The study of participatory monitoring of air quality and urban heat, case study Udon Thani province, Thailand
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Abstract
Urbanization in Thailand is a similar pattern. Land use planning, zoning and environmental safeguards are largely ineffective. Air quality and heat obviously affect environmental problem due to urbanization and harm to human health, especially respiratory disease. The lack of participatory planning process that citizens are limited ability to influence what is happening on the ground. The lack of public access to inform decision-making process is common across the country. Udon Thani municipality, Udon Thani province encountered this mentioned problems. The development of the simple method to monitor the concentration of Particulate Matter 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and urban heat in order to build social participation were investigated and providde the scientific information for decision-makers and key stakeholders of the community. The direct measurement was offered by using three devices as a mobile traverse method, for measurement; 1) a mobile visible light scattering device to measure PM2.5 concentrations, 2) a digital thermometer and 3) GPS device to obtain spatial data. The behaviors of air quality and urban heat island (UHI) was seasonally observed by day and night times from April 2017 to January 2018 in hot, rainy and cold seasons with five time intervals (16:00, 20:00, 00:00, 08:00 and 12:00) on a selected observation date of each season. The results indicated the peak spots of PM2.5 concentrations and UHI around the study area estimated to encounter the air pollution and urban heat occurrences in particular specific time interval and seasons. Finally, the simple method and scientific information were provided as a key stakeholders in the study area to monitor air quality and urban heat through workshop training and Shared Learning Dialogues (SLDs). It was obviously found that the participation of the key stakeholders were encouraged and their perception on social scientific information was well responded.
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