Identification of Critical Pollution Factors in the Chibunga River Using Indetermsoft Ensembles and the C4.5 Decision-Making Algorithm

Abstract

This dissertation fills a gap by assessing what aspects pollute the Chibunga River of Riobamba, Ecuador, which is becoming increasingly polluted. Pollution is a growing source of concern for ecosystems and human health, so assessing what factors is important. Applicable to an increasingly querulous society where river pollution has led to legal ramifications in Ecuador's Monjas and Machángara Rivers, creating a need for more protections and preventative measures makes this study relevant. The literature review cites established studies that have assessed river pollution occurrences similar to the Chibunga River. Still, none have assessed the concern via a truly indeterminate/incomplete approach via the possibility in the real world as so much is uncertain with social/environmental assessments. However, this creates a gap in the literature that allows the current study to ensue including assessing via indeterminate ensembles via C4.5 algorithm to assess what's most pollutive. This accurate and efficient means of assessment finds that the top three factors that pollute the Chibunga River, in order from most to least, include industrial wastewater treatment discharge, farm runoff and fertilizers/pesticides, and deforestation with 62%, 60% and 59% accuracy which creates a solid ranking of clarity for future reference and factual application. The theoretical contributions of this work provide a new way to assess incomplete occurrences of environmental assessments while the practical application contributions provide such information for decision-makers within local policy for ensured sustainability of the Chibunga River and subsequent human welfare.