Research Article

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets

Volume: 4 Number: 1 March 26, 2026
TR EN

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets

Abstract

This study presents a structured benchmarking and comparative analysis of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques for environmental monitoring and management. Using publicly available datasets and reproducible modeling workflows, representative AI models were trained or re-implemented and evaluated across multiple environmental domains, including air quality, water pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity monitoring. The available used datasets include the Air Quality Open Dataset, AquaSat, Global Forest Watch, and iNaturalist, multiple AI models and were developed, trained, and validated to address key environmental domains. Random Forest was applied for air quality prediction, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for water pollution detection, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks for deforestation monitoring, and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) for wildlife species identification. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and coefficient of determination (R²) metrics. Results showed that AI-based methods significantly outperformed traditional monitoring approaches, achieving up to 95.1% accuracy in water pollution detection and 92.4% accuracy in air quality prediction, with accuracy improvements ranging from 17.7% to 23% across domains. Gradient Boosting achieved a 93.2% accuracy in PM2.5 prediction (R² = 0.92), while YOLOv5 reached a 94% detection rate for illegal logging. Environmental impact assessments revealed substantial reductions after AI integration, including a 41.7% decrease in illegal logging and a 44.2% decline in water contamination incidents. Deployment analysis indicated high-cost efficiency, with Return on Investment (ROI) values up to 175% over three years and time savings between 68% and 73% across monitoring tasks. These findings confirm that AI and ML not only enhance predictive precision but also deliver tangible environmental and economic benefits, underscoring their potential as essential tools for sustainable environmental governance.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Environmental Engineering (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 26, 2026

Submission Date

May 11, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 4 Number: 1

APA
Olodu, D. D., Inegbedion, F., & Erameh, A. (2026). Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets. International Journal of New Findings in Engineering, Science and Technology, 4(1), 15-26. https://doi.org/10.61150/ijonfest.2026040102
AMA
1.Olodu DD, Inegbedion F, Erameh A. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets. IJONFEST. 2026;4(1):15-26. doi:10.61150/ijonfest.2026040102
Chicago
Olodu, Dıckson Davıd, Francis Inegbedion, and Andrew Erameh. 2026. “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets”. International Journal of New Findings in Engineering, Science and Technology 4 (1): 15-26. https://doi.org/10.61150/ijonfest.2026040102.
EndNote
Olodu DD, Inegbedion F, Erameh A (March 1, 2026) Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets. International Journal of New Findings in Engineering, Science and Technology 4 1 15–26.
IEEE
[1]D. D. Olodu, F. Inegbedion, and A. Erameh, “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets”, IJONFEST, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 15–26, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.61150/ijonfest.2026040102.
ISNAD
Olodu, Dıckson Davıd - Inegbedion, Francis - Erameh, Andrew. “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets”. International Journal of New Findings in Engineering, Science and Technology 4/1 (March 1, 2026): 15-26. https://doi.org/10.61150/ijonfest.2026040102.
JAMA
1.Olodu DD, Inegbedion F, Erameh A. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets. IJONFEST. 2026;4:15–26.
MLA
Olodu, Dıckson Davıd, et al. “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets”. International Journal of New Findings in Engineering, Science and Technology, vol. 4, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 15-26, doi:10.61150/ijonfest.2026040102.
Vancouver
1.Dıckson Davıd Olodu, Francis Inegbedion, Andrew Erameh. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Environmental Monitoring and Management: A Comparative Benchmarking Analysis Using Public Datasets. IJONFEST. 2026 Mar. 1;4(1):15-26. doi:10.61150/ijonfest.2026040102

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