by Shu Keung Choi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-150). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.ix / LIST OF PLATES --- p.xi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xii / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Concerns on Current Air Quality Modeling Process --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objective --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Rationale --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- System Overview --- p.4 / Chapter 1.5 --- Questions --- p.6 / Chapter 1.6 --- Thesis Organization --- p.6 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2 --- Geographic Information System --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Data Assimilation --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Data Representation --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Data Format --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.1.3 --- Data Alignment --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Modeling Support --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3 --- Environmental Modeling --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- Integration of GIS and Environmental Modeling --- p.15 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- The Need for Integration --- p.15 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Forms of Integration --- p.17 / Chapter 2.5 --- Air Quality Modeling --- p.20 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Classes of Models --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5.1.1 --- Classification by Spatial Scale --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5.1.2 --- Classification by Modeling Approach --- p.22 / Chapter 2.6 --- Gaussian Plume Models --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Formulation --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Determination of σy and σz --- p.25 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- The Stability Classification --- p.26 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- Estimation of σy and σz --- p.27 / Chapter 2.6.5 --- Assumptions in the Gaussian Model --- p.30 / Chapter 2.7 --- Air Quality Model Evaluation --- p.31 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Model Uncertainties --- p.31 / Chapter 2.7.1.1 --- Inherent Uncertainty --- p.31 / Chapter 2.7.1.2 --- Reducible Uncertainty Errors --- p.33 / Chapter 2.7.1.2.1 --- Meteorological Data Errors --- p.33 / Chapter 2.7.1.2.2 --- Emission Data Errors --- p.34 / Chapter 2.7.1.2.3 --- Model Errors --- p.34 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Operational Performance Evaluation --- p.36 / Chapter 2.7.2.1 --- Woods Hole Performance Measures --- p.36 / Chapter 2.7.2.2 --- Fractional Bias and Fractional Scatter --- p.38 / Chapter 2.7.2.3 --- Measuring the Normalized Ratios --- p.39 / Chapter 2.7.2.4 --- Combination of Statistical Measures --- p.40 / Chapter 2.8 --- Visualization --- p.43 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Visualization Software Framework --- p.43 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- GIS and Visualization --- p.46 / Chapter 2.9 --- Conclusion --- p.47 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- SYSTEM DESIGN --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1 --- System Overview --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2 --- Supported Models --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3 --- System Software Platforms --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- ARC/INFO --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Overview --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- The Role in the System --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Advanced Visualization System (AVS) --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Overview --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- The Role in the System --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4 --- System Requirements and Specification --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Notation --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Data Preprocessing --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Data Postprocessing --- p.63 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Model Performance Evaluation --- p.68 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Visualization --- p.74 / Chapter 3.4.5.1 --- Reading ARC/INFO Data --- p.74 / Chapter 3.4.5.2 --- Applying Visualization Techniques --- p.77 / Chapter 3.4.5.2.1 --- Surface Mesh --- p.77 / Chapter 3.4.5.2.2 --- Multi-window Approach --- p.79 / Chapter 3.5 --- Data File Format --- p.85 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- A TEST CASE --- p.92 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2 --- Test Case Components --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Study Area --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Source Data --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Air Quality Model - MPTER --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Meteorological Data Preprocessor - RAMMET --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3 --- Executing the Test Case --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Main Menu --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Viewing the study area --- p.96 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Data Preprocessing --- p.96 / Chapter 4.3.3.1 --- Define Data Mapper --- p.98 / Chapter 4.3.3.2 --- Execute Data Preprocessor --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.3.3 --- Meteorological Data Preprocessing --- p.102 / Chapter 4.3.3.4 --- Model Input File Editing --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3.3.5 --- Discussions --- p.105 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Model Execution --- p.107 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Data Postprocessing --- p.107 / Chapter 4.3.5.1 --- Import Model Result to GIS --- p.108 / Chapter 4.3.5.2 --- Iso-line of Concentration Map --- p.108 / Chapter 4.3.5.3 --- Discussions --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Model Performance Evaluation --- p.112 / Chapter 4.3.6.1 --- Program Execution --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.6.2 --- Discussions --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Visualization --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.7.1 --- Surface Mesh --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.7.2 --- Multi-window Approach for 4D Data set --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.7.2.1 --- Overview --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.7.2.2 --- Overall Controls and Relations between Viewers --- p.121 / Chapter 4.3.7.2.3 --- Independent Controls within Each Viewers --- p.122 / Chapter 4.3.7.2.4 --- "The x,y,z-volume Viewer" --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.7.2.5 --- "x,y,t-volume in ViewerZ" --- p.128 / Chapter 4.3.7.2.6 --- Other Viewers --- p.132 / Chapter 4.3.7.3 --- Discussions --- p.134 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusion --- p.137 / Chapter CHAPTER 5. --- CONCLUSION --- p.138 / Chapter 5.1 --- System Design Summary --- p.138 / Chapter 5.2 --- Summary of the Functions --- p.139 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Data Preprocessing --- p.139 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Data Postprocessing --- p.140 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Model Evaluation --- p.140 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Visualization --- p.141 / Chapter 5.3 --- Further Research --- p.143 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.145