Bangkok Metropolitan Region Research Articles

Sales Rate Prediction for Condominiums in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region Using Deep Learning: Identification of Determinants and Model Validation

The sales rate is very important information for condominium design and development processes. However, predicting it accurately requires substantial expertise and experience. This research investigated the use of a Deep Learning model to predict condominium sales rates and explored various determinants that influence sales rates. The research was done by (1) identifying the determinant factors from the literature review, (2) collecting 199 data from market survey reports, (3) creating a Deep Learning model that can predict the sales rate of a condominium by its determinant factors, and (4) verifying the model by checking its coefficient of determination (R2 value). The research results revealed the three-layered network (34 input nodes, 19 hidden layer nodes and one output node) with R2 of 0.703 and RMSE of 0.539, showing the model has enough accuracy for planning purposes. The determinant factors comprise both internal and external factors, which can be divided into six groups: (1) Price-related factors, (2) Entrepreneur-related factors, (3) Room-related factors, (4) Project structure-related factors, (5) Common-area-related factors, and (6) Location-related factors. By understanding the influence of this set of data on project sales rate, the project stakeholders can efficiently contribute to the project’s success. In addition, the results showed the high accuracy of the Deep Learning model even in the case of a limited amount of data.

Factors Associated with Mental Health Problems Among Tuberculosis Patients Attending Tertiary Care Hospitals in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand: A Hospital-Based Survey

Background: Little is known about mental health among tuberculosis (TB) patients in Thailand. This study aimed to identify factors associated with mental health problems in TB patients in urban Thailand. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 210 TB patients receiving treatment at two tertiary care hospitals in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region of Thailand using consecutive sampling. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to assess mental health problems and probable depression, respectively. Results: Among TB patients, 34.3% had mental health problems (95% CI: 27.8–40.8), and 23.8% had depression (95% CI: 18.0–29.6). The final model from logistic regression with forward selection identified factors significantly associated with mental health problems, including high family support (OR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.24–0.83) and perceived stigma: low (OR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.16–6.60), moderate (OR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.66–7.65), and high (OR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.31–9.67) versus no stigma. Depression was associated with income ≥10,000 baht (OR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.21–0.87), alcohol consumption (OR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.27–6.64), and high social support from healthcare providers (OR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.22–0.87). Conclusion: This study highlights the need to integrate mental health services into the TB care program to address the TB challenge in Thailand. Policies such as routine mental health screening and psychological counseling alongside treatment, as well as expanded social support and stigma reduction interventions, should be implemented to reduce the risk of mental health issues, particularly depression, and improve treatment outcomes among Thai TB patients.

Environmental impacts and costs of ozone formation in Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Environmental impacts and costs of ozone formation in Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Flood damage assessment model of industrial sectors in a Megacity: Derivation from business survey data in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Flood damage assessment model of industrial sectors in a Megacity: Derivation from business survey data in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Outcomes of Home Isolation Care Among COVID-19 Patients During the 2021 Epidemic Crisis in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand.

Objectives. To determine the overall mortality and risk factors of COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the Home Isolation (HI) program in Bangkok, Thailand, during the epidemic crisis in 2021. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the data from a government telehealth application from July to December 2021. The vital status was verified from the government database on September 20, 2022. We used survival analysis to analyze the 28-day mortality and independently associated factors. Results. Of 90 854 reported cases, the average age was 37.27 years, and half were men. Initial symptoms included being asymptomatic (51.66%), having mild symptoms (35.60%), or experiencing severe symptoms requiring nonurgent (11.27%) or urgent referral (1.47%). The 28-day mortality rate was 0.80%. Factors associated with 28-day mortality included older age, male gender, higher body mass index, severity of initial symptoms, and time to admission. Conclusions. The Home Isolation program was able to manage a high volume of patients, including severe cases, exceeding its initial design. Thailand's COVID-19 mortality rate remained relatively low compared with other countries. Proactive bed surge planning and continuous plan improvement were crucial for future preparedness. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print January 30, 2025:e1-e12. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307922).

Studying travel behaviour in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region: How attitudes towards the Environment, Accessibility, Convenience, and Safety, vary among commuters

Studying travel behaviour in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region: How attitudes towards the Environment, Accessibility, Convenience, and Safety, vary among commuters

A spatiotemporal deep learning ensemble for multi-step PM2.5 prediction: A case study of Bangkok metropolitan region in Thailand

A spatiotemporal deep learning ensemble for multi-step PM2.5 prediction: A case study of Bangkok metropolitan region in Thailand

Symptoms of Residential Exposure to Insecticides and Associated Factors Among Young Thai Children in Urban Areas.

Household insecticide use may impact the health of young children in urban communities, but little is known about its acute effects. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the symptoms that may have been related to residential insecticide exposure and its associated factors in young children in urban areas. The study included 375 primary caregivers of children aged 6 months to 5 years from the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand, who had used insecticides in their homes within the past 6 months. An interviewer-administered questionnaire collected data on caregiver and child demographics, household insecticide use and exposure, child behaviors, and the history of child symptoms following insecticide use. The findings revealed that 9.6% of young children had experienced symptoms at some point during or after household insecticide use, with coughing (66.7%), skin rash/irritation (44.4%), and runny nose (25.0%) being the most common. The final logistic regression model using backward selection indicated that factors statistically significantly associated with symptoms included being a male child (OR = 3.38; 95% CI = 1.48-7.71), hand/object-to-mouth behaviors (OR = 2.69; 95% CI = 1.26-5.74), weekly use of insecticides (OR = 2.77; 95% CI = 1.22-6.26), use of insecticide chalk (OR = 3.64; 95% CI = 1.32-10.08), and use of mosquito repellent spray/lotion (OR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.13-5.61). Additionally, the use of insecticide spray (OR = 2.72; 95% CI = 0.97-7.65), opening doors/windows for ventilation (OR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.21-1.02), and consistently cleaning floors with a wet cloth after use (OR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.24-1.11) were marginally associated. Residential exposure to household insecticides can lead to acute health effects, primarily respiratory symptoms, in young children in urban communities. Caregivers should be informed of these health risks to reduce children's exposure.

Assessing the efficacy of artificial intelligence based city-scale blue green infrastructure mapping using Google Earth Engine in the Bangkok metropolitan region

Urbanization disrupts natural water, energy, and nutrient cycles, but integrating green and blue infrastructures (BGI) can mitigate these effects by facilitating processes like evapotranspiration, soil water infiltration, and root nutrient absorption. In Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR), escalating urbanization poses challenges to these natural cycles. Mapping Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) and identifying green infrastructure locations are crucial for effective urban planning, sustainable development, and environmental conservation amidst rapid urban growth. Continuous monitoring of dynamic urban areas is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly. Previous research primarily focused on land use and land cover classification followed by BGI identification. An automated classification system focusing solely on BGI can greatly enhance efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness in land classification for urban planning and decision-making. However, automating this system remains a significant challenge for the remote sensing community. Therefore, the research is first to develop a cloud based artificial intelligence tools such as Smile Random Forest and Smile CART integration with Google Earth Engine (GEE) to identify BGI for BMR. For this analysis, we have used open-sources and mostly used satellite images (e.g., Landsat and Sentinel) and consider to analyze seasonal changes for waterbodies, natural vegetations and human intervened vegetations with developing cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI). Surprisingly, Landsat-9 data demonstrated superior accuracy compared to Sentinel-2, indicating that the advanced technology of Landsat 9 may be more effective for BGI classification using AI. The study revealed a most distinct transition from deep green to green infrastructures during the transition from summer to monsoon season, whereas significant changes in blue infrastructure occurred between the monsoon and winter seasons. Seasonal variations in BGI are complex and influenced by factors such as the types of BGI implemented and the nuances of local climatic conditions. These advancements could provide precise insights for urban managers and policymakers, offering valuable tools to identify and understand BGI dynamics across various urban scales.

A Nation-by-Nation Assessment of the Contribution of Southeast Asian Open Biomass Burning to PM2.5 in Thailand Using the Community Multiscale Air Quality-Integrated Source Apportionment Method Model

This study utilized the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model to assess the impact of open biomass burning (OBB) in Thailand and neighboring countries—Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam—on the PM2.5 concentrations in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR) and Upper Northern Region of Thailand. The Upper Northern Region was further divided into the west, central, and east sub-regions (WUN, CUN, and EUN) based on geographical borders. The CMAQ model was used to simulate the spatiotemporal variations in PM2.5 over a wide domain in Asia in 2019. The Integrated Source Apportionment Method (ISAM) was utilized to quantify the contributions from OBB from each country. The results showed that OBB had a minor impact on PM2.5 in the BMR, but transboundary transport from Myanmar contributed to an increase in PM2.5 levels during the peak burning period from March to April. In contrast, OBB substantially impacted PM2.5 in the Upper Northern Region, with Myanmar being the major contributor in WUN and CUN and domestic burning being the major contributor to EUN during the peak months. Despite Laos having the highest OBB emissions, meteorological conditions caused the spread of PM2.5 eastward rather than into Thailand. These findings highlight the critical impact of regional transboundary transport and emphasize the necessity for collaborative strategies for mitigating PM2.5 pollution across Southeast Asia.

Infection status and species diversity of trematode cercariae in freshwater snails from canal networks in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand.

This study aimed to investigate the infection status and species diversity of trematode cercariae in freshwater snails from canal networks in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR), Thailand. The snails were collected from 35 sites during 2 cycles of the wet (July-October) and dry (November-June) seasons in 2018-2019. A total of 29,420 snails representing 24 species/subspecies were examined for cercarial infection using shedding and crushing techniques. We found that 1,275 snails from 12 species/subspecies were infected, resulting in an overall prevalence of 4.3%. Infections were significantly higher (p<0.001) during the wet season (5.9%; 970/16,473) than during the dry season (2.4%; 305/12,947). Morphological identification revealed 37 distinct types within 15 morphotypes, with the armatae morphotype showing the highest infection rate (1.8%) and the greatest cercarial diversity (8 distinct types). This study highlights the health risk posed by the Bithynia siamensis siamensis, which was the second most prevalent (8.5%) and hosted the greatest cercarial diversity (11 morphotypes, 15 distinct types). This subspecies also displayed a wide distribution range (31 localities) with a generally high occurrence frequency in the BMR. This study firstly documents a gymnophallid digenean as a freshwater digenean, presenting evidence of a dichotoma cercarial morphotype from 4 species/subspecies (Filopaludina martensi martensi, F. sumatrensis polygramma, B. siamensis siamensis, and Wattebledia siamensis) with a low infection range (0.1-0.4%). A staggering diversity of cercariae was observed in the BMR canal networks with seasonal fluctuations. The B. siamensis siamensis displayed notable epidemiological importance in the BMR flowing-water networks. This study provides quantitative and qualitative morphological descriptions and measurement guidelines for the dichotoma cercaria in Thailand.

Exploration of self-perceived masticatory ability and measured biting force on nutrient intakes in older Thai adults

As the global population ages, understanding the factors influencing older adults’ health and wellbeing becomes increasingly important. Aging can lead to various health complications, including reduced muscle strength, affecting daily activities such as food consumption(1). The decline in oromasticatory muscle function can cause chewing difficulties that limit food choices(2). Given that adequate nutrition is essential for maintaining the quality of life, this study aims to examine the relationship between self-perceived chewing ability and objectively measured biting force to understand the extent of their effect on nutrient intake.A total of 148 community-dwelling older adults aged 64 to 90 years old (median age 71 ± 8 years) from urban (Bangkok Metropolitan Region) and rural (Chonburi Province) areas of Thailand participated. Maximum biting force (Newtons, N) of the posterior teeth was instrumentally measured, and participants rated the chewing difficulty of 20 commonly consumed foods as easy, difficult, or cannot be chewed at all. Foods were grouped into five difficulty levels by principal component analysis of the ratings and masticatory ability scores (0 to 10) were calculated. Food intake was obtained from 24-hour dietary recalls through interviews and body mass index (BMI) data was obtained.Participants were grouped into tertiles of low (median = 73 N; IQR = 37–127), moderate (median = 336 N; IQR = 241–387), and high (median = 512 N; IQR = 477–512) biting force. A Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that those with low biting force had significantly (p < 0.01) lower self-assessed masticatory ability scores (median = 7.69) compared to those with high biting force (median = 8.86). Significant differences in the daily intakes of dietary potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C were observed between the high and low biting force groups (p < 0.01).However, multiple regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, education, and location did not show significant predictive power for any nutrient intake from either biting force or masticatory ability, except for positive associations with vitamins C and B2, and fruit intake. A unit increase in mastication ability was associated with an increase in daily intake of 0.21 milligrams of vitamin C (95% CI = 3.03, 33.64; p = 0.02) and 0.19 milligrams of vitamin B2 (95% CI = −0.01, 0.13; p = 0.03).Additionally, a unit increase in biting force was associated with an increase in daily fruit intake of 0.17 grams (95% CI = −0.02, 0.28; p = 0.08). No relationships with BMI were observed for either biting force or masticatory ability.Higher biting force in older adults improves self-perceived masticatory ability, leading to a higherquality diet with foods rich in vitamins B2 and C, such as meat and fruits. Targeted interventions to enhance biting force could help prevent malnutrition.

An Investigation of the Effects of Mask-Wearing on Confidence Levels of Young People to Middle Age in Bangkok Metropolitan Region

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread mask-wearing to prevent disease transmission. Initial studies indicated that 89% of the Thai population wore masks, rising to 96% when mandated. Even after the pandemic, mask-wearing persisted due to factors beyond health concerns. This research examines the phenomenon of “Mask Fishing,” where individuals believe masks enhance their attractiveness, a trend popularized on TikTok. The study explores the psychological impacts of mask-wearing, including increased confidence and reduced self-esteem. Additionally, masks have been found to improve perceived facial attractiveness, particularly enhancing the appearance of eyes. This study investigates these hidden factors, focusing on how mask-wearing affects personal confidence, communication, and facial expressions.

The Impact of Urban Particulate Matter on Lightning Frequency in Thunderstorms: A Case Study of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region

The Impact of Urban Particulate Matter on Lightning Frequency in Thunderstorms: A Case Study of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Effects of I AM TAP Program on Executive Function of Children 3-5 years in Bangkok Metropolitan Region Residential Care Homes: A Quasi-experimental Study

Executive function is important to the success of an individual. Children who have a history of being abused mentally and physically before entering a residential care home may have executive function deficits. They often face fear, stress, and a lack of interpersonal interaction, which affects their executive function. This quasi-experimental study aimed to increase children’s executive function through the I AM TAP Program. This program integrates sensory and physical activities, including working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. Two residential care homes of young children aged 3-5 years in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Then, 36 children from each setting and 11 caregivers were selected according to the inclusion criteria. The experimental group received I AM TAP Program training twice weekly for 9 weeks, 20-30 minutes each session. The control group attended the routine activities provided in a residential care home. Executive function was assessed with the Mahidol University Executive Function-101 instrument. The data were analyzed using independent t-tests, paired t-tests, and covariance analysis. The results of this study, a testament to the effectiveness of the I AM TAP Program, revealed a significant increase in the mean scores of executive functions on 3 subscales in the experimental group. These scores not only improved from the pre-program levels but also surpassed those of the control group, as measured one week after program completion. This promising outcome suggests that the I AM TAP Program has the potential to enhance executive function in young children. Nurses can potentially apply this program to promote executive function, and caregivers can be equipped with information on how to support the children in the residential care home. However, it is crucial to conduct further testing with various groups of children in different settings before considering widespread implementation

Revisiting 5G quality of service in Bangkok metropolitan region: BTS Skytrain station areas

This article compares two of the leading mobile network operators (MNOs) in Thailand’s telecom market in terms of the service quality of Thailand’s fifth generation (5G) networks. The following three factors: download speed, upload speed, and latency, which are frequently considered to be indicators of the quality of Internet networks, were examined. The researchers employed the test results to determine the quality of service (QoS) that was achieved by comparing newly collected data to data that had previously been examined utilizing the same format and application in the middle of May 2021. The average download speed decreased from 196.4 Mbps in 2021 to 140.4 Mbps in 2023, while the average upload speed dropped from 62.6 Mbps in 2021 to 52.0 Mbps in 2023. Furthermore, the average latency increased from 14.9 ms in 2021 to 23.3 ms in 2023. These results show a considerably enhanced service although the test region in this study only comprised BTS stations. Furthermore, this was the case even though the test area in this study only encompassed a small percentage of the total population.

Energy efficiency and electrochemical characteristic assessment of PEMFC-supercapacitor hybridization via railway profile

Energy efficiency and electrochemical characteristic assessment of PEMFC-supercapacitor hybridization via railway profile

Exploring Systems Thinking and Systemic Design: Insights from a Summer School Experiment Addressing Urban Health Crises

This paper relates urban healthcare crises to the global challenges of overshoot and collapse and suggests systems thinking as an innovative approach towards addressing these amalgamated crisis situations. We begin by reviewing what systems are and how they are structured and behave, highlighting how systems thinking can identify high-leverage interventions and systemic design to achieve effective change. Subsequently, we illustrate how these system concepts were applied in an international, multidisciplinary summer school between European and Southeast Asian partners in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Technical Science for Health Network (Téchne). Examining how ventilation, temperature, humidity, and daylighting control strategies enhance Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), the initiative developed ideas and designs for a multiple disease treatment center that would provide isolation units and create a safe care environment for patients, families, and communities. The design process was informed through consultation with three physically and socio-economically diverse neighborhoods across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region to gain a richer understanding of the varied experiences and approaches in managing the COVID-19 disruption. Leveraging WHO guidelines, students adopted a systemic design approach to develop innovative solutions that could withstand natural hazards and used local materials and natural ventilation to prevent airborne infection and control indoor temperature. In conclusion, we propose a novel working model linking specific stages of systemic thinking and systemic design into a generalized, iterative urban and healthcare design framework that will be further refined as part of specific electives at the KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture and joint summer schools in 2023, 2024 and beyond.

The Correlation between Chocolate Consumption Behaviors and Stress Levels in Secondary School Students in Bangkok Metropolitan Region

The Correlation between Chocolate Consumption Behaviors and Stress Levels in Secondary School Students in Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Carbon sequestration analysis of the university campuses in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Carbon sequestration analysis of the university campuses in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region