PCD joins hands with US agency to develop air quality forecasting using space technology

[webfact]

PCD joins hands with US agency to develop air quality forecasting using space technology

By The Nation

 

 

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has announced cooperation with the United States government to develop air-quality monitoring and forecasting system using space technology.

 

The Mekong Air Quality Explorer (http://aqatmekong-servir.adpc.net/en/mapviewer/) will serve as a tool for managing air pollution problems through its partnership with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), Servir-Mekong, and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) to implement dust solutions under the National Agenda Steering Action Plan.

 

PCD director-general Atthapol Charoenchansa said the air quality monitoring and forecasting system would help report the air quality in Thailand.

 

Information was computed from Nasa's three-hour satellite data and mathematical modelling system to enhance the nationwide coverage of PM2.5 dust mass along with a three-day forecast in conjunction with the operation of GISTDA, the main Thai agency that develops satellite data systems, to monitor PM2.5 sources, heat points, combustion areas, and the direction of dust, including the spatial spreading behaviour of PM2.5 dust both in the country and around the country hourly.

 

This will enable timely advice for people in the area to prepare and prevent health impacts. It is also a data support tool for the "Burn Check" application to register fuel management in agricultural areas.

 

He added that the cooperation in technology development would focus on preventing and solving the problem of PM2.5 dust by using modern tools, technology, and knowledge from all relevant sectors to integrate the solution for PM2.5 dust problem with sustainable efficiency.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398495

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-11-24

 

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[Crossy]

Of course they could also be tackling this at source. 

 

Just saying.

 

Fetching my coat ...

 

[Emdog]

Dealing with pollution ain't rocket science, or satellite tech either

Seems powers that be more than happy to allow invisible killer (well, maybe not that invisible..) to do it's thing

 

[rkidlad]

I saw an ambulance with big alloy wheels and Hello kitty stickers on it driving with big plumes of black smoke coming out of the exhaust.

 

When I see things like this, I do wonder if the government is really serious about this problem. 

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

He added that the cooperation in technology development would focus on preventing and solving the problem of PM2.5 dust by using modern tools, technology, and knowledge from all relevant sectors to integrate the solution for PM2.5 dust problem with sustainable efficiency.

So what will the excuse be when they can't reduce the pollution although having all the "tools" at their disposal to know where it is and why it's happening.

[canopy]

Good. The red faces explaining to the americans shaking their heads and looking at each other in disbelief why the Thai scale for air quality is so ridiculously lenient compared to the US EPA guidelines. And then having to explain why they only release 24 hour averages of air quality instead of reporting how bad the air quality gets. And best of all it will become plainly obvious the americans can see the extent of all the horrible, totally unnecessary burning going on right inside Thailand. Nothing like shining a beacon on this problem and there is nowhere for them to hide or blame.

 

[johng]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

solving the problem of PM2.5 dust by using modern tools, technology, and knowledge

Its easy  just stop burning the fields and forests  use the "modern tools"  like tractors and ploughs to  clear the fields instead of burning them.