Intelligent Data Analysis

8Influence of Green Space on Global Air Quality Monitoring: Data Analysis Using K-Means Clustering Algorithm

Gihan S. Pathirana¹ and Malka N. Halgamuge²

¹School of Computing and Mathematics, Charles Sturt University, Melbourne, Australia

²Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia

8.1 Introduction

In this century, industrialization has contributed to climate variation, and has adversely impacted the environmental, which has raised severe health problems. Even though the world is trying to find ways to heal the planet and preserve, protect, and enhance the global nature, deforestation, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are now a greater threat than ever before.

Air pollution can be defined as the pollutants carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), particular matter (PM), nitrogen oxide (NO₂), and ozone (O₃) in such levels that they have a negative effect on environment and on human health [1]. Currently, air pollution kills around 7 million people worldwide each year, which is a horrendous figure and needs immediate resolution [2]. Health risk effects on pulmonary, neurological structure, cardiac, and vascular systems are some of the diseases that have emerged as a result of polluted air. In 2005, 4 700 O₃-related deaths were attributed to air pollution [3]. Approximately 130 000 PM_2.5 deaths were reported in the United States due to the increase of ecological footprints. Unlike any ...