industrial Corridor: A Baton Rouge Case Study

In a local context, sustainable development entails utilizing the current resources—material and immaterial, measurable and immeasurable, popular and unpopular—of the community in a manner that avoids overexploitation and ensures intergenerational equity. This approach prioritizes the safety and health of local citizens, placing communal productivity above corporate profitability. This research aims to assess air quality surrounding 28 chemical industry sites in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to understand the environmental and health impacts of industrial pollutants, with a focus on environmental justice. Air quality pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO, and SO2, were monitored for 75 days during the Summer, using the BreezoMeter app. Python, Mapize, and QGIS software technologies were utilized for data analysis and visualization. Findings indicate a reduction in NO2 and CO levels, compared to existing literature. However, the persistent challenge of particulate matter suggests areas for further environmental management efforts. Additionally, the research suggests a significant disparity in air pollution exposure, probably affecting marginalized communities. Although the nature of the study might not fully capture annual pollution trends, the findings highlight the urgent need for the chemical industry to adopt efficient production methods and for policymakers to enhance air quality standards and enforcement, particularly in pollution-sensitive areas. The disproportionate impact of air pollution on vulnerable communities calls for a more inclusive approach to environmental justice, ensuring equitable distribution of clean air benefits and community involvement in pollution management decisions.

Atmospheric Pollutants in a Commercial Region of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil: Integration of Health, Environment and Economy in Urban Planning to Improve Air Quality

The accelerated growth of the vehicular fleet, the modernization of large urban centers, and the few adjustments to the road network in Fortaleza have intensified the problems of traffic and emissions of atmospheric pollutants, highlighting the necessity for strategic urban planning initiatives to address the escalating issues of traffic and pollution. With the objective of analyzing the indices of concentrations of atmospheric pollutants and estimating how these levels can affect human health, this work consists of a study of the analysis of air quality in the intense trade region of Fortaleza. For this, the analysis zone was divided into three perimeters (Major - Medium - Minor), where each perimeter was analyzed at 7 am, 12 noon and 5 pm. Concentrations of the type of O3, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), CO2 and HCHO were collected. Our results demonstrate that most of the analyses are within the limits of current legislation;however, at certain times and perimeters, the analyses of CO2 and HCHO exceeded the established limits. In view of the above, we conclude that public policies to control air quality are necessary to reduce the damage to human health and the environment caused by pollutants.

Airstacknet: A Stacking Ensemble-Based Approach for Air Quality Prediction

The quality of the airwe breathe during the courses of our daily lives has a significant impact on our health and well-being as individuals.Unfortunately,personal air quality measurement remains challenging.In this study,we investigate the use of first-person photos for the prediction of air quality.The main idea is to harness the power of a generalized stacking approach and the importance of haze features extracted from first-person images to create an efficient new stacking model called AirStackNet for air pollution prediction.AirStackNet consists of two layers and four regression models,where the first layer generates meta-data fromLight Gradient Boosting Machine(Light-GBM),Extreme Gradient Boosting Regression(XGBoost)and CatBoost Regression(CatBoost),whereas the second layer computes the final prediction from the meta-data of the first layer using Extra Tree Regression(ET).The performance of the proposed AirStackNet model is validated using public Personal Air Quality Dataset(PAQD).Our experiments are evaluated using Mean Absolute Error(MAE),Root Mean Square Error(RMSE),Coefficient of Determination(R2),Mean Squared Error(MSE),Root Mean Squared Logarithmic Error(RMSLE),and Mean Absolute Percentage Error(MAPE).Experimental Results indicate that the proposed AirStackNet model not only can effectively improve air pollution prediction performance by overcoming the Bias-Variance tradeoff,but also outperforms baseline and state of the art models.

Monitoring and Prediction of Indoor Air Quality for Enhanced Occupational Health

The amount of moisture in the air is represented by relative humidity(RH);an ideal level of humidity in the interior environment is between 40%and 60%at temperatures between 18°and 20°Celsius.When the RH falls below this level,the environment becomes dry,which can cause skin dryness,irritation,and discomfort at low temperatures.When the humidity level rises above 60%,a wet atmosphere develops,which encourages the growth of mold and mites.Asthma and allergy symptoms may occur as a result.Human health is harmed by excessive humidity or a lack thereof.Dehumidifiers can be used to provide an optimal level of humidity and a stable and pleasant atmosphere;certain models disinfect and purify the water,reducing the spread of bacteria.The design and implementation of a client-server indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring application are presented in this paper.The Netatmo station was used to acquire the data needed in the application.The client is an Android application that allows the user to monitor air quality over a period of their choosing.For a good monitoring process,the Netatmo modules were used to collect data from both environments(indoor:temperature(T),RH,carbon dioxide(CO_(2)),atmospheric pressure(Pa),noise and outdoor:T and RH).The data is stored in a database,using MySQL.The Android application allows the user to view the evolution of the measured parameters in the form of graphs.Also,the paper presents a prediction model of RH using Azure Machine Learning Studio(Azure ML Studio).The model is evaluated using metrics:Mean Absolute Error(MAE),Root Mean Squared Error(RMSE),Relative Absolute Error(RAE),Relative Squared Error(RSE)and Coefficient of Determination(CoD).

Air Quality Estimation Using Nonhomogeneous Markov Chains: A Case Study Comparing Two Rules Applied to Mexico City Data

A nonhomogeneous Markov chain is applied to the study of the air quality classification in Mexico City when the so-called criterion pollutants are used. We consider the indices associated with air quality using two regulations where different ways of classification are taken into account. Parameters of the model are the initial and transition probabilities of the chain. They are estimated under the Bayesian point of view through samples generated directly from the corresponding posterior distributions. Using the estimated parameters, the probability of having an air quality index in a given hour of the day is obtained.

A Study of Detection of Outliers for Working and Non-Working Days Air Quality in Kolkata, India: A Case Study

A variety of factors affect air quality, making it a difficult issue. The level of clean air in a certain area is referred to as air quality. It is challenging for conventional approaches to correctly discover aberrant values or outliers due to the significant fluctuation of this sort of data, which is influenced by Climate change and the environment. With accelerating industrial expansion and rising population density in Kolkata City, air pollution is continuously rising. This study involves two phases, in the first phase imputation of missing values and second detection of outliers using Statistical Process Control (SPC), and Functional Data Analysis (FDA), studies to achieve the efficacy of the outlier identification methodology proposed with working days and Nonworking days of the variables NO2, SO2, and O3, which were used for a year in a row in Kolkata, India. The results show how the functional data approach outshines traditional outlier detection methods. The outcomes show that functional data analysis vibrates more than the other two approaches after imputation, and the suggested outlier detector is absolutely appropriate for the precise detection of outliers in highly variable data.

Assessment of Air Quality in Brazzaville: Measurement of Some Automobile Pollutants

Atmospheric pollution is currently a real public health problem because of its potentially harmful effects on the environment as well as on human health. Several studies conducted in America, Europe, Asia, and Africa have established a significant link between air pollution and cancer, infertility, cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity, and mortality. This study aims to measure some automotive pollutants (CO, CO2, NO2, and SO2) by a selective and colorimetric method using a measurement system on Dräger reagent tubes coupled to a Dräger Accuro sampling pump in order to do a quantitative assessment of air quality in the nine districts of Brazzaville. The results obtained during this study revealed high concentration levels of pollutants (CO, CO2, NO2, SO2), all above the standards recommended by the WHO. The results obtained during this study made it possible to categorise Brazzaville as a polluted city.

Outdoor Air Quality Monitoring with Enhanced Lifetime-enhancing Cooperative Data Gathering and Relaying Algorithm (E-LCDGRA) Based Sensor Network

The air continues to be an extremely substantial part of survival on earth.Air pollution poses a critical risk to humans and the environment.Using sensor-based structures,we can get air pollutant data in real-time.However,the sensors rely upon limited-battery sources that are immaterial to be alternated repeatedly amid extensive broadcast costs associated with real-time applications like air quality monitoring.Consequently,air quality sensor-based monitoring structures are lifetime-constrained and prone to the untimely loss of connectivity.Effective energy administration measures must therefore be implemented to handle the outlay of power dissipation.In this study,the authors propose outdoor air quality monitoring using a sensor network with an enhanced lifetime-enhancing cooperative data gathering and relaying algorithm(E-LCDGRA).LCDGRA is a cluster-based cooperative event-driven routing scheme with dedicated relay allocation mechanisms that tackle the problems of event-driven clustered WSNs with immobile gateways.The adapted variant,named E-LCDGRA,enhances the LCDGRA algorithm by incorporating a non-beacon-aided CSMA layer-2 un-slotted protocol with a back-off mechanism.The performance of the proposed E-LCDGRA is examined with other classical gathering schemes,including IEESEP and CERP,in terms of average lifetime,energy consumption,and delay.

Outlier Detection of Air Quality for Two Indian Urban Cities Using Functional Data Analysis

Human living would be impossible without air quality. Consistent advancements in practically every aspect of contemporary human life have harmed air quality. Everyday industrial, transportation, and home activities turn up dangerous contaminants in our surroundings. This study investigated two years’ worth of air quality and outlier detection data from two Indian cities. Studies on air pollution have used numerous types of methodologies, with various gases being seen as a vector whose components include gas concentration values for each observation per-formed. We use curves to represent the monthly average of daily gas emissions in our technique. The approach, which is based on functional depth, was used to find outliers in the city of Delhi and Kolkata’s gas emissions, and the outcomes were compared to those from the traditional method. In the evaluation and comparison of these models’ performances, the functional approach model studied well.

Unveiling the Predictive Capabilities of Machine Learning in Air Quality Data Analysis: A Comparative Evaluation of Different Regression Models

Air quality is a critical concern for public health and environmental regulation. The Air Quality Index (AQI), a widely adopted index by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), serves as a crucial metric for reporting site-specific air pollution levels. Accurately predicting air quality, as measured by the AQI, is essential for effective air pollution management. In this study, we aim to identify the most reliable regression model among linear discriminant analysis (LDA), quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), logistic regression, and K-nearest neighbors (KNN). We conducted four different regression analyses using a machine learning approach to determine the model with the best performance. By employing the confusion matrix and error percentages, we selected the best-performing model, which yielded prediction error rates of 22%, 23%, 20%, and 27%, respectively, for LDA, QDA, logistic regression, and KNN models. The logistic regression model outperformed the other three statistical models in predicting AQI. Understanding these models' performance can help address an existing gap in air quality research and contribute to the integration of regression techniques in AQI studies, ultimately benefiting stakeholders like environmental regulators, healthcare professionals, urban planners, and researchers.

Design of Multi-gas Monitoring Device for Indoor Air Quality

Besides the need for low-cost instruments for air pollution measurement and detection,nowadays there are many concerns about air pollution due to the fast changes and used technologies.This research was applied using an MQ2 gas detector,and microcontroller/Arduino-Uno.The design steps included bonding and connecting readymade sensors,coding,and finally testing the device.Testing has been conducted in Environment and Pollution Engineering Department laboratories,at the Technical Engineering College of Kirkuk.This study proposed the use of an MQ2 sensor for multi-gas rate detection which can exist indoors.The system uses also a DHT22 sensor for measuring environment temperature and humidity.The sensors are connected to Arduino and LCD to present data on LCD by powering the system with external power.Overall,the testing was conducted,and the device served as a measuring tool for indoor air as an accurate multi-gas rate detector.

Unveiling Citizens’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behaviors towards Air Quality: Insights from a Survey in the Po Basin Area

Air pollution has far-reaching environmental and social consequences, requiring the active participation of individual citizens in improving air quality by means of emission-reducing behaviors. This research examines the relationship between citizens’ knowledge, perceptions of air quality, attitudes towards policy measures, and intentions to adopt environmentally-friendly behaviors to combat air pollution. A comprehensive survey is conducted among a representative sample from seven regions in the Po basin area: Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont, Province of Trento, Valle d’Aosta, and Veneto. The survey aims at profiling participants based on their level of information, perceptions of air pollution, and attitudes towards emission-reducing behaviors. Cluster analysis identifies meaningful differences among citizen groups in terms of their awareness and intentions to engage in specific behaviors. Four distinct clusters emerge, each characterized by varying levels of willingness to embrace pro-environmental behaviors and support air quality improvement initiatives. By examining these profiles, the study uncovers patterns in citizens’ awareness, concerns, and acceptance of environmentally-friendly practices. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers to develop targeted interventions, policies, and communication strategies.

Generation of a Controlled Polluted Atmosphere for Vehicles’ Cabins Air Quality Characterization

Air pollution induces significant health risks to individuals exposed to high levels of pollutants concentration. For ground vehicles, pollutants infiltrate the car cabin through the ventilation system, leading to potential health issues. To address this problem, a project was undertaken to develop a protocol for characterizing in-cabin air quality. The study involved a closed chamber (the bubble) where its internal multiphase flow has been optimized to create controlled polluted atmospheres. Experiments were conducted to optimize the positioning of the stirring fan and particle generation source, ensuring a homogeneous distribution of fine and ultrafine particles. This study demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a platform dedicated to characterizing the vehicles’ in-cabin air quality under controlled conditions. It allows a better understanding of the dynamics of particle infiltration and the establishment of an optimized protocol for simultaneous measurements of indoor and outdoor concentrations.

A Natural Catalytic Converter® for Continuously Inactivating Air and Surface Pathogens with More Effect than Ventilation and Filtration

Study Objective: The purpose of the study is to present independent laboratory testing for a novel technology in air and on surfaces. Since 2020, public health goals have focused on improving indoor air quality. This includes protection from airborne pathogens, such as tuberculosis, RSV, SARS-CoV-2, common cold or influenza viruses, measles, and others. Engineering controls are highly effective at reducing hazardous pathogens found in indoor air and from recontamination of surfaces. This occurs from a continuous cycle of settling of small, sustained airborne pathogens, which may become dehumidified, becoming airborne again, carried by room air currents around indoor spaces, then repeating the cycle. Methods: The novel technology utilizes a catalytic process to produce safe levels of hydrogen peroxide gas that are effective in reducing pathogens in the air and on surfaces. Air testing was performed with the MS2 bacteriophage, the test organism for ASHRAE standard 241, and methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Surface testing was performed with SARS-COV-2 (Coronavirus COVID-19) and H1N1 (Influenza). Typical ventilation and filtration does not effectively remove disbursed pathogens from the entire facility, due to inconsistent air circulation and surface deposits of pathogens. Results: MS2 was reduced by 99.9%;MRSA was reduced by 99.9%;SARS-CoV-2 was reduced by 99.9%;H1N1 was reduced by 99.9%. Conclusion: This novel catalytic converter reduces a variety of pathogens in the air (99%) and on surfaces (99%), by actively disinfecting with the introduction of gaseous hydrogen peroxide. This active disinfection provides a strong solution for protecting the entire facility and its occupants.

The Design of an Air Rower That Can Purify Indoor Air

To solve the problem that utilizing an air rower lowers indoor air quality due to the dust stirred up in the course of rowing, an air rower is designed to have the extra function of air purifying. The designed rower is composed of six parts, which are the frame, air generator, transmission part, air purifying filter cartridge, performance monitor, and electric motor. To fulfill the task, the filter cartridge is vertically arranged to lead the air to enter from the lower part and vent out of the upper part to filter and purify the air before it enters the generator so as that the indoor air is well circulated to improve the air purification effect when the rower is utilizing. The modular detachable design allows the air filter and electric motor to be installed and disassembled to adapt to different air purification needs. The designed rower has the benefit of lower purchasing cost and energy saving that may motivate exercising, bringing more fun and the sense of accomplishment.

High-resolution modeling and evaluation of ozone air quality of Osaka using MM5-CMAQ system

High-resolution modeling approach is increasingly being considered as a necessary step for improving the monitoring and predictions of regional air quality. This is especially true for highly urbanized region with complex terrain and land-use. This study uses Community Multiscale Air Quality （CMAQ） model coupled with MM5 mesoscale model for a comprehensive analysis to assess the suitability of such high-resolution modeling system in predicting ozone air quality in the complex terrains of Osaka, Japan. The 1-km and 3-kin grid domains were nested inside a 9-km domain and the domain with 1-km grid covered the Osaka region. High-resolution Grid Point Value-Mesoscale Model （GPV-MSM） data were used after suitable validation. The simulated ozone concentrations were validated and evaluated using statistical metrics using performance criteria set for ozone. Daily maxima of ozone were found better simulated by the 1-krn grid domain than the coarser 9-km and 3-km domains, with the maximum improvement in the mean absolute gross error about 3 ppbv. In addition, 1-km grid results fared better than other grids at most of the observation stations that showed noticeable differences in gross error as well as correlation. These results amply justify the use of the integrated high-resolution MM5-CMAQ modeling system in the highly urbanized region, such as the Osaka region, which has complex terrain and land-use.