Research Article Open Access

CREATION OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY INFORMATION IN A RAPIDLY GROWING INDUSTRIAL CENTRE USING REMOTE SENSING & GIS - A NOVEL STUDY

Abstract

With the increase in population and built up area, the pressure has increased on the civic amenities and is directly affecting the quality of environment. The two main reasons for undertaking the present study are rapid growth in population and urban sprawl, uncontrolled industrialization and unchecked immigration and the likely impact of these land use changes on air quality. The city of Hyderabad is expanding at a tremendous pace and the urban growth is reflected in the traffic intensities on the roads. Adequate information on changing air quality with increasing traffic loads is crucial for effective management of air quality in the future. Keeping this in view, the present study aims for creation of ambient air quality information in rapidly industrially growing urban center of Hyderabad. Ambient concentrations were measured from April 2005–May 2006 at 44 selected sites in and around Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH). The data consisted of 24 hr average of Sulfur dioxide (SOx), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM). The measurements were made in an effort to characterize the air pollution in the urban environment of Hyderabad and assist in the development of linkage between land use practices and air pollution levels. The spatial variability of air pollutants and the predominant land use thematic layers was assessesed in GIS and Remote Sensing environment. The spatial variability of air pollution and significance of land use practices on the prevailing quality were assessed using statistical correlation and Boolean overlay techniques.

S.S. ASADI, PADMAJA VUPPALA AND M. ANJI REDDY

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