A novel seasonal index-based machine learning approach for air pollution forecasting

Novel machine learning models (MLMs) using the seasonal indexing approach that captures the variation in air quality caused due to meteorological changes have been used to provide short-term, real-time forecasts of PM_2.5 concentration for one of the most polluted air quality control regions (AQCR) in the capital city of Delhi. Two MLMs-multi-linear regression and random forest-have been developed for using time series data for 1-h and 24-h average PM_2.5 concentration. Short-term, real-time forecasts have been made using the developed models. Various model performance evaluation indices indicate satisfactory model performance. R² values for the hourly and daily models varied between 0.95 and 0.72 and between 0.76 and 0.68 for the 1st to 5th h/day, respectively. The lagged values of PM_2.5 concentration (persistence) and the hourly and daily indices are the most influential variables for the forecasts for immediate time steps. In contrast, seasonal indices become more important with the forecasting time horizon. The developed models can be used for making short-term, real-time air quality forecasts and issuing a warning when the pollution levels go beyond acceptable limits.