Journal Published Online: 05 October 2015
Volume 44, Issue 1

Selection of the Most Significant Variables of Air Pollutants Using Sensitivity Analysis

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the most significant parameters for the air-pollutant index (API) prediction in Malaysia using data covering a 7-year period (2006–2012) obtained from the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE). The sensitivity analysis method coupled with the artificial neural network (ANN) was applied. Nine models (ANN-API-AP, ANN-API-LCO, ANN-API-LO3, ANN-API-LPM10, ANN-API-LSO2, ANN-API-LNO2, ANN-API-LCH4, ANN-API-LNmHC and ANN-API-LTHC) were carried out in the sensitivity analysis test. From the findings, PM10 and CO were identified as the most significant parameters in Malaysia. Three artificial neural network models (ANN-API-AP, ANN-API-LO, and ANN-API-DOE) were compared based on the performance criterion [R2, root-mean-square error (RMSE), and squared sum of all errors (SSE)] for the best prediction model selection. The ANN-API-AP, ANN-API-LO, and ANN-API-DOE models have R2 values of 0.733, 0.578, and 0.742, respectively; RMSE values of 8.689, 10.858, and 8.357, respectively; SSE values of 762,767.22, 1,191,280.60, and 705,600.05, respectively. The findings exhibit the ANN-API-LO model has a lower value in R2 and higher values in RMSE and SSE than others. ANN-API-LO model was considered as the best model of prediction because of fewer variables was utilized as input and far less complex than others. Hence, the use of fewer parameters of the API prediction has been highly practicable for air resource management because of its time and cost efficiency.

Author Information

Azid, Azman
East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, MY
Juahir, Hafizan
East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, MY
Toriman, Mohd Ekhwan
East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, MY
Endut, Azizah
East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, MY
Abdul Rahman, Mohd Nordin
Centre of Research & Innovation Management, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, MY
Amri Kamarudin, Mohd Khairul
East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, MY
Latif, Mohd Talib
School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, MY
Mohd Saudi, Ahmad Shakir
East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, MY
Che Hasnam, Che Noraini
East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, MY
Yunus, Kamaruzzaman
Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic Univ. Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, MY
Pages: 9
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JTE20140325
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE20140325