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A Two-Phase Optimization Model Based on Inexact Air Dispersion Simulation for Regional Air Quality Control

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Abstract

This study proposes a two-phase optimization model for regional air pollution control. To predict the pollutant concentrations at receptor zones, an interval Gaussian plume model is advanced to facilitate the generation of optimal pollution control policies. Results from the case study indicate satisfactory performance of the proposed model in handling uncertainties in parameters expressed as intervals and in stipulations associated with pollutant emission and ambient air quality. Compared with conventional models, it has advantages of generating compromised management strategies according to decision makers’ preference. This would be useful when the guarantee of satisfying all constraints is inapplicable or too costly. The proposed model is capable of identifying key factors and/or input conditions that may intensely affect system outputs and thus facilitating decision makers in adjusting current system status to benefit future management. The results also reveal a significantly enhanced satisfactory level would be obtained compared with conventional “single-phase”-based optimization models.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program (2005CB724200, 2007CB714105) and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The authors are extremely grateful to the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada, S4S 0A2

    Hongwei Lu & Guohe Huang

  2. College of Urban Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China, 100871

    Guohe Huang

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5B 2K3

    Li He

Authors
  1. Hongwei Lu
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  2. Guohe Huang
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  3. Li He
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Correspondence to Guohe Huang.

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Lu, H., Huang, G. & He, L. A Two-Phase Optimization Model Based on Inexact Air Dispersion Simulation for Regional Air Quality Control. Water Air Soil Pollut 211, 121–134 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0286-3

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