Sains
Malaysiana 53(3)(2024):623-633
http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5303-11
Twenty Years of Air Pollutant Index Trend Analysis in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
(2000-2019)
(20 Tahun Analisis
Trend Indeks Pencemaran Udara di Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
(2000-2019))
SITI
HASYYATI DRAHMAN, HISYAMMUDIN MASERI*, MAQUELINE CYNDI NAP & ZETTY BAIDURI
HOSSEN
Faculty of
Engineering and Technology, i-CATS University College, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Diserahkan: 24 September 2023/Diterima: 16 Februari 2024
Abstract
Sarawak is
expected to face environmental challenges due to air pollution arising from
industrial emissions and urbanisation as it strives towards achieving developed
and high-income status by 2030. Therefore, it is important to conduct a
comprehensive Air Pollutant Index (API) trend analysis. There are currently
limited studies on API trend analysis that focus on Kuching, the capital known
for its extensive industrial zones and densely populated urban centre. The main
focus of this study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of the API trends
in the Kuching region over a period of 20 years (2000-2019) using a visual
representation in the form of a contour plot. To achieve this purpose, a
five-term Fourier model was employed to predict the missing API data using
Matlab software. Then, a complete version of a contour plot was developed to
clearly illustrate the fluctuations in air quality over time. It was found that
a five-term Fourier model used to forecast missing API data provides a strong
correlation with the API readings, with most of the R values greater
than 0.91. Moreover, the generated contour plot demonstrates a visual
congruence between the forecasted data and the original dataset. Elevated API
readings, signifying highly detrimental air quality, were primarily identified
as a result of haze episodes stemming from uncontrolled fires in neighbouring
countries, particularly during El Niño events. The findings of this study
contribute to a better understanding of API trends in Kuching by means of the contour
plot.
Keywords: Air Pollutant Index; contour plot; five-term
Fourier model; Kuching; trend analysis
Abstrak
Sarawak dijangka
menghadapi cabaran alam sekitar disebabkan oleh pencemaran udara yang berpunca
daripada pelepasan industri dan perbandaran, seiring dengan usahanya untuk
mencapai status maju dan berpendapatan tinggi menjelang tahun 2030. Oleh itu,
adalah penting untuk menjalankan analisis arah aliran Indeks Pencemaran Udara
(IPU) yang komprehensif. Kajian mengenai analisis arah aliran IPU yang tertumpu
kepada Kuching, ibu negeri yang terkenal dengan zon perindustrian yang luas dan
pusat bandar yang padat, masih terhad pada masa kini. Fokus utama kajian ini
adalah untuk menjalankan analisis menyeluruh terhadap arah aliran IPU di
kawasan Kuching dalam tempoh 20 tahun (2000-2019) dengan menggunakan
penggambaran visual dalam bentuk plot kontur. Bagi mencapai tujuan ini, model
Fourier lima-terma digunakan untuk meramalkan data IPU yang hilang dengan
menggunakan perisian Matlab. Kemudian, plot kontur versi lengkap dibangunkan
untuk menggambarkan dengan jelas perubahan dalam kualiti udara sepanjang masa.
Didapati bahawa model Fourier lima-terma yang digunakan untuk meramalkan data
IPU yang hilang memberikan korelasi yang kuat dengan bacaan IPU, dengan
kebanyakan nilai R melebihi 0.91. Selain itu, plot kontur yang
dihasilkan menunjukkan keselarasan visual antara data yang diramalkan dan
dataset asal. Bacaan IPU yang tinggi menunjukkan kualiti udara yang sangat
buruk, terutamanya dikenal pasti sebagai hasil daripada episod jerebu yang
berpunca daripada kebakaran tanpa kawalan di negara-negara jiran, terutamanya
semasa peristiwa El Niño. Penemuan kajian ini menyumbang kepada pemahaman yang
lebih baik mengenai arah aliran IPU di Kuching melalui plot kontur.
Kata kunci: Analisis arah aliran; Indeks Pencemaran Udara; Kuching; model Fourier
lima-terma; plot kontur
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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: hisyammudinmaseri@icats.edu.my
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