title: Artificial neural network modeling of the water quality index using land use areas as predictors.
abstract: This paper describes the design of an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict the water quality index (WQI) using land use areas as predictors. Ten-year records of land use statistics and water quality data for Kinta River (Malaysia) were employed in the modeling process. The most accurate WQI predictions were obtained with the network architecture 7-23-1; the back propagation training algorithm; and a learning rate of 0.02. The WQI forecasts of this model had significant (p < 0.01), positive, very high correlation (ρs = 0.882) with the measured WQI values. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the relative importance of the land use classes to WQI predictions followed the order: mining > rubber > forest > logging > urban areas > agriculture > oil palm. These findings show that the ANNs are highly reliable means of relating water quality to land use, thus integrating land use development with river water quality management.
authors: Nabeel M
authors: NM
authors: Gazzaz
authors: Mohd Kamil
authors: MK
authors: Yusoff
authors: Mohammad Firuz
authors: MF
authors: Ramli
authors: Hafizan
authors: H
authors: Juahir
authors: Ahmad Zaharin
authors: AZ
authors: Aris
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D002958:City Planning; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D016468:Forestry; D008296:Malaysia; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D011379:Prognosis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*