This paper presents the fundamentals of direct inverse modeling using CFD simulations to detect air pollution sources in urban areas. Generally, there are four techniques used for detecting pollution sources: the analytical technique, the optimization technique, the probabilistic technique, and the direct technique. The study discusses the potentialities and limits of each technique, where the direct inverse technique is focused. Two examples of applying the direct inverse technique in detecting pollution source are introduced. The difficulties of applying the direct inverse technique are investigated. The study reveals that the direct technique is a promising tool for detecting air pollution source in urban environments. However, more efforts are still needed to overcome the difficulties explained in the study.