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Newswise – HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (November 23, 2020) Thailand will receive help mitigating air pollution from a new satellite data application jointly developed by the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System.
Air pollution in Thailand becomes a problem when low temperatures and calm winds during Asia’s dry monsoon season and air pollution from forest fires and farm fires create a border problem in the Lower Mekong Delta.
The new app, called SERVIR-Mekong Air Quality Explorer, enables large-scale monitoring of air quality in Thailand using NASA’s terrestrial observations and modeled data. The new app will enable faster mitigation steps and air quality improvements. Current Thai efforts rely heavily on ground monitoring, which has limited space coverage leading to information gaps.
It was co-developed by entities such as the UAH Earth System Science Center (ESSC) and NASA’s SERVIR Scientific Coordination Office located in the National Space Science Technology Center in UAH’s Robert “Bud” Cramer research room. They worked closely in scientific application development with the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), including UAH alumni Dr. Pawan Gupta; NASA; and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC).
The app was developed in collaboration with RTGPCD (Royal Thai Government Pollution Control Department) and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), the equivalent of Thai NASA.
SERVIR works with regional partners, called hubs, around the world to develop the ability to use satellite terrestrial observations and geospatial technologies to address environmental challenges.
“In April 2019, SERVIR-Mekong entered into a collaboration with RTGPCD to improve air quality monitoring and forecasting in Thailand,” says Amanda Markert, ESSC researcher and head of NASA / SERVIR-Mekong regional scientific coordination who manages SERVIR-Mekong activities from the UAH / NASA side including work on air quality.
“Through this effort, the SERVIR-Mekong team partnered with RTGPCD to leverage global forecasting models and satellite observations to more effectively monitor and predict air quality in Thailand.”
The Air Quality Explorer tool uses NASA’s global aerosol predictions from the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS). GEOS assimilates observations of the Earth from multiple satellites.
“The air quality explorer uses GEOS outputs and calibrates itself against local land measurements in Thailand using an advanced machine learning technique to retrieve correct and biased air quality predictions 72 hours in advance,” says Dr. Gupta. “The app has been added to the home page of the RTGPCD website and will be used to monitor, recommend and take more comprehensive actions to mitigate the air quality in the country.”
RGTPCD is tasked with monitoring and publishing air quality alerts in Thailand. The new app builds on existing efforts. Satellite forecasts and observations of air quality conditions will be used to issue alerts and take necessary mitigation actions.
“We have entered the world of technology. We look at and understand the world from space through satellite technology, “says Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director General of RTGPCD.” Not just the past and the present, we will also tell everyone in the future to prepare for environmental pollution appropriately and effectively. ” .
UAH supported the coordination of the new app, scientific development, consultations with the RTGPCD and outreach activities. The lead investigator of the UAH SERVIR project is Dr. Robert Griffin.
In addition to Markert, who coordinated science, capacity building and outreach activities and supported the development of training materials, the UAH SERVIR-Mekong team included Dr Gupta and Githika Tondapu from the USRA, who led the science and app development; Andrea Nicolau, SERVIR-Mekong Regional Scientific Associate, and Tim Mayer, SERVIR-Hindu-Kush Himalaya Regional Scientific Coordinator, both supported the development and coordination of the apps; and Biplov Bhandari, SERVIR-Mekong graduate research assistant.
In addition to app development, the UAH SERVIR-Mekong team supported youth training and awareness efforts. Dr Gupta conducted two training sessions on remote air quality sensing. The first was for ADPC in July 2019. The second was in August 2020 for RTGCD and GISTDA. The training was supported by NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training and the Committee of Earth Observation Satellites.
In February 2020, SERVIR-Mekong, RTGPCD, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the State Department’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative hosted Smogathon Thailand 2020, where Markert presented NASA’s work. on air quality. The event brought together young professionals, students and technical experts to tackle air pollution using satellite data.
A joint partnership between USAID and NASA, SERVIR works with organizations around the world to use space observations to inform public policy, adapt to the impacts of global change, and better plan for a sustainable future.
Led by the ADPC, SERVIR-Mekong has worked in partnership with leading regional organizations in the five Lower Mekong countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand since 2015 to leverage Earth observations to help address regional challenges. In UAH, ESS staff support these SERVIR hubs.
Information on the University of Alabama at Huntsville
Launched by American research to conquer space, the University of Alabama at Huntsville is one of America’s leading research and doctoral intensive universities. Located in the second largest research park in the United States, UAH has strong capabilities in astrophysics, cybersecurity, data analysis, logistics and supply chain management, optical systems and engineering, reliability and failure analysis, rotorcraft and systems unmanned, adverse weather conditions, space propulsion and more. UAH prepares students for challenging positions in engineering, science, business, nursing, education, art, humanities, and social sciences.
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