The future of urban air quality management in Thailand: the cutting-edge platform for monitoring and management of public health and sustainable development

Abstract

Thailand has experienced rapid urbanization and industrialization, resulting in increased air pollution. Urban air pollution is a major environmental issue contributing to respiratory diseases. The purpose of this study was to develop an air pollution platform, namely "Life Dee", for near real-time monitoring of the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Chonburi province at microclimate conditions. This was achieved using a combination of remote sensing data, ground based stations, and microclimate modeling. The Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-CHEM) model was used to simulate PM2.5 concentrations with 1 km × 1 km spatial resolution. A High Definition (HD) map was created using ArcGIS CityEngine, which utilizing for visualization of PM2.5 concentrations in urban areas. The user-friendly platform was developed to make the data accessible to the public via mobile applications. This platform can serve as a prototype model for other urban areas dealing with similar air pollution challenges. Users can utilize the platform to monitor air quality and receive information on appropriate action plans to protect their health. In addition, the platform provides valuable information to government agencies, allowing them to take proactive measures to mitigate air pollution and improve quality of life for citizens.