Statistical analysis of the water quality data of a river basin in Malaysia (monitoring network design) | |
| Author | Rasol, Aziz Abdul |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.EV-90-01 |
| Subject(s) | Water quality--Statistical methods Water quality--Malaysia |
| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Research studies project report ; no. EV-90-01 |
| Abstract | Statistical techniques were used in the evaluation of existing water quality monitoring data to design an optimum water quality monitoring programme. The optimum monitoring programme includes the objective of reducing the number of sampling stations, in sampling frequency and the reduction in the number of sampling parameters. The attainment of the objectives were achieved using cluster analysis, Kolmogorov-Smirnof test and factor analysis respectively. The results achieved a reduction in sampling frequency for 18 out of 23 stations from a maximum of 6 sampling times a year for all stations to a sampling frequency of 3 or 4 times a year using the Kolmogorov-Smirnof. Factor analysis was able to reduce a maximum of 2 parameters for 11 stations out of 24 stations analysed. Cluster analysis was able to indicate the pairing of two stations in a group. A total 9 similarly paired stations were discovered and hence 4 stations could be dropped from the existing network. The optimum water quality monitoring programme for the whole Perak River Basin based on this analysis was the reduction in the design of the monitoring programme. Only 23 out of 27 stations have adequate data to be analysed by all the statistical method and these stations with a maximum sampling frequency of 6 times a year for 10 parameters was reduced to a sampling frequency of 4 times a year for one station, 3 times a year for 17 stations and no sampling frequency reduction for the other 5 station. Out of the 18 stations with reduced frequencies,4 of these stations could be dropped based on cluster analysis. The overall monitoring network is 23 stations with sampling frequencies of 3 times a year for 13 stations,4 times for one station and 6 times a year for the of the 9 stations. It is recommended that more sets of data that have sampling stations with more variables and sampling frequency per year (than the 10 variables and 6 sampling frequency per year) that is already existing for other river basins in Malaysia be used to develop a system for routine optimisation of existing sampling network or to develop new networks. |
| Year | 1989 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Research studies project report ; no. EV-90-01 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Samorn Muttamara; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Verink, Johan;Mino, T.; |
| Degree | Research Studies Project Report (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1989 |