Spatial Interpolation of Air Pollutant in the Vicinity of Petrochemical Industrial Estate

Abstract:

Ambient concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the communities nearby the petrochemical industrial estate in Rayong province, Thailand were measured using validated passive air sampler. Biweekly averages of SO2 and NO2 in the study area were reported and were analyzed for their tendency. The spatial patterns of SO2 and NO2 were evaluated and interpolated in the study area using the Geographical Information System (GIS). Factor affected to the level of air pollution such as location of point sources, mobile sources and meteorological data were accounted in the data analysis in order to assess spatial and temporal variability of air pollutant. Simulated data were compared with measured data in order to evaluate the performance of the tool. The spatial interpolation results enable the evaluation of an optimum number of measuring point in the study area.

Keywords: spatial interpolation, air quality, passive sampling