CMU Researching Thailand’s Smoke Pollution Problem
26 April 2019
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
CMU’s Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, has surveyed and collected data regarding the air pollution in the upper Southeast Asia region utilizing a satellite Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) which has revealed many ‘hot spots’. Currently CMU researchers are in collaboration with provinces in northern Thailand including Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun and Nan and are involved in 50 projects regarding this problem.
This problem has also received international collaboration such as the “Haze Free Country Network” research project and the “Haze Free Thailand” together with collaboration from the “Research University Network” (RUN) and Chiang Mai University is also collaborating with academics in Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos.
The Research Institute for Health Sciences has collaborated with public sectors to install air quality measurement devices that have been developed by CMU researchers and can measure PM10, PM 2.5. and PM 1.0 in real time and have been installed in 205 districts in Chiang Mai.
Haze Integrated Research Unit, Environmental Science Research Center of Climate Change have developed a website and application for checking air quality in Real Time available at www.shiru-cmu.org, and the Research Institute for Health Sciences at www.cmaqhi.org and http://gist.soc.cmu.ac.th and the Regional Center of Aerospace Technology and Geographical Information, Faculty of Social Sciences by Satellite Information available through Facebook : GISNORTH.
A current analysis is underway of stakeholders whilst seeking a cooperation with public and private sectors according to the Public – Private – Partnership (PPP) concept. A “Single Command System” strategy has been devised which focuses on 4 points (1) “Men” means they know the problem and how to solve it (2) Strategy about “City” that means smart city, clean city and green city (3) strategy about “forest” and (4) strategy about “career” that means fine weather, less debt, and high income for new careers which is created by industry.