Comparison of three prediction strategies within PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ monitoring networks

An air pollution monitoring network is a primary tool for measuring, managing and assessing air quality in urban areas. But plenty of equipment in monitoring network inevitably result in financial costs. With this consideration, this study aims to explore some strategies for prediction instead of measurement. To do so, the relationships within PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ monitoring networks are first explored respectively. Then the relationship between PM_2.5 with PM₁₀ monitoring networks is also investigated. Based on these identified relationships, three prediction strategies are proposed and PM_2.5 concentration is selected for predictions. The results verified that PM_2.5 concentration can be well estimated under these strategies, in particular the local strategy based on the local pollutants and mixed strategy based on the local and surrounding pollutants. That means, without measurement, the pollution levels of some pollutants can be successfully determined through prediction. These findings provide a possibility to estimate the missing or unmonitored values in term of the available data at surrounding stations.