In this article, a robust statistical analysis of particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration measurements is carried out. Here, the region chosen for the study was the urban park La Carolina, which is one of the most important in Quito, Ecuador, and is located in the financial center of the city. This park is surrounded by avenues with high traffic, in which shopping centers, businesses, entertainment venues, and homes, among other things, can be found. Therefore, it is important to study air pollution in the region where this urban park is located, in order to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life in the area. The preliminary study presented in this article was focused on the robust estimation of both the central tendency and the dispersion of the PM2.5 concentration measurements carried out in the park and some surrounding streets. To this end, the following estimators were used: (i) for robust location estimation: α-trimmed mean, trimean, and median estimators; and (ii) for robust scale estimation: median absolute deviation, semi interquartile range, biweight midvariance, and estimators based on a subrange. In addition, nonparametric confidence intervals were established, and air pollution levels due to PM2.5 concentrations were classified according to categories established by the Quito Air Quality Index. According to these categories, the results of the analysis showed that neither the streets that border the park nor the park itself are at the Alert level. Finally, it can be said that La Carolina Park is fulfilling its function as an air pollution filter.

No abstract

Rapid population growth, urbanization and motorization have brought about secondary effects that have gradually damaged the atmosphere, whose importance is vital for both the survival of all living beings and the climate balance. In this sense, air pollution is a problem that affects current society and is much more critical in developing countries. In this context, in the present paper non-parametric statistical inference techniques are used to carry out the analysis of measurements of health concerning fine particulate matter concentration, PM 2.5 , in an urban park of Quito, Ecuador. In short, the data collected during the measurements were stored in random variables and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to test if these random variables come from populations with identical distributions. Also, the Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to test if the numerical values collected in the samples of the random variables of interest represent a level of contamination that could be dangerous for human beings. The experimental results show that urban parks and, specifically, trees are a natural filter between the pollution generated in the road and the center of the park. Therefore, the role of trees in the face of vehicular pollution will depend on two variables: the amount and compactness of the vegetation, and the emission levels recorded in the border roads.

In this article, parametric and nonparametric statistical inference analysis of a set the measurements of air pollution because of PM 2.5 concentrations was performed. The research work was carried out in an urban park in Quito, Ecuador. Specifically, the park that was chosen to perform the analysis was La Carolina Park. The analysis carried out here was aimed at obtaining the statistical models for parts of this urban park under study and some of its border streets. Furthermore, the park and its border streets were modeled as random variables that were finally classified according to the amount of PM 2.5 concentration levels they carry. This classification was performed by using a method based on both Friedman's test and the categories of the index of air quality of Quito. The results of this article showed that air pollution levels because of PM 2.5 concentrations in La Carolina Park are not in alert level. The worst case, considering the analysis tools used in this article, is that one of the streets that border the park is in caution level. The other streets and parts of the park that were analyzed are either in a desirable level or in an acceptable level. Furthermore, in this article, it has been shown that as pedestrian and temporary residents move further away from the trees and vegetation of the park, the level of exposure to PM 2.5 concentrations that they experience is higher.

Abstract:In this paper a survey on recent applications of optimal signal processing techniques to improve the performance of mechanical sensors is made. Here, a comparison between classical filters and optimal filters for automotive sensors is made, and the current state of the art of the application of robust and optimal control and signal processing techniques to the design of the intelligent (or smart) sensors that today's cars need is presented through several experimental results that show that the fusion of intelligent sensors and optimal signal processing techniques is the clear way to go. However, the switch between the traditional methods of designing automotive sensors and the new ones cannot be done overnight because there are some open research issues that have to be solved. This paper draws attention to one of the open research issues and tries to arouse researcher's interest in the fusion of intelligent sensors and optimal signal processing techniques.