Evaluation of integrated Malaysian meteorological data atmospheric dispersion software (IMMDADS)

Abstract

The need for customized air pollutant prediction software specific for Malaysian environment is seen as demanding to conduct air pollution assessment in Malaysia. This paper presents a detailed validation data of a recently developed software named as Integrated Malaysian Meteorological Data Atmospheric Dispersion Software (IMMDADS) mainly containing comparison results with approved United State Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) atmospheric dispersion software, Industrial Source Complex (ISC) Software. Gaussian plume model algorithm has been developed in MATLAB programming language as the core of the software. Dispersion parameters for urban and rural dispersion are calculated based on the Pasquill-Gifford curves and Briggs plume rise equations. The developed algorithm was integrated with Malaysian meteorological data obtained from local air quality monitoring stations. Results show that IMMDADS software is able to predict the ground-level concentration of pollutants with acceptable accuracy and consistency as the ISC software.