%0 Journal Article
%T Predictive Ability of Improved Neural Network Models to Simulate Pollutant Dispersion
%A Khandaker M. A. Hossain
%J International Journal of Atmospheric Sciences
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/141923
%X This paper describes the ability of artificial neural network (ANN) models to simulate the pollutant dispersion characteristics in varying urban atmospheres at different regions. ANN models are developed based on twelve meteorological (including rainfall/precipitation) and six traffic parameters/variables that have significant influence on emission/pollutant dispersion. The models are trained to predict concentration of carbon monoxide and particulate matters in urban atmospheres using field meteorological and traffic data. Training, validation, and testing of ANN models are conducted using data from the Dhaka city of Bangladesh. The models are used to simulate concentration of pollutants as well as the effect of rainfall on emission dispersion throughout the year and inversion condition during the night. The predicting ability and robustness of the models are then determined by using data of the coastal cities of Chittagong and Dhaka. ANN models based on both meteorological and traffic variables exhibit the best performance and are capable of resolving patterns of pollutant dispersion to the atmosphere for different cities. 1. Introduction Air pollution is a major environmental concern in major cities around the world. The major causes of air pollution include rapid industrialization and urbanization and increased non-environment-friendly energy production. The emission of pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx/NO2), and particulate matter (PM) due to high traffic volumes, congestion, and poor vehicle maintenance has resulted in the transport sector being a major contributor to air pollution in major cities around the world [1]. Inefficient land use and overall poor traffic management further add to traffic congestion and air pollution besides old, overloaded, and poorly maintained motor vehicles [2, 3]. Although the concentration of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10£¿¦Ìm (PM10) is usually used as standard measure of air pollution, the particles with a diameter of less than 2.5£¿¦Ìm (PM2.5) have been associated with the increase of health related problems [4]. Air quality data are complex and nonlinear in nature because of their dependencies on emission sources, especially those related to vehicular emissions and meteorological parameters. One approach to predict pollutant concentrations is to use a detailed atmospheric diffusion model that requires detailed emissions and metrological data [5]. Another approach is the regression modeling based on a statistical approach that has been applied to air
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijas/2014/141923/