June, University Press Office (UNPO) | As part of the University of Duhok’s (UOD) commitment to environmental research, urban sustainability, and advanced technology integration in academic studies, two distinguished researchers from the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Bayan Hazim Ahmed and Dereen Jaladet Mustafa, presented a pioneering seminar on May 8, 2025, at the Department of Forestry.

Titled “Spatial Distribution of Atmospheric Pollution in Duhok Urban Area Using GIS Tools,” the seminar provided an in-depth look at the environmental challenges facing the growing city of Duhok, particularly in terms of atmospheric pollution and urban noise.

Research Objectives and Key Findings

• Mapping Major Pollutants: The study focused on three critical pollutants commonly associated with urban expansion and increased vehicular traffic:
  
  
  • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
    
    
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
    
    
  • Noise Pollution
    
    
• Weekday vs. Weekend Patterns: One of the major contributions of this research was the comparison between pollution levels during weekdays and weekends, providing data-driven insights into how human activity patterns influence air quality and urban noise.
  
  
• GIS for Sustainable Planning: Leveraging Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, the research team visualized pollution concentrations across different zones of Duhok, establishing a baseline for future environmental studies. This type of spatial data is expected to be essential for urban planners, environmental policymakers, and public health authorities in the region.
  
  

Strategic Alignment with UOD Priorities

The project is directly aligned with UOD’s strategic focus on:

• Environmental Sustainability Initiatives
  
  
• Technology-Driven Research Approaches
• Supporting Duhok’s Smart Urban Development
• Enhancing Public Health and Community Wellbeing
  
  

By advancing knowledge in environmental sciences and providing actionable recommendations for urban development and environmental health, this seminar highlights how UOD continues to lead as a hub of innovative academic research and community.

University Press Office, June 2025

Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali, Bilnd Jalal H.

The News Keywords:

• GIS Tools
• Urban Pollution
• Sustainable Planning
• Duhok Environmental Research
• Air Quality Kurdistan