Global Technology for Local Monitoring of Air Pollution in Dhaka

Susmita Dasgupta, M. Khaliquzzaman and David R. Wheeler

No 9429, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: The World Health Organization attributes about 3.3 million annual premature deaths tooutdoor air pollution in low- and middle-income countries. Comprehensive pollution monitoring in urban areas has beentoo costly for many developing countries; yet sparse information has hindered cost-effective pollution managementstrategies. Global information technologies offer a potential escape from this information trap, but theiraccuracy remains uncertain. This paper uses ground-based measures of fine particulates and nitrogen dioxide, providedby the CAMS-3 Darussalam monitoring station in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to test three global technologies: the EuropeanSpace Agency’s Sentinel-5P, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Moderate Resolution ImagingSpectroradiometer, and Google Traffic. The results indicate that all three global technologies can provide usefulinformation for extension of air pollution measurement beyond the few areas that are currently monitored by groundstations. Each technology tracks ground-based fine particulates measures with high significance, and theEuropean Space Agency’s Sentinel-5P and Google Traffic perform similarly for ground-based nitrogen dioxidemeasures. Google Traffic can provide accurate tracking at higher spatial and temporal resolution than the satellitesources, but only for emissions from motor vehicles in major metro areas. The Moderate Resolution ImagingSpectroradiometer and the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-5P capture the effects of emissions from othersources at all locations.

Keywords: Intelligent Transport Systems; Brown Issues and Health; Pollution Management & Control; Air Quality & Clean Air; Health Care Services Industry; Transport Economics Policy & Planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-10-07
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