Prioritising Actions for Improving Classroom Air Quality Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process: Case Studies in China and the UK

Author:

Shu Ziyu1ORCID,Yuan Feng1ORCID,Wang Jie1ORCID,Zang Jian1ORCID,Li Baizhan1ORCID,Shahrestani Mehdi2ORCID,Essah Emmanuel2ORCID,Awbi Hazim2ORCID,Holland Mike3ORCID,Fang Fangxin4ORCID,Pain Christopher4ORCID,Kumar Prashant56ORCID,Zhong Hua7ORCID,Short Alan8ORCID,Linden Paul9ORCID,Yao Runming12ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Joint International Research Laboratory of Green Buildings and Built Environments (Ministry of Education), Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China

2. School of the Built Environment, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DB, UK

3. Ecometrics Research and Consulting (EMRC), RG8 7PW Reading, UK

4. Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK

5. Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK

6. Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK

7. School of the Built Environment and Architecture, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK

8. Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PX, UK

9. Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA, UK

Abstract

The air quality in classrooms significantly impacts school children’s health and learning performance. It has been reported worldwide that classroom air quality does not meet the required standard and actions are pledged for improvement. However, it poses a challenge for decision-making in terms of prioritising taking-up measures. The aim of this study is to propose a method of identifying the action measures for improving classroom air quality and prioritising them. Case studies in the UK and China were conducted, and the key measures were identified through literature studies, open-ended questionnaire surveys, and workshop discussions, which are classified into three categories: B1, policy; B2, technology; and B3, information sharing. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is applied in the prioritisation of the action measures. A total of 138 teachers and parents from China and the UK participated in this case study. The genetic algorithm-optimised Hadamard product (GAOHP) method is applied to justify the consistency ratio (CR) within the required threshold value in order to ensure the consistency of the subjective perception and the accuracy of comparative weights. The results show that item B2, technology, is the most desired measure by both Chinese and British parents and teachers, despite the deviation from the optimal choice in China and the UK. Among the proposed action measures, the UK respondents strongly expected air purifiers with natural ventilation as opposed to their Chinese counterparts preferring to share the real-time status of classroom air quality. Our work will provide strong support for the subsequent selection of indoor air quality improvement strategies for schools.

Funder

Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China

Publisher

Hindawi Limited

Reference115 articles.

1. Building factors associated with school indoor air quality problems: a perspective;J. Daisey

2. The EFA Project: indoor air quality in European schools;P. Carrer;Indoor Air,2002

3. Do indoor pollutants and thermal conditions in schools influence student performance? A critical review of the literature;M. J. Mendell;Indoor Air,2005

4. Relationships between school indoor environment and respiratory health in children of five European countries (HESE Study);M. Simoni;European Respiratory Journal,2006

5. Classroom climate and the mental health of primary school children

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3