Geospatial Modelling of the Harlem River Pollution

The study aims to attempt a holistic investigation of water pollution in the Harlem River by conducting chemical and geospatial analyses. The methodology included a combination of chemical and geospatial analyses. In the first phase of the research, random samples of water were collected from the Harlem River and tested for the presence of Ammonia, Fecal-coliform, Enterococcus and E-Coli (bacteria) as well as the turbidity of the water by using a spectrophotometer in the visible (400-700nm) range. The results of the tests were fed into a geodatabase for geospatial analyses. In the second phase of the research we created a detailed land cover and land use map of the study area using remotely sensed data sensing in the visible and Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrum. The classified image was integrated with census data such as population density, socio-economic variables for modeling the socio-economic dynamics in the area that may influence the type, amount and cause of pollution in the Harlem River. The anticipated results may be used to show the dynamic factors that may be influencing the pollution of the Harlem River.