Geospatial Assessment of Urban Air Pollution Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study of Nashik City, India
Abstract
Abstract. Rapid industrialization and unplanned urbanization have increased air pollution levels across Indian cities, posing serious environmental and health challenges. This research presents a geospatial assessment of air pollutant behaviour across Nashik city by integrating multi-source remote sensing datasets and real observation datasets from Sentinel-5P, NASA POWER, and CPCB ground observations within a GIS-based analytical framework. Using ward-level mapping and spatial overlays, the study examines the distribution of key pollutants - PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO - and their relationship with environmental and anthropogenic parameters, including land use, road networks, wind direction, temperature, and vegetation density. The results consistently reveal high concentrations of PM2.5, ranging from a minimum of 52.4 μg/m³ to a maximum of 73 μg/m³, and PM10, a minimum of 87.3 μg/m³ and a maximum of 121.5 μg/m³, particularly along high-traffic corridors and industrial zones, which exceed the WHO standards. Correlations with meteorological and vegetative factors further highlight the influence of urban form and climatic conditions on pollutant dispersion. This integrated approach demonstrates how multi-source remote sensing and GIS tools can be effectively employed to identify emission hotspots, support evidence-based policy formulation, and strengthen urban environmental management strategies for sustainable development.