A Fuzzy-Based Model to Detect Hotspots of Air Pollutants During Heatwaves in Urban Settlements

High concentrations of pollutants in urban areas generate cardiovascular and respiratory problems in citizens; these are aggravated by the persistence of summer heatwaves. For this reason, in this research, we propose a fuzzy-based method for detecting air pollutant hotspots and determining critical...

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Main Authors: Barbara Cardone, Ferdinando Di Martino, Cristiano Mauriello, Vittorio Miraglia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/7/2160
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author Barbara Cardone
Ferdinando Di Martino
Cristiano Mauriello
Vittorio Miraglia
author_facet Barbara Cardone
Ferdinando Di Martino
Cristiano Mauriello
Vittorio Miraglia
author_sort Barbara Cardone
collection DOAJ
description High concentrations of pollutants in urban areas generate cardiovascular and respiratory problems in citizens; these are aggravated by the persistence of summer heatwaves. For this reason, in this research, we propose a fuzzy-based method for detecting air pollutant hotspots and determining critical urban areas for air pollution during heatwaves. After acquiring the pollutant concentration values recorded by monitoring stations during heatwaves, a spatial interpolation method is applied to obtain the distribution of the pollutant concentration during heatwaves and, subsequently, a fuzzification process is performed to determine urban hotspots in which the pollutant concentration assumes critical values. Finally, the critical urban areas are determined, consisting of the areas within hotspots with a high population density exposed to health risks. The method was implemented in a GIS platform and tested on an urban study area in the Lombardy region, Italy, to determine the urban areas with high criticality during the heatwaves that occurred in the summer months of 2024. The test results show that the method can provide valid support for decision makers and local administrators when evaluating which urban areas are most critical for the population due to the high rate of air pollution during heatwaves.
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spelling doaj-art-43e250622b0b4867a9ab00decf79a50f2025-08-20T03:08:56ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-03-01257216010.3390/s25072160A Fuzzy-Based Model to Detect Hotspots of Air Pollutants During Heatwaves in Urban SettlementsBarbara Cardone0Ferdinando Di Martino1Cristiano Mauriello2Vittorio Miraglia3Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Via Toledo 402, 80134 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Via Toledo 402, 80134 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Via Toledo 402, 80134 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Via Toledo 402, 80134 Napoli, ItalyHigh concentrations of pollutants in urban areas generate cardiovascular and respiratory problems in citizens; these are aggravated by the persistence of summer heatwaves. For this reason, in this research, we propose a fuzzy-based method for detecting air pollutant hotspots and determining critical urban areas for air pollution during heatwaves. After acquiring the pollutant concentration values recorded by monitoring stations during heatwaves, a spatial interpolation method is applied to obtain the distribution of the pollutant concentration during heatwaves and, subsequently, a fuzzification process is performed to determine urban hotspots in which the pollutant concentration assumes critical values. Finally, the critical urban areas are determined, consisting of the areas within hotspots with a high population density exposed to health risks. The method was implemented in a GIS platform and tested on an urban study area in the Lombardy region, Italy, to determine the urban areas with high criticality during the heatwaves that occurred in the summer months of 2024. The test results show that the method can provide valid support for decision makers and local administrators when evaluating which urban areas are most critical for the population due to the high rate of air pollution during heatwaves.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/7/2160air pollutionheatwavehotspotfuzzy partitionspatial interpolation
spellingShingle Barbara Cardone
Ferdinando Di Martino
Cristiano Mauriello
Vittorio Miraglia
A Fuzzy-Based Model to Detect Hotspots of Air Pollutants During Heatwaves in Urban Settlements
Sensors
air pollution
heatwave
hotspot
fuzzy partition
spatial interpolation
title A Fuzzy-Based Model to Detect Hotspots of Air Pollutants During Heatwaves in Urban Settlements
title_full A Fuzzy-Based Model to Detect Hotspots of Air Pollutants During Heatwaves in Urban Settlements
title_fullStr A Fuzzy-Based Model to Detect Hotspots of Air Pollutants During Heatwaves in Urban Settlements
title_full_unstemmed A Fuzzy-Based Model to Detect Hotspots of Air Pollutants During Heatwaves in Urban Settlements
title_short A Fuzzy-Based Model to Detect Hotspots of Air Pollutants During Heatwaves in Urban Settlements
title_sort fuzzy based model to detect hotspots of air pollutants during heatwaves in urban settlements
topic air pollution
heatwave
hotspot
fuzzy partition
spatial interpolation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/7/2160
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