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The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, and the Ministry of Environment and Water, today announced that they have signed an agreement to collaborate on a remote sensing project to study particulate matter and trace gases in the air.
Air can be polluted by a range of different particles such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. Many of them, especially very small particles that can enter deep into the lungs, can be harmful to health. The UAE experiences dust storms, usually in February-March and June-August, where strong winds pick up momentum and sweep in dust from the desert. These storms can be more than just irritating; they can be both a safety and health hazard.
The proposed project prepares the groundwork for the development of an integrated high resolution air quality monitoring system over the UAE by making use of data collected at various locations across the UAE, satellite imagery from a number of sensors that measure air quality parameters, and the chemical characterization of the particulate matter for health and environmental impact assessment.
The agreement was signed by Eng. Fahad Mohammed Saeed Hareb, Director of Air Quality Department, Environmental Affairs, UAE Ministry of Environment and Water, and Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf, Interim Provost, Masdar Institute. Other officials from both partners were present on the occasion that was specially marked by the UAE Innovation Week celebrations.
Eng. Fahad Mohammed Saeed Hareb said, “The Ministry of Environment and Water’s engagement with Masdar Institute to measure air quality through Satellite Remote Sensing, then calibrating this data through the use of the UAE Air Quality Network is an achievement that we are both very proud to present during Innovation Week and falls in line with the UAE vision 2021 to improve the Air Quality in the country. This project indicates our commitment to monitor our air quality not just covered through the UAE AQN, but the air quality of every square km of the UAE allowing us to provide more accurate satellite data that we may share with international bodies to avoid the use of less credible data sometimes referred to when comparing countries in global reports. This project lays the groundwork for a long-term air quality monitoring programs in the country, and I believe it will stand as an example of an effective collaboration between a Federal Entity and a Research Institute, an initiative that will make the UAE one of the most technologically progressive countries in the world.”
Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf said: “It is part of Masdar Institute’s mission to help the UAE achieve its goals of sustainable development and environmental preservation. We believe this collaborative project with the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water, with its focus on supporting air quality, will help the UAE continue to advance and expand while safeguarding the health and wellbeing of its people and natural environment. We are proud to engage in collaborations like these, which support the UAE in its continuing evolution and prosperity.”
The project is led by Dr. Marouane Temimi, Associate Professor, Water and Environmental Engineering program, and Head of Coastal and Environmental Remote Sensing and Modeling Lab, Masdar Institute.
The project, titled ‘Study on Particulate Matter PM2.5 Composition and its Correlation with PM10 Concentrations’ will constitute the first attempt to investigate and showcase the potential of air quality remote sensing in the UAE. It will also prepare the groundwork for a long-term air quality monitoring programs in the UAE that rely on cutting-edge monitoring technologies involving the use of satellite imagery and ground observations of pollutant concentrations.
The preliminary findings of this study will serve as the base for a permanent and operational air quality monitoring program in the UAE. The outcome will also be helpful to generate high resolution emission inventories that may be used for forecasting air pollutant concentrations and air quality index over the desert region and the UAE.
Masdar Institute’s earth observation team has developed strong expertise in utilizing satellite imagery, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and modeling techniques to monitor a variety of environmental factors.
More specifically, Dr. Temimi’s Coastal and Environmental Remote Sensing and Modeling Lab plays a significant role through their environmental data portal (http://earth.masdar.ac.ae/) which offers valuable information on the state of the Arabian Gulf including sea currents, temperature, salinity, and ocean current that are useful for several applications. His research plays an integral part in gathering accurate and valuable information on weather and water processes through the use of remote sensing and GIS. The outcome of this project could expand the environmental parameters reported through the web site to include those related to air quality, especially those from satellite imagery.
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