Advancing Research in Air Quality Monitoring and Environmental Systems

Professor, Department of Civil Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Air Quality Monitoring & Modelling

Urban hotspot and indoor air quality monitoring and modelling.

Emission Characterization & Control

Emission inventory, source apportionment, and control technologies.

Exposure & ML-Based Prediction

Personal exposure assessment and machine learning for air quality prediction.

Research Areas

Research at the intersection of air quality monitoring, emission control, and environmental management.

Air Quality Monitoring & Measuring Techniques

Understanding and measuring pollutants to assess ambient and personal air quality.

  • Real-time monitoring of air pollutants (PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, NOx, SO₂, O₃)
  • Deployment of low-cost sensors and reference-grade instruments
  • Calibration, validation, and data quality assurance
  • Mobile and fixed monitoring network design
  • Personal exposure assessment and indoor air quality studies

Air Quality Modelling & Emission Inventory

Analyzing pollution patterns and estimating emissions for better planning and control.

  • Development of emission inventories
  • Dispersion and chemical transport modelling
  • Air quality forecasting and trend analysis
  • Scenario-based policy evaluation

Source Apportionment & Source-receptor modeling

Identifying pollution sources and their contribution to air quality.

  • Receptor models (PMF, CMB) for source identification
  • Source contribution analysis
  • Source–receptor relationship studies
  • Regional and long-range transport assessment

Design and development of emission control system

Developing technologies to reduce emissions from various sources.

  • Industrial emission control system design
  • Filtration and scrubbing technologies
  • Efficiency optimization techniques
  • Field implementation and testing

Fate & Transport of Particulate matter

Studying how pollutants move, transform, and settle in the environment.

  • Dispersion and atmospheric transport studies
  • Role of meteorology in pollutant movement
  • Aerosol characterization
  • Urban and regional transport dynamics

Health Risk Assessment

Evaluating the impact of air pollution on human health.

  • Exposure and risk estimation
  • Short-term and long-term health effects
  • Epidemiological analysis
  • Risk mitigation and public health strategies

Indoor Air Quality Management

Ensuring healthy indoor environments by controlling pollutants and ventilation.

  • Indoor pollutant monitoring (PM₂.₅, CO₂, VOCs)
  • Ventilation and air purification strategies
  • Exposure assessment in homes, offices, and schools
  • Source control and mitigation techniques

Environmental Impact Assessment

Evaluating the environmental consequences of projects and activities.

  • Air pollution impact assessment studies
  • Baseline environmental monitoring
  • Dispersion modelling for project evaluation
  • Mitigation and compliance strategies

Outdoor–Indoor Air Pollution Relationships

Understanding how outdoor pollution influences indoor air quality.

  • Indoor–outdoor pollutant exchange analysis
  • Infiltration and ventilation studies
  • Urban exposure dynamics
  • Seasonal and spatial variation assessment

Urban Noise Monitoring & Mapping

Assessing and managing noise pollution in urban environments.

  • Real-time noise monitoring systems
  • Noise mapping using GIS tools
  • Traffic and industrial noise analysis
  • Compliance with environmental noise standards

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning in Air Quality Management

Leveraging AI/ML for smarter air quality analysis and prediction.

  • Pollution prediction using ML models
  • Data analytics from sensor networks
  • Source identification using AI techniques
  • Smart decision-making and automation tools

Selected Publications

Recent contributions to top-tier journals and conferences

Alshetty, D., Shiva Nagendra, S. M., Mueller, A., & Schlink, U. (2025).
Atmospheric Environment: X (Vol. 25, pp. 100309–100309).
Journal
Deepthi, Y., Passi, A., Chithra, V. S., Schlink, U., & Shiva Nagendra, S. M.
Building and Environment (Vol. 267, pp. 112189–112189).
Journal
Jayaraj, S., & Shiva Nagendra, S. M. (2025).
Journal of Environmental Sciences (Vol. 150, pp. 230–245).
Journal
Jayaraj, S., & Shiva Nagendra, S. M. (2025).
Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry
Journal
Kumar, K. S., Jothimani, D., Manoharan, M., Rela, M., Selvaraj, R., Seshadri, S., Shiva Nagendra, S. M. & Vasa, N. J. (2025).
ACS Sensors (Vol. 10, Issue 1, pp. 254–263).
Journal
Mathew, S., Bhatta, M., Baliva, G., Matthews, V., Zander, K. K., Joshy, A. L., Thakur, R., Joyce, C., Ford, L., Shiva Nagendra, S. M., Vasudevan, K., Cocking, J., & Vardoulakis, S. (2025).
Journal of Cleaner Production (Vol. 486, pp. 144370–144370).
Journal
Field monitoring Urban Air Quality Study
Lab analysis Lab Analysis
Data collection Sensor Deployment
Urban studies Megacity Microenvironment
Community & Outreach

Events of AQRL

Driving air quality discourse through flagship international platforms

Annual Conference

IICAQM

Indian International Conference on Air Quality Management

The International Conference on Air Quality Management (IICAQM) is a premier global platform that brings together researchers, academicians, industry experts, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and innovations in air quality monitoring, modelling, and management. The conference focuses on addressing emerging challenges in air pollution, environmental sustainability, and public health through interdisciplinary research, technical sessions, and collaborative discussions, fostering impactful solutions for cleaner air and a healthier future.

  • 🌍 International participation
  • 🎓 Keynotes from leading global researchers
  • 📄 Peer-reviewed proceedings published by Springer
  • 🏛️ Co-organized with IIT Madras & partner institutions
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IICAQM Conference Hall
IICAQM Session
IICAQM Poster
10th Edition
AQMA Workshop
AQMA Training
AQMA Field Work
70+ Members

AQMA

Air Quality Monitoring & Analysis Workshop

The Air Quality Management Association (AQMA) is a professional, non-governmental organization based at IIT Madras dedicated to advancing knowledge and solutions in air quality science and management. It serves as a collaborative platform for researchers, scientists, engineers, policymakers, and students to exchange ideas on air pollution monitoring, modelling, control technologies, health impacts, and policy development. AQMA promotes best practices, supports research and innovation, and actively engages young professionals to contribute toward achieving cleaner air and a healthier environment.

  • 🔬 Evidence-Based Solutions - Rigorous research driving real-world impact
  • 💻 Collaborative Network - Connecting professionals across sectors
  • 🏗️ Community Empowerment - Education and advocacy for all
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Get In Touch

Interested in collaboration or joining the research group? Let's connect.

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Office

301, NAC-2, Environmental engineering division,
Department of Civil Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Madras,
Chennai 600036

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Links

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