The effects of urban area development in Melaka to the air pollution index from year 2012 to 2014

Melaka has two air pollution monitoring stations which are located in SMK Bukit Rambai, Melaka and SMK Kota Tinggi Melaka, Melaka. The research would adhere the Air Pollution Index (API) scale provided by the Malaysian Department of Environment in order to promote a better understanding on the data as it would reflect the air quality levels associated with the urban development. The objective of this study includes identifying the urban air quality and gives recommendation based on the findings as well as to investigate the relationship between urban development to the air pollution index. This research includes the study of pollutants especially the five parameters used in Malaysia which are Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂), Nitrogen Dioxides (NO₂), Carbon Monoxide (CO), particulate matter with 10-micron (PM₁₀) size in diameter and ground-level ozone (O₃). The API trends in Melaka for year 2012 to 2014 are analysed and discussed to predict the trends for the following years. Various factors are taken into consideration in discussing the API readings that shows significant increase and decrease throughout the years. Based on the studies, the API readings in Melaka are predicted to increase by years as a result of continuous development in the region.