Nonlinear regression for modeling censored one-dimensional concentration profiles of fugitive dust plumes

Dust plumes were generated by farm equipment during standard field preparations and harvest operations. Light detection and ranging (lidar) measurements of dust particle concentrations in the plumes were censored by an upper detection limit. The nonstandardized Gaussian curve, with range values as the argument, was used as a model for the one-dimensional plume profile. Maximum likelihood estimates for the Gaussian plume equation were found in order to make inferences concerning plume characteristics.