A Workshop on «Transboundary Air Pollution: Strengthening ASEAN–APCTT Cooperation through Integrated Technology, Policy, and Field Practices for Sustainable Air Quality» held in Thailand

A workshop on «Transboundary Air Pollution: Strengthening ASEAN–APCTT Cooperation through Integrated Technology, Policy, and Field Practices for Sustainable Air Quality» took place in the Kingdom of Thailand from February 3 to 5. The main focus of the workshop was to discuss regional capabilities in combating smog and the impacts of forest fires.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Thailand (MHESI), the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT).

Due to the support of the Russian house of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which represents the Russian Federation on the Governing Council of the APCTT under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), junior researcher Alexandra Nikiforova of the Laboratory of Landscape Ecology and Geomatics at the A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of Ras, under the Russian Academy of Sciences, participated in the event.

During a roundtable held at the Chiang Mai Situation Center, the Russian specialist presented the key areas of the institute’s work, including research on atmospheric air pollution and the use of geoinformation technologies to model the spread of pollutants in areas with high anthropogenic impact.

«It was very interesting to hear about international experience and to share my own. I was also truly inspired by the nature of Northern Thailand, especially in Doi Suthep–Pui National Park, which we visited», remarked Alexandra Nikiforova.

The workshop’s business program included expert sessions on regional policy in air quality management, the use of satellite data, and the development of international cooperation. Participants also visited the Chiang Mai University Air Quality Monitoring Station and the provincial Situation Center, where they were introduced to the FireD biomass management system and practices for applying analytical data to operational decision-making.

Field training in Doi Suthep–Pui National Park featured demonstrations of forest fire detection technologies using unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with elements of artificial intelligence.